news-category: College of Education

Book Co-edited by GWU Dean Prince H. Bull Examines Post-COVID-19 Education Environment

A collage featuring Dr. Patterson on the left, the book cover in the middle and Dr. Bull on the right

Resource Includes International Contributions and Articles from Faculty, Students and Alumna

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—A new book co-edited by Dr. Prince Hycy Bull, dean of Gardner-Webb University’s College of Education, and Dr. Gerrelyn Chunn Patterson of North Carolina A&T (NCAT) University, will help educators in the post-COVID-19 environment. “Redefining Teacher Education and Teacher Preparation Programs in the Post-COVID-19 Era” also includes contributions from GWU faculty, students and an alumna.

Published by IGI Global, the book documents the effects of COVID-19 on educators and students and identifies best practices. “We decided to produce this book after we realized the drastic shifts we were making as a College of Education to provide support to our candidates who are practitioners and those who were pre-service teachers in the field,” Bull shared. “Our candidates in the master’s and doctoral programs were provided with vivid first-hand experiences with crisis, modifications, and impact on their wellness and mental health. As dean, I experienced firsthand the pressures faced by our faculty and clinical supervisors. I tried to develop contingency plans and structures but realized that the problem was localized. It was with this mindset that my colleague, Dr. Gerrelyn Patterson, and I started the book to capture history in the fall of 2020.” 

Patterson is department chair of the educator preparation program at NCAT. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from N.C. Central University (Durham), a master’s in English education from the University of Virginia (Charlottesville), and a Ph.D. in curriculum, culture and change from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The book provides a global perspective with submissions from India, Turkey, Portugal, and America. Discussed are delivery models, training procedures, and theoretical frameworks. Various other topics include district policies and guidelines; state, national, and international standards; digital design and delivery of content; personal experiences, wellness and mental health, and the latest empirical research findings on the state of teacher education preparation.

Contributions to the book from others in the Gardner-Webb community include:

  • “Our Experiences and Voices,” a chapter co-authored by three Gardner-Webb Master of Arts in Instructional Technology (MAIT) graduate candidates, Brittany Jackson, Sherna Henry, and Johnna Freestone.
  • “The Importance of Supporting the Social-Emotional Skills of Teacher Educators in the Post-Covid Era,” an article co-authored by Dr. Jennifer Putnam, associate professor and associate dean, with 2021 doctoral graduate, Dr. Mindy Duckworth.
  • “Engaging Students Through Integrated Pedagogy: A Case Study From A Year of Pandemic Teaching,” a chapter by professors of chemistry, Dr. Stefka Eddins and Dr. Venita Totten.
  • The foreword by Dr. Sydney Brown, professor and dean of Graduate Studies.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.

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