{"id":116651,"date":"2021-02-12T10:06:55","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T09:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/?p=116651"},"modified":"2021-02-22T08:43:05","modified_gmt":"2021-02-22T07:43:05","slug":"survey-paints-grim-picture-of-academics-mental-health-during-lockdowns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/survey-paints-grim-picture-of-academics-mental-health-during-lockdowns\/","title":{"rendered":"Survey paints grim picture of academics\u2019 mental health during lockdowns"},"content":{"rendered":"

It will be troubling reading for the world\u2019s university managers struggling to chart a course out of the current crisis.<\/p>\n

University staff are on the brink of breakdown after the switch from in-person to online teaching, according to an international survey. And they have deep reservations about the sustainability of a long-term online future.<\/p>\n

\u00bbIt is like a war zone,\u00ab one senior manager was quoted as saying in the so-called Digital Teaching Survey by Times Higher Education <\/a>that quizzed university educators on their well-being in connection with the 2020-21 worldwide lockdowns of campuses.<\/p>\n

\u00bbThe majority of staff are in burnout and breakdown territory,\u00ab another senior lecturer in the social sciences, added. And \u00bbI feel like I\u2019m cracking up with the pressure,\u00ab a reader in the life sciences said.<\/p>\n

The survey was based on 520 self-selecting respondents from 46 countries representing all continents, and was carried out in October and November 2020.<\/p>\n

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Digital Teaching Survey<\/p>\n

The Digital Teaching Survey<\/a> from Times Higher Education found that:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 More than half of respondents say the initial move to online teaching had a negative effect on their mental health<\/strong>. Nearly six in 10 believe it hit their students\u2019 mental health.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Only one in five believe that their students value remote education<\/strong> as much as face-to-face \u2013 \u00a0but less than one in three think tuition fees should be discounted when instruction moves online.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Four in 10 junior academics believe their reopened universities\u2019 planning for Covid outbreaks<\/strong> was robust, compared with seven in 10 senior managers.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Less than one in five respondents consider a two-track physical and online approach to teaching<\/strong> sustainable. Two out of five regard an online-only future as sustainable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Dazed from first wave<\/h3>\n

Universities had previously been reluctant to embrace online teaching, and only 26 per cent of respondents had a \u2018reasonable amount\u2019 or \u2018a lot\u2019 of experience in online teaching prior to the first wave of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

To deliver the equivalent of a one-hour lecture takes at least 3-4 hours for recording and uploading<\/p>\n

Humanities lecturer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This left universities reeling and off-balance when the first wave of the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, according to the survey.<\/p>\n

While one senior lecturer in the humanities praised the heroism of their learning and teaching development team that support\u00aded \u00bbus from the beginning \u2026 introducing us to best practice and theory in digital peda\u00adgogy that we could apply at once,\u00ab others were more critical.<\/p>\n

Read also:<\/strong> Five tips for university instructors to improve online teaching<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

A social science lecturer complained that all of their university\u2019s training was \u00bbfocused solely on pedagogic ideas \u2013 for example, \u2018you can embed emojis\u2019 \u2013 with no step-by-step guidance of what to press, how to set up Teams\/groups\/online learning spaces. It was incredibly stressful, frustrating and demoralising.\u00ab<\/p>\n

Huge workload<\/h3>\n

89 per cent of respondents said that their workload increased following the transition to online teaching \u2013 aside from commitments at home. This was consistent across all disciplines, regions and seniority.<\/p>\n

I think they are trying to take advantage of university leni\u00adency with Covid. I have no idea how being \u2018stuck at home\u2019 could negatively impact on your ability to get assignments done!<\/p>\n

Senior lecturer in business and management<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A humanities lecturer said that \u00bbto deliver the equivalent of a one-hour lecture takes at least 3-4 hours for recording and uploading (usually in several shorter segments). With editing and captioning, it\u2019s more like 8-10 hours. Seminars also require a lot more preparation. We have to spend a lot more time communicating with students and explaining to them how things work \u2026 When student services, registration, welfare and IT services get overwhelmed by the demand, the students come to their teachers or personal tutors instead.\u00ab<\/p>\n

Support from institutions was minimal for some. A profes\u00adsor in the social sciences received \u00bblots of encouraging words and links to mindfulness apps, but workload pressure has been piled on.\u00ab<\/p>\n

Half of lecturers negative on mental health<\/h3>\n

51 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the initial move to online teaching had a negative effect on their mental health.<\/p>\n

A social sciences lecturer suffered, for the first time in their life, anxiety and an eating disorder, resulting in several weeks of sick leave: \u00bbThe mass uncertainty, lack of institutional (and financial) support, and increased demands [were] crippling.\u00ab<\/p>\n

Worried about students<\/h3>\n

University educators in the survey voiced concern about students\u2019 well-being. 59 per cent agreed or strongly agreed with learning being adversely affected by the digital switch.
\n
\nA senior humanities lecturer became \u00bba sounding board\u00ab for their students to \u00bblament and\/or vent. This took an accumulative toll on me over the semester and a fatigue that spilled into the next: some\u00adthing that management was not interested in hearing about.\u00ab<\/p>\n

A senior lecturer in business and management was more upbeat however. Few of their students \u00bbfussed\u00ab and those who did \u00bbwere weak students anyway and I think they are trying to take advantage of university leni\u00adency with Covid. I have no idea how being \u2018stuck at home\u2019 could negatively impact on your ability to get assignments done!\u00ab<\/p>\n

Quality of service drops, but still need tuition fees<\/h3>\n

In countries that charge tuition fees there have been regular calls from students to have fees reduced when teaching is moved online. 52 per cent of university lecturers \u00a0disagree with fee reductions however, despite the decline in the value in the service that universities offer.
\n
\n\u00bbI get that the quality of the experience is not as good,\u00ab as one humanities lecturer puts it:\u00a0 \u00bbbut everyone has invested so much time and money in ensuring students get the best deal they can.\u00ab<\/p>\n

Hybrid is double the work<\/h3>\n

The uncertainty of the Covid situation obliged many academics to plan and deliver classes both online and in person. 67 per cent, two out of three, were asked to prepare classes both online and in person ahead of the most recent term or semester.<\/p>\n

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after Covid: Which aspects of digital?<\/p>\n

Are there any aspects of the digital switch that you think should be retained regardless of covid-related requirements?<\/em><\/p>\n

Percentage of respondents choosing this option. Note: respondents could choose more than one option<\/p>\n