DISTANCE THEATRE EDUCATION IN GREEK PRIMARY SCHOOL DURING COVID-19 THROUGH THE EYES OF THE THEATRE TEACHERS

Authors

  • Damiani Vlachava Theatre Teacher, Department of Theatre, Faculty of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v9i12.4588

Keywords:

theatre education, distance education, teachers' views, primary school

Abstract

The suspension of school operations, which lasted for a long period of time to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, posed significant challenges to educational institutions to continue their operations smoothly. This pilot research study explores the views and experiences of 50 theatre teachers on the implementation of distance learning in primary schools during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this research, an attempt was made to investigate the difficulties and obstacles that arose during the implementation of distance learning, as well as to record the challenges and opportunities for teaching the theatre course. The main objectives of the study were to explore the challenges of the role of theatre teachers and the difficulties they were faced with, the possibilities of their cooperation with the leadership of the school units, with their colleagues, as well as the communication with children and their families. A questionnaire was used as the main research tool for data collection, which was designed and consisted of Likert scale questions. Some of the main findings were the lack of preparation of teachers in the implementation of distance learning, technical barriers, high levels of stress, and intense concern in the digital classroom. Also, the challenges and difficulties of the students in attending the distance learning of the theatre education were mentioned, as well as the involvement of the parents in the process. Finally, the findings regarding the support and attitude of the school leadership are commented.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter

Author Biography

  • Damiani Vlachava, Theatre Teacher, Department of Theatre, Faculty of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
    Damiani Vlachava studied Theatre (BA) at the Department of Theatre, Faculty of Fine Arts, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Her undergraduate courses specialize in applied drama in formal and non-formal education and are equally based on theatre education methodologies, on practices of contemporary performance. Her research focuses on the connections between performance and contemporary pedagogy, and on theatre as a form of social intervention.

References

Al-KhatirAl-Arimi, A. M. (2014). Distance learning. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 152, 82-88.

Georgoulakou, I., & Kostas, A. (2022). Obstacles to the implementation of Distance Education during the Pandemic - Opinions of special and general education teachers in High School. Open Education: The Journal for Open and Distance Education and Educational Technology, 18(1), 129-150.

Dimitriadis, S. (2015). Learning Theories and educational Software. Association of Greek Academic Libraries, Kallipos.

Dhawan, S. (2020). Online Learning: A Panacea in the Time of COVID-19 Crisis. Journal of Educational Technology, 49(1), 5-22. doi: 10.1177/0047239520934018. https://edutechthesis.uniwa.gr/wp-content/uploads/sites/207/2020/08/COVID1.pdf

Evangelou, (2021). The views of primary education teachers of the region of Epirus from the implementation of distance education - modern and asynchronous - during the period of Covid-19. Open Education: The Journal of Open and Distance Education and Educational Technology, 17(2), 23-40. https://doi.org/10.12681/jode.25427

Hui, A., & Lau, S. (2006). Drama education: A touch of the creative mind and communicative-expressive ability of elementary school children in Hong Kong. Thinking skills and creativity, 1(1), 34-40.

Karalis, T., & Raikou, N. (2020). Teaching at the times of COVID-19: Inferences and implications for higher education pedagogy. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(5), 479-493.

Kioulanis, S. (2020). Challenges and assumptions for distance education or interpretively approaching a recent research on the implementation of distance school education in our country. Retrieved on 28/05/2021 from: https://www.kioulanis.gr/images/001distance.pdf

Klouvatos, K. (2021). Identification of problems in the period of distance education in primary and secondary education in the schools of the area of competence of KESY Naxos. Naxos: Center for Educational & Counseling Support (K.E.S.Y.) of Naxos.

Kotsifakos, D., Logaras, X., & Rapti, M. (2021). From school websites to video conferencing and online classrooms: An unseen but real relationship of online school environments. Case study: 7th Laboratory Center of Piraeus. Open Education: The journal of Open and Distance Education and Educational Technology, 17(2), 152-162.

Kouretzis, L. (1991). The theatrical game. Athens: Kastanioti.

Liakopoulou, E., & Stavropoulou, E. (2021). Distance education in the Greek school during the covid-19 period: concerns, difficulties and actions taken to address them. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference "From the 20th to the 21st century in 15 days: The abrupt transition of our educational reality to digital environments" (pp. 331-341). Electronic version: Hellenic Documentation Center.

