'All hands on deck!' responding to undergraduate criminology teaching and learning in a time of pandemic pedagogy

Abstract

Across the globe, the Coronavirus has impacted on every aspect of society, including Institutions of Higher Education. This article serves three purposes. Firstly, the authors reflect on one university’s response to the pandemic in ensuring continuity of teaching and learning via virtual methods. Secondly, the authors qualitatively explore and report on Criminology lecturers’ experiences regarding online teaching and assessment. Lastly, the authors present the findings of a survey among 322 students registered for undergraduate Criminology in the second academic term of 2020. At the institutional level, the University was in the fortunate position of already having had online learning mechanisms in place, although the decision to move teaching and learning fully online and within a relatively short timeframe caused uncertainty and stress in lecturers and students. Inequalities surfaced, since not all students had access to data and equipment needed for online learning. Adapting to online lecturing and assessment stimulated creativity in lecturers as new, alternative ways featured of promoting critical thinking and application of knowledge in students. Nevertheless, Criminology lecturers expressed concerns about the mental health of students and, in the absence of in-person contact with students, the inability of gauging whether students understand module content. In an attempt to leave no student behind, lecturers even made use of social media to communicate study material with students and to enquire about their wellbeing. The survey results show that the majority of students moved back to their families before lockdown commenced. Students spent significantly (r = 0.49) more time on online learning during lockdown, and nearly half were worried about successfully completing the academic year. Two-thirds of students stated that the change in teaching methods caused them stress. Overall, the results suggest that teaching and learning of undergraduate Criminology will move towards a hybrid, more student-centred approach at the University.