Distance Learning at the Level of Primary Education: Parents’ Opinions and Reflections

Abstract

Distance learning is a type of instruction between a teacher and students separated by a physical distance where communication takes place through mediated information encompassing one or more technological media. In other words, the instruction participants stay in different places, yet take part in the same learning activities sequenced, paced and controlled by the teacher using new technologies. The paper aims to show the advantages and disadvantages of distance education during the COVID-19 lockdown at the primary level, the emphasis being placed upon, among others, the teacher–student and student–student relationships, the infrastructure and skills required for a lesson, as well as some “food for thought” in the form of possible changes and areas of improvement to be introduced suggested by the sample. The data comes from the questionnaire distributed among 60 parents of first graders. This age group is believed to be extremely demanding and difficult to teach, mainly due to the literacy and numeracy skills included in the core curriculum, falling on the onset of the first grade in a primary school.