University teachers’ shifting views of successful learning environments in the future

Abstract

ABSTRACT University teachers are expected to continuously improve their practice, but research about their viewpoints of future-ready universities is scarce. The paper contributes to educational research through paired Q methodology and investigates university teachers’ shifting views of successful future learning environments, while being forced to move to fully digital solutions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Four pre-pandemic (January 2020) and two while-pandemic viewpoints (November 2020) are qualitatively interpreted and show that lived experiences during the pandemic led to a polarization of participants’ subjective perspectives. Despite challenging conditions, university teachers view digital and distance teaching more positively, but remain skeptical concerning technologically-enhanced on-campus learning environments. Results also indicate a largely unchanged consensus regarding the importance of critical thinking and creativity. This exploratory study’s results allow forward-thinking dialogues about new policies in potentially ever more hybrid learning environments with various educational stakeholders, both within the case university in Sweden and other educational institutions.