Enthusiasm, frustration and exhaustion: staff perceptions of student engagement through the pandemic

Cunningham, Tom; Cunningham, Catriona

Abstract

The move to online and blended learning caused by the Covid-19 pandemic brought about sudden, rapid, and ongoing change to learning and teaching practices in Higher Education. The paper discusses the findings of a research project, led by academic developers, which used a storyboard methodology to follow the experience of staff through the Autumn 2020 semester. Despite initial enthusiasm for teaching in new ways, staff increasingly became frustrated with teaching online and perceived issues with student engagement and interaction. By the end of the semester staff were exhausted by the process. Our findings raise questions about the future of teaching (as opposed to the facilitation of learning) the purpose of Higher Education now and in the future, and the role of student power and voice in that future.

Citation

Cunningham, T., & Cunningham, C. (2023). Enthusiasm, frustration and exhaustion: staff perceptions of student engagement through the pandemic. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 4(3), 122-135

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 17, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 16, 2023
• Publication Date: May 16, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 3, 2024
• Print ISSN: 2399-1836
• Publisher: RAISE: Researching, Advancing & Inspiring Student Engagement
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 122-135
• Publisher URL: https://sehej.raise-network.com/raise/article/view/1176