DISTANCE EDUCATION IN THE PANDEMIC ERA: THE VIEWS OF GREEK GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION REGARDING READINESS, CHALLENGES AND THE POST-COVID EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES

Authors

  • Giannouli Vasiliki Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Special Education and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece, Egnatia 156, 54636, Greece
  • Sarris Dimitrios Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Preschool Education, University of Ioannina, Epirus, Greece
  • Papadopoulou Maro M.Sc in Special Education, Faculty of Social Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece, Egnatia 156, 54636, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v7i4.4050

Keywords:

distance education, distance learning, COVID-19, teachers' views, readiness, challenges

Abstract

The present study, via the use of a questionnaire, examined the views of 138 Greek teachers, of general and special education, on the readiness for distance education, the challenges they face during the courses, and the measures to be taken in education in case of a next crisis such as Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Educators’ views on the measures to be taken by educational institutions in order to be ready to provide distance education in the post-COVID era were also examined. The analysis of results showed that Special Education teachers appeared to be more ready for distance education; indeed, their field of employment itself, namely teaching, their years of service, the age and the level of studies were found to have a statistically significant influence on their answers. The greater challenge that both groups of teachers faced were the difficulties in communicating with their students. It became apparent also the great need for training teachers in issues related to distance education as well as the protection of their personal data of their students. 

 

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Author Biographies

  • Giannouli Vasiliki, Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Special Education and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece, Egnatia 156, 54636, Greece
    Giannouli Vasiliki is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Special Education and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Greece, the last six years. Her research interests are in areas of School Psychology, Specific Learning Disorders, ADHD, Psycho-emotional and Psychosocial development/adjustment of children with special education needs.
  • Sarris Dimitrios, Assistant Professor, Dr., Department of Preschool Education, University of Ioannina, Epirus, Greece
    Sarris Dimitrio is an Assistant Professor, Department of Preschool Education, University of Ioannina, Greece. His research interests are Learning difficulties (evaluation-diagnosis-treatment), the evaluation of personality and intelligence, and the evaluation of children and adolescents with developmental disorders-psychopathology. He is also the director of the laboratory of Special and Therapeutic Education of the University of Ioannina, Greece.
  • Papadopoulou Maro, M.Sc in Special Education, Faculty of Social Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece, Egnatia 156, 54636, Greece
    Papodopoulou Maro was an MSc student at the Department of Special Education and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Greece and she has successfully completed her Master Degree (Master of Science Degree without fees –the acceptance of the attendees is ensured after their successful entry exams).

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Published

2021-12-01

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 4 (2021)

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