1/13. Is #EmergencyeLearning a case of securitization?

My #WIISTOTC presentation has 4 sections: key justifications for emergency eLearning, content analysis of 90 E-eL declarations, application of securitization theory, and concluding thoughts on post-pandemic pedagogy.
3/13 Face-to-face (F2F) classes are presented as public health threats b/c of the possibility of transmission among asymptomatic/mildly-symptomatic & devastating effects of cluster transmission (from Shincheonji Church to Spring Break) among other reasons. #WIISTOTC
4/13 In the sample, 82% of American and 62% of Canadian declarations explicitly frame the suspension of F2F classes and transition to E-eL measures as protecting the community, with other common frames including managing uncertainty/risk and defending against a threat. #WIISTOTC
6/13 “Pandemics are defeated by bold measures,” and this leads to the President making “important decisions.” There is a clear threat presented (F2F classes), a clear deciding actor (the President), and extraordinary measures that require community cooperation (E-eL). #WIISTOTC
7/13 I argue that the reason F2F classes can now only be discussed in terms of security and threat is because schooling has been SECURITIZED.
Emergency eLearning is the policy-form of securitized schooling in response to #COVID19. But what does that mean for the future? #WIISTOTC
8/13 Theorists of securitization and exceptional politics have pointed to the momentum that emergency measures can lead to a “new normal” – and pressures from multiple directions are already emerging for Emergency eLearning to be normalized. #WIISTOTC
10/13 Beyond #highered, we have seen political pundits advocating for eLearning as a measure of public austerity jump on the example of Harvard adopting emergency eLearning as proof-of-concept. #WIISTOTC
11/13 So what can securitization teach us?
We are in a crisis where securitizing F2F classes through emergency eLearning seems warranted. But contrary to forces of private profit & public austerity, when the emergency is over we must DESECURITIZE face-to-face learning. #WIISTOTC
12/13 Opt-in, asynchronous eLearning can make #highered accessible to part-time learners with other responsibilities. Hybrid models can move content delivery online to maximize meaningful, personal, and active use of F2F class time. #WIISTOTC
13/13 Our existing education systems are imperfect, but only by undoing the securitization of schooling can we open up a space for discussions about improvements. We must all be prepared to exercise a concerted effort to DESECURITIZE schooling post-COVID.
/end
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