The Ethics of Pandemic Learning Pods

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This interactive symposium session explores the ethical questions raised by the rapid development of “pandemic pods.” These learning pods include a variety of approaches for managing remote learning amid widespread school closures. While diverse, these models threaten to exacerbate existing inequities, as wealthier parents will be able to create enriching learning experiences for their children, while other children will not have access to the same kinds of experiences, particularly given the uneven supports for remote learning. This session brings together a diverse group of philosophers, school leaders and policy researchers to consider these new forms of learning, and the challenges they pose for questions of justice and equity.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Philosophical Studies in Education

Cosponsor

• Division L - Educational Policies and Politics

Chairs

• Terri S. Wilson, University of Colorado Boulder

• Jacob Fay, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University

Papers

• The Ethical Dilemma of Learning Pods - Jacob Fay, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University

• Individualized Choices in Unjust Contexts - Terri S. Wilson, University of Colorado Boulder

• Should Schools Help Organize Pods? - Ana Carolina Brito, Boston Public Schools

• Toward Collective Action and Systemic Solutions - Erica Owyang Turner, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Discussant

• Meira Levinson, Harvard University