| Abstrakt: |
The global pandemic led to an expansion of research about education in the new normal. Students' lived experiences were mostly documented through surveys or in-depth online interviews due to movement restrictions. One issue with such approaches is that students are guided by set questions and have limited opportunities to cathartically reflect upon their experiences. With this in mind, a case study approach was used with the overarching aim of exploring the lived experiences of students in Fiji during the global pandemic using an online reflective assessment. As part of their coursework, students were required to complete a reflective assessment based on their pandemic-related experiences. Sixty submissions met the inclusion criteria of the current study and were included based on purposive sampling. Findings from this study support Sustainable Development Goal 4 as it confirmed student experiences, including financial, learning, lifestyle and mental health challenges. Students also reflected upon the notion of 'social distancing versus social disrespect' as, in the case of Fiji, the phrase 'it takes a whole village' is not just a metaphor but literal because the concept of individualism is alien to the socio-cultural context. Positive reflections were also documented, including the revival of traditional systems (veisa (barter system)), strengthening social connectedness using technology, and demonstrating values such as resilience and genuine care. This research also suggests the value of reflective assessments using online platforms to avoid classroom constraints and encourage students to mine their own lives for insight away from a traditional classroom setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
