The "New Normal" in Education and the Future of Schooling
Abstract
This paper explores the catchphrase of the new decade — the ‘new normal’ in education. The paper offers some analyses of its emergence. Guided by a literature review, mostly about UNICEF, UNESCO, and the OECD and their critics, this paper specifically explores the question – what does the ‘new normal’ mean? In asking this question, this paper problematises the assumed meaning of ‘new normal’, offers two possible meanings, and explains why teachers and school leaders must be cautious in using the term. Furthermore, this paper hopes for academics, teachers, and school leaders to reflect on why the term ‘new normal’ may be problematic in the future of schooling, post-pandemic.
Keywords: new normal, COVID-19 education, online learning
References
[1] Bozkurt A, Sharma RC. Education in normal, new normal, and next normal: Observations from the past, insights from the present and projections for the future. Asian Journal of Distance Education,. 2020:15(2):1-10.
[2]Cahapay MB. Rethinking education in the new normal post-COVID- 19 era: A curriculum studies perspective. Aquademia. 2020:4(2):1–5. https://doi.org/10.29333/aquademia/8315
[3] Kachra R, Brown A. The new normal: Medical education during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Medical Education Journal. 2020;11(6):167–169. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.70317
[4] Pacheco JA. The “new normal” in education. PROSPECTS. 2021;51(1–3):3–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-020-09521-x
[5] Tria J. The COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of education in the Philippines: The new normal. International Journal of Pedagogical Development and Lifelong Learning. 2020;1:1–4. https://doi.org/10.30935/ijpdll/8311
[6] Xie X, Siau K, Nah FF-H. COVID-19 pandemic – Online education in the new normal and the next normal. Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research. 2020;22(3):175–187. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228053.2020.1824884
[7] Žižek S. PANDEMIC! Covid-19 shakes the world. New York: OR Books; 2020.
[8] Daniel SJ. Education and the COVID-19 pandemic. PROSPECTS. 2020;49(1):91–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-020-09464-3
[9] UNICEF. COVID-19 and school closures: One year of education disruption.New York: UNICEF; 2021. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/resources/one-year-of-covid-19- and-school-closures/
[10] UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank. What have we learnt? Overview of findings from a survey of ministries of education on national responses to Covid-19. Paris, New York, Washington, D.C.: UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank; 2020. Available from: https://data.unicef.org/resources/national-education-responses-to-covid19/#
[11]Mahapatra A, Sharma P. Education in times of COVID-19 pandemic: Academic stress and its psychosocial impact on children and adolescents in India. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2021;67(4):379–399. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020961801
[12] Cheng L, Ritzhaupt AD, Antonenko P. Effects of the flipped classroom instructional strategy on students’ learning outcomes: A meta-analysis. Educational Technology Research and Development. 2019;67(4):793–824. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-018- 9633-7
[13] Furió D, Juan M-C, Seguí I, Vivó R. Mobile learning vs. traditional classroom lessons: A comparative study. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. 2015;31(3):189–201. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12071
[14] Herrador-Alcaide TC, Hernández-Solís M, Sanguino Galván R. Feelings of satisfaction in mature students of financial accounting in a virtual learning environment: An experience of measurement in higher education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. 2019:16(1):20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019- 0148-z
[15] Herrador-Alcaide TC, Hernández-Solís M, Hontoria JF. Online learning tools in the era of m-learning: Utility and attitudes in accounting college students. Sustainability. 2020;12(12):5171. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125171
[16] Richardson W. Stop Innovating in schools. Please. New Jearsey: The Creativity Post; 2016. Available from: https://www.creativitypost.com/article/stop_innovating_in_schools._please
[17] Culala HJ. Technological contribution towards the education sector. APAC CIO Outlook. 2016:30–32.
[18] Culala HJ. Education and the technology solutions companies. The Higher Education Review. 2017;5(7–3):18–19.
[19] Tyack D, Cuba, L. Tinkering toward utopia. Social Service Review. 1995;71(3):503– 506. https://doi.org/10.1086/604271
[20] Barbour M. Technology in schools: Debating issues in American education. Brady KP, editor. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc: 2012. Are virtual schools more cost-effective compared to traditional brick-and-mortar schools?; p. 80–97. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452218373.n6
[21] McFarlane D. Are there differences in the organizational structure and pedagogical approach of virtual and brick-and-mortar schools? Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. 2011;3(2):29–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/08956308.2009.11657556
[22] Anderson E, Hira A. Loss of brick-and-mortar schooling: How elementary educators respond. Information and Learning Sciences. 2020;121( 5 /6):411–418. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-04-2020-0085
[23] Kingsbury I. Online learning: How do brick and mortar schools stack up to virtual schools? Education and Information Technologies. 2021;26(6):6567–6588. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10450-1
[24] Toch T. In an era of online learning, schools still matter. Phi Delta Kappan. 2010;91(7):72–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/003172171009100715