Lionarakis, A., Manousou, G., Hartofylaka, A., Papadimitriou, S., & Ioakeimidou, S. (2021). Editorial 2021. Open Education: The journal for Open and Distance Education and Educational Technology, 17(1), 4-5. doi: https://doi.org/10.12681/jode.26726

Mouzakis, X., Koutromanos, G., & Tsoli, K. (2021). Emergency remote teaching during the pandemic: Educators' beliefs and experiences. In Th. Bratitsis (Ed.) Volume of Proceedings 12th Panhellenic and International Conference "The T.P.E. in Education" Florina, Greece (online), May 14-16, 2021 (pp. 108-115). Electronic version. Available at: https://www.etpe.gr/conf/?cid=38

Bakirtzi, I. (2020). Closing schools. And now what; - An investigation of teachers' views on synchronous and asynchronous education. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference "From the 20th to the 21st century in 15 days: The abrupt transition of our educational reality to digital environments. Attitudes-Perceptions-Scenarios-Perspectives-Proposals" (pp. 324-330). Electronic Edition: Hellenic Documentation Center.

Nikiforos, S., Tzanavaris, S., & Kermanidis, K. L. (2020). Post-pandemic pedagogy: Distance education in Greece during COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of the teachers. European Journal of Engineering and Technology Research. CIE. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejers.2020.0.CIE.2305.

Nikolaidou, N., & Kostas, A. (2021). Readiness of primary education teachers for emergency online teaching in the middle of a pandemic: Opinions of teachers of the prefecture of Thessaloniki. In Th. Bratitsis (Ed.) Volume of Proceedings 12th Panhellenic and International Conference "The T.P.E. in Education" Florina Greece (online), May 14-16, 2021 (pp. 82-89). Electronic version. Available at: https://www.etpe.gr/conf/?cid=38

Papazoglou, Th., Kostas, A., & Sofos, A. (2021). The school unit during emergency online education: Case study of the primary school of Kalamou, Attica. In Th. Bratitsis (Ed.) Volume of Proceedings 12th Panhellenic and International Conference "The T.P.E. in Education" Florina Greece (online), May 14-16, 2021 (pp. 100-1007). Electronic version. Available at: https://www.etpe.gr/conf/?cid=38

Paraschou, B., Kritikos, G., & Kostas, A. (2021). Synchronous & asynchronous distance education during the 1st phase of the pandemic due to COVID-19: Conclusions from the accelerated training program of the University of the Aegean. In Th. Bratitsis (Ed.) Volume of Proceedings 12th Panhellenic and International Conference "The T.P.E. in Education" Florina Greece (online), May 14-16, 2021 (pp. 42-57). Electronic version. Available at: https://www.etpe.gr/conf/?cid=38

Phan, T., & Dang, L. T. (2017). Teacher readiness for online teaching: A critical review. International Journal Open Distance E-Learning, 3(1), 1-16.

Prins, H. A. S. (2008). Benefits of the arts in kindergarten- An ESL Perspective. The Internet TESL Journal, 14(7).

Raikou, N., Konstantopoulou, G., & Lavidas, K. (2021). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Greek teachers and the emerging challenges for their professional development. The Journal for Open and Distance Education and Educational, 17(1), 6-18.

Rammos, D., & Bratitsis, T. (2020). Communication with parents in the context of distance education in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic. The case of the primary school. In Th. Bratitsis (Ed.), Proceedings of the 3rd Panhellenic Conference entitled: "Open Educational Resources and Electronic Learning", 3 – 4 October 2020 (p. 22). Florina: Laboratory of Creativity, Innovation and Technology in Education of the University of Western Macedonia, Hellenic Scientific Association of Information and Communication Technologies in Education.

Reimers, F., Schleicher, A., Saavedra, J., & Tuominen, S. (2020). Supporting the continuation of teaching and learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Annotated resources for online learning. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/education/Supporting-the-continuation-of-teaching-and-learning-during-the-COVID-19-pandemic.pdf

Stachteas, X., & Stachteas, F. (2020). Tracking teachers' views on distance education at the beginning of the pandemic. Education Sciences, 2020(2), 173-194.

Trivyzadakis (2013). Approaching Art in distance learning: The necessity of oral interaction. Proceedings of 7th International Conference in Open & Distance Learning – November 2013, Athens, Greece, vol. 7, Part B (pp. 61-66).

Fanouraki, K. (2016). Theater in education using digital technologies. Athens: Papazisi.

Chrysostomou, A. (2020). Distance education: Views and attitudes of primary school teachers during the temporary closure of schools due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Master's Thesis DPMS Pedagogy through Innovative Technologies and Biomedical Approaches.

Downloads

Published

2022-12-12

Issue

Section

Articles