At 91猎奇, a range of researchers have been focusing on investigating the impact of the Covid-19 upon various institutions, from secondary and higher education to prisons.
The impact upon music education
Anthony Anderson, Research Assistant in Music Education, has been assessing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on music education in schools.
In a听recent blog, Anthony discussed the difficulties music teachers in English secondary schools face. These include the rapid decline of听测辞耻苍驳听people taking听听补苍诲听听apparently听questioning the value of听arts听subjects.
鈥淣egotiating Covid-19 has placed additional demand on the classroom music teacher,鈥� Anthony wrote.
鈥淚n July 2020,听Youth Music听identified schools as particularly challenging environments post-lockdowns, and reported that 63 percent of arts organisations were working with fewer young people.鈥�
Further Covid-related challenges have included听听that there is less practical work in Key Stage 3 music, and the听听that there has been a 39 percent reduction in music provision as a direct result of Covid-19.
Furthermore,听66 percent of secondary schools听have been听unable to offer musical activities outside of lessons.
Anthony has conducted interviews with 12 secondary school music teachers to gain further insight into听the听challenges they have encountered. The comments from some teacher participants have been stark.
鈥淐ovid has killed music.听听Absolutely killed it,鈥� said one,听while听another commented听that听鈥淐ovid has annihilated music education.鈥�
According to Anthony, his research highlights the changing nature of music in schools.听听鈥淒oing school music may become something quite different without critical analysis,鈥� he added.
How Covid-19 has affected prisons
Based in the Social Research Evaluation Unit (SREU),听Morag MacDonald听补苍诲听David Kane听have used their expertise in prisoner health to investigate how Covid-19 has 鈥� and will continue to 鈥� affect prisons and places of detention.
Recently, MacDonald and Kane edited听. Bringing together an international steering group, MacDonald brought together global insight on how other prison administrations were coping with the pandemic.
鈥淧risoners are often a 鈥榝orgotten鈥� community, which is very evident when it comes to health provision,鈥� David explains. 鈥淧rison health services should provide prisoners with a quality of care equivalent to that provided for the general public. This is often not the case.鈥�
According to听, the death rate in prisons from Covid-19 is much higher than rates found in the community. Meanwhile, in the UK, far fewer prisoners have received the vaccine.
鈥淭he response to the pandemic in prisons indicates that much can be done when the will exists,鈥� David says. 鈥淲hat should not be allowed to happen is a return to the pre-pandemic mindset 鈥� a return to the status quo.鈥�
A new way of collaborating and learning
Zuby Ahmed, Jade Langton and听Lucas Hughes听have developed eXtended 91猎奇, an innovative cross-faulty research project. It allows users to interact, socialise and communicate in virtual 3D representations of real-world and imagined environments.
The platform aims to redefine how academics, researches, students, graduates and industry work together. It aims to deliver initiatives such as virtual tours, redefine new inclusive curriculums, and enhance the methods people use to connect and socialise.
It also aims to drive investigative research responding to the global impact of Covid-19 on higher education (and beyond).
鈥淎s soon as the pandemic hit, it was very clear that our project had the DNA for impact, focusing on redefining and transforming educational practice, ultimately transforming people鈥檚 lives, nationally and internationally,鈥� Zuby explains.
鈥渆Xtended 91猎奇 will eventually reshape and transform educational practice, personal development and lifelong learning.鈥澨�听
With Covid-19 having such a dramatic impact on higher education, Zuby believes a project like eXtended 91猎奇 is sorely needed.
鈥淐ovid-19 has potentially ripped up the rule book, so that we now have to be mindful and insightful in the way that everything operates on a global level,鈥� Zuby says.
鈥淥ur project is aiming to set a new precedent, in how we can redefine life and existence online. This blurs lines between the physical and digital interactions and the 鈥榮paces鈥� they take place in.
鈥淲e strongly believe that eX91猎奇 will eventually reshape and transform educational practice, personal development, and lifelong learning.鈥