What is it about?
Schools, colleges and universities have had to make difficult decisions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. What did they need to do to keep students, staff and the local community safe? How should leaders of academic institutions make decisions in a situation where there are no clear answers and information is limited? This project tries to help people in that situation by providing suggestions of what the outcomes might be of various possible decisions. These suggestions are put together into something called the "leaders’ dilemma matrix". It helps academic leaders see what might happen if they overreact, or under-react. Academic leaders are also guided by directives issued by governments.
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Why is it important?
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to uncertainty. The crisis response of academic institutions in such times affects many people. It is a big responsibility for those leading these institutions. Under-reacting could lead to more people becoming ill, or dying. Overreacting might compromise the civil rights of people. The outcomes of both these kinds of decisions could be drastic. Understanding these different consequences helps leaders decide how to handle a crisis. The leader’s dilemma, if not managed, may end up adversely affecting students, employees, and the rest of the community. KEY TAKEAWAY: Leaders of schools, colleges and universities make decisions that can have a big effect on lives in their local community. This project came up with a decision tool to help academic leaders make good decisions in a crisis.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Leaders’ Dilemma, Journal of Education Human Resources, January 2021, University of Toronto Press (UTPress),
DOI: 10.3138/jehr-2019-0019.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Digital learning during the pandemic
Monitored use of smart tools could improve learning experiences, especially in a remote setting.
What we can learn from how families of different race and status coped with home school
Parents’ employment status, perceived consequences of school closure, and routines for guiding their children’s learning at home were explored among families of high-, middle-, and low-income levels and among White parents and parents of color.
Black female principals in US public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic
Black female principals played an important role in ensuring student and community welfare during the pandemic. We need policies that ensure equitable funding, access, healthcare, and resources to Black communities.
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