Bangkok Patana School
LEADERS LEARNING FROM LOCKDOWN
E
Critical Decision-Making Models
ducators have been compelled to pivot
Trust, suggests we should “aim to capture
swiftly in response to huge logistical
these
and emotional challenges in support of
students’ perspectives” (Boot, 2020). This
learning and the diverse needs of students,
unparalleled moment in the history of
families, and colleagues during the COVID-19
education - an enforced global experiment
crisis. Their creativity, commitment and
in remote learning, in which we have a
professionalism
inspirational,
unique opportunity to listen to students and
highlighting the critical role educational
learn from their experiences, was reinforced
institutions provide in our communities and
by Professor John Hattie when interviewed
the social wellbeing fabric of students’ lives.
by Stephen Cox in the Build Back Better
Since January 2020 there has been a plethora
webinar (Osiris Educational, 2020). This
of thought-provoking articles and reports
distinction is further exemplified in the
released, detailing effective ways to transition
position paper Remote to Hybrid Learning
quickly from normal school practices to
(Fullan, et al., 2020). The paper pilots the
remote or distance learning. Educators are
reader through three zones: The Unsettled
thankful for the rapid publication of evidence
Zone, The Learning Zone, and The Growth
examining existing research to support the
Zone (pp. 3-4), contending that the sudden
conversion to remote learning (Education
shift to remote learning globally, while
Endowment Foundation, 2020a; Reimers
tremendously difficult, has propelled school
et al., 2020; Reich et al., 2020). In essence
leaders and educators to reflect deeply, make
schools did not close, their campuses closed;
decisions on what works best for students,
lessons and learning continued, albeit in a
and to decide what innovations should be
different format and in our lounges, kitchens
developed further or simply discarded.
and living rooms.
There is considerable similarity with the
has
been
unprecedented
times
from
the
zones posited by Fullan and Hattie and the At the core of everything we do as
3 Stages of Pandemic Response, namely:
educational practitioners is student learning.
Survival > Acceptance > Growth, alternatively
In his blog post Learning from the Students
referred to as Thoughts > Feelings > Actions
in Lockdown, Steve Boot, Associate Vice
(Treanor, 2020).
Principal for Curriculum at Big Education 4 I CPD Digest, Volume 3 Issue 5, 2nd March 2021
