Edition XX
End of Year Report (June 2020)
Welcome to the final EDDi edition of 2019/20 – our first year of publication.
And what a year it has been! We began exactly 12 months ago, back when hugging was allowed, face masks weren’t a thing, and social distancing meant you had unfriended someone on Facebook.
Fast-forward to today and things look very different. The world of international education has changed. Whether that is a permanent change remains to be seen, but 12 months ago no one expected education to look like it does today - mostly online, or, where schools are open, mainly with teachers and students appropriately distanced.
In the space of a year, Covid-19 has changed how we do education and Black Lives Matter is changing how we think about education. If the first half of 2020 taught us anything, it’s that uncertainty is the only certainty.
It is interesting then to look back on the articles EDDi published 12 months ago. In Edition I we covered:
Who would be a teacher?
Culture Shock: The Hidden Killer of International Education.
Defending against Fake News in Finland
From Learner-Centred to Learning Centred
International-Mindedness in Asia
All interesting and relevant, though somewhat tame when compared to the turmoil into which 2020 subsequently plunged international schools and education. Few teachers have had time to think about much besides “is my microphone muted”, “why doesn’t Zoom work” and, more seriously, “will I have a job next year”. For many, the latter remains an ongoing concern.
If you are reading this then at least you physically survived Covid-19, though probably not without undergoing some stress and a steep learning curve. EDDi has already offered its perspective on the pandemic and our final edition this year links to those pieces. It also links to various other popular pieces. Think of it as an ‘end of term report’ a summary of the year’s highlights (and a few lessor lights).
EDDi will return in August; who knows what the educational world will look then.
In the meantime, we hope that you have something restful and rejuvenating planned for the summer.
Happy reading.
EDDi
A brief intermission…
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COVID-19 Specials
For obvious reasons, by far and above the most popular EDDi articles this year were the COVID Specials. Between them, these pieces were read more than 10,000 times and were shared far and wide on social media - thank you to those who did the sharing.
Inevitably, events have somewhat overtaken the first piece. That’s the risk of committing thoughts to screen in these changeable times. The second piece, and its follow-on, the third, have stood the test of time though - both are still well worth reading, containing useful points of reflection for all educators.
The Asian Century is Underway
The next most popular article was our examination of the global shift to the East, garnering some 5,000 views.
For those who missed it, we discuss the global pressures (COVID-19 and racism amongst them) which are increasingly encouraging students to look to the East and not to the West when it comes to education - at least in geographical terms. Need evidence? Just ask the UK- and US-based schools and universities wondering what they will do next term (and beyond) when the Asian students they have long relied on choose to ‘stay home’.
Regular EDDitions
The most popular ‘regular’ EDDi was Edition XVII, our special feature on female leadership in international schools.
We asked the provocative question: “Where are all the female leaders?”. The comments suggest that, like us, you don’t believe there are enough of them. Some 2,000 people read the article, a good number also sharing on social media.
The least popular was Edition X. The articles on Mindfulness, #metoo, English language teaching in Vietnam, literature teaching in Singapore, and the impact of instructional time on learning, seeming to resonant less well.
So, to be read in one’s best teacherly voice, EDDi’s end of term report might go something like this:
EDDi started the year slowly but has improved this term. Effort has always been excellent, though recent topic work has been the most engaging. In future pieces EDDi is encouraged to be more thematic; stick with the academic underpinnings, but build them around popular and current themes.
In summary, EDDi has made a promising start. There are plenty of strengths but room for improvement. We look forward to continued progress and success when EDDi returns after the holidays.
Paid subscribers can access the full back catalogue of editions. Details here.
Book Chapter
Linked to Edition XVII, the free book chapter on female leadership in international schools is still available here. If you sign-up to access the chapter we will let you know when the finished book is available - September, hopefully.
And, Finally
For those of you about to embark on a summer vacation, a piece encouraging you to indulge yourself, at least a little.
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Happy Holidays and have a restful break!