Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.32903/zs.66.2.8
DISTANCE LEARNING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCES AT THE UPPER ELEMENTARY LEVEL (5TH-8TH GRADE)
Lea Ferlin
; Vladimir Nazor Elementary School Pazin, Croatia
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present the results of a quantitative research study of the experiences of
pupils, their parents and teachers involved in distance learning at the upper elementary level. The
research sample consisted of 517 pupils (5th-8th Grade), 458 parents and 53 teachers at the Vladimir
Nazor Elementary School in Pazin. The results show that pupils felt overloaded, strained and
confused as a consequence of not interacting with their teachers in person. Nevertheless, the interactive
learning materials and the convenience of distance learning were seen as benefits of the
programme. For the pupils’ parents, the biggest hurdles were lack of time, lack of comprehension
of educational resources, work commitments and the inability to handle ICT well. The teachers missed
the ability to further clarify instructions, but the biggest obstacles for them were not being able
to test their pupils’ knowledge of the subject content and organizing their work schedule. Despite
the issues, both the parents and the teachers were satisfied with how distance learning was
organized. The results have important implications regarding educational practices, but they also
indicate the importance of further research in the field of distance learning.
Keywords
distance learning; pupils; parents; teachers; elementary school
Hrčak ID:
254934
URI
Publication date:
2.12.2020.
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