A New Normal: Post-Pandemic Education in International Schools | A conversation with Dr Angie Wigford

Educational psychologist, Dr. Angie Wigford, shares the findings of her survey conducted among students and educators across the Asia on the effects of COVID on international school students and staff.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Impact of COVID-19 on Student Wellbeing: The conversation starts with Angie's research findings revealing heightened anxiety levels across all student age groups due to the pandemic. She also discusses the challenges of declining emotional regulation among students, especially in the older age brackets.

2. Positive Outcomes amidst the Challenges: In the midst of the hurdles, a silver lining emerges with students showing an enhanced ability to use technology and work independently. The pandemic, despite its downsides, has driven positive changes in teaching and learning methodologies.

3. Navigating the 'New Normal': There's a critical need to reassess and adapt to the 'new normal' in education. A major concern is the tendency to revert to pre-COVID-19 pedagogical practices. Angie advocates for an evolved approach that resonates with the current realities and needs of students and educators.

4. Fostering Post-traumatic Growth: A highlight of the discussion is the concept of post-traumatic growth. Angie stresses the importance of leveraging the potential benefits of the situation, such as asynchronous learning, which would help redefine educational practices in international schools.

5. The Well-being Agenda: The significance of well-being for both students and educators has become more prominent in the pandemic context. The need for an individualized well-being approach that takes into account the unique needs of students and educators forms the crux of the conversation.

Key Quotes

1. "We haven't turned children off learning. We've just given them a different learning experience." - Dr. Angie Wigford

2. "The way forward is a well-being approach which is individualized for teachers and for students." - Dr. Angie Wigford

3. "We were all traumatized and teachers are scrambling to get back. Things are harder for them." - Dr. Angie Wigford

4. "Many educators want to go back to the old normal. But … there's such a need and importance to create this new normal." – Shane Leaning

5. "Wellbeing is now well and truly on the agenda. We were fighting for it before, and now it's there. That's a massive positive." - Dr. Angie Wigford

6. "Students are better at working independently... because they've had to. Yes, they're not so good at working in groups and we know that the social impact is highly significant. But there are some positives." - Dr. Angie Wigford

7. "Students now are better at using technology. They're cleverer, they're more focused, they know how to search, they know how to manipulate software and hardware, these are benefits that can be built on." - Dr. Angie Wigford

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Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

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