Harvard psychology professor Ellen Langer said something on this week’s Sunday Morning news show that caught my attention and put me on a reflective path.

Langer said that human beings are unique in their ability to think about the future, which leads us to be thinkers about our unique and collective futures (Weisfogel & Ross, 2020).  While recognizing that plans create an illusion of control and that plans are guesses, these uncertain times call for us to contemplate and hope about what is to come.  Langer goes on to say, “But what we need to recognize is that if something leads us in a different direction, that could end up even better for us.”  So, in other words, by taking time to ponder, we each may be able to find a pathway toward a different but perhaps more enjoyable destination.

I thought about this all day.

Since returning to teaching four years ago, I have focused my research in three areas.  First, I have continued my career-long work in critically assessing the impact of Strategic Enrolment Management on the twin goals of achieving institutional health and student success.  Second, I renewed my interest in the international student experience by exploring student perspectives on the way we teach in our colleges and universities and how we can improve our teaching of culturally and linguistically diverse international students.  Third, after coauthoring two open educational resource (OER) textbooks and making increasing use of OERs in my teaching, I am beginning to focus on how we can achieve deep and interdisciplinary learning by enhancing our use of OERs.

While each of these research threads are different, it occurred to me that there is common ground between them; namely, the amplification of the student voice.  If ever there was a time to pay more attention to student views, it is now.  The COVID-19 Pandemic has left so many of us questioning the future.  This includes students, faculty and staff, and those who lead our postsecondary educational institutions.

Psychiatrist Pavan Madan, who was also interviewed on Sunday Morning, spoke about the anxiety that is impacting us all.  Dr. Madan suggests that “we put our big dreams aside for now and focus on the small, more manageable details of daily life” (Weisfogel & Ross, 2020).

So, in this public space, let me say that during the balance of the time we have in the Pandemic and for the time to follow, I will commit to amplifying the student voice in all I do. 

If this interests you, consider joining me (Clayton.Smith@uwindsor.ca).  I am thinking that both the journey and the destination will be quite enjoyable.

Clayton Smith

Weisfogel, A. & Ross, C. (27 December 2020).  Going to Plan B: When COVID pulls the rug out from under you.  Sunday Morning.  New York: CBS.  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/going-to-plan-b-when-covid-pulls-the-rug-out-from-under-you/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab8c&linkId=108041071