Navigating the Barriers Presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

As educators and students navigated the changes amid COVID-19 and the switch to on-line learning, there became a critical need to identify and address the challenges experienced by all. This chapter highlights the findings and recommendations of a study that surveyed over 400 educators to gather their perceptions of the barriers presented by COVID-19 and their experiences as they adjusted to educating students during a pandemic. The COVID-19 Educator Impact Survey developed by the researchers focused on educators perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on instructional practices, emotional health, and student learning. Innovative practices to create a more equitable education with the intentional inclusion of Trauma Informed Practices and the newly created Guideposts for Trauma Informed Strategies are described. These guideposts can serve as recommendations for stakeholders with the goal of reimagining pedagogical practices and educational policies including trauma informed frameworks related to equity, access, and social-emotional learning skills for vulnerable populations.