Project Context

The co-created Learning from Crisis project explored what might be learned and embedded from the experience of and responses to Covid-19 in relation to teaching and learning at Warwick. It resulted in a Learning Circle co-created by students and staff, events run by the RSA for WIHEA and the University community, and an enquiry project which will be reporting its findings this year. In addition, toolkits for teachers and learners across the university supported opportunities for reflective learning from the experiences of 2020-21. Key themes that have emerged during the project include cultures of care, and the value of supporting and capturing innovative practices as they develop.

Project Aims

• Enhanced learning outcomes within the university going forward. This was particularly relevant in areas identified within the University’s recently released education priorities, namely ‘ensuring that the barriers faced by different groups are widely understood and tackled, consciously learn from [blended learning] and set a direction for the digital education at Warwick in the long-term’, understanding the impact of assessment moving online.
• Embedded learning from across the university by engaging with people working within roles strategically relevant to the university. This supported Warwick in responding more rapidly and robustly to future crises, and considered which aspects of the student experience have been enhanced or harmed during the pandemic.
• Engaged with students from all faculties and years across the university. Within that, the project sought to engage with students who have diverse learning needs, such as students with disabilities, international students, students with learning differences and accessibility needs.

Project Impact

Learning Circle

The project established a new Learning Circle in WIHEA, which met fortnightly after March 2021, which led to community building and the opportunity to share conversations and develop understanding over time.

The project also created toolkits and reading lists for use in teaching and learning on building community and reflecting on our learning from the pandemic which will be shared in 2022.

Student Experience

A recurring theme of the enquiry has been the value students placed on the dialogue between staff and students, and the understanding that developed through conversations and enhanced institutional understanding that has developed as a consequence. More to be shared on this through the dissemination of a report and toolkits this academic year.

The wider community

This will be expounded in the forthcoming enquiry report. The RSA framework and toolkits have been adopted in various places across the university. The toolkit developed by the LfC project will be made widely available through IATL and WIHEA (and, we hope, LDCU).

The legacy of this project is an approach to considering the impact of the pandemic on teaching and learning, embedding the learning of the last 18 months in the individual practice of learners and teachers, as well as in the institution of Warwick more widely.

Project Team

Project Leads

Naomi de la TourLink opens in a new window (IATL)	Bob Thomson (WBS)

Project Team:

Tiana Holgate (Sociology UG)	Gervaise Savvias (Law UG)	Nana Adwoa Obeng (Philosophy UG)

Collaborators

RSA (External organization), Christopher Butcher