Changes in the organization of the educational process during the Covid-19 pandemic period: analysis of pre-school teachers' experiences

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on education and teaching systems. It has fundamentally changed the way we learn, teach, communicate and collaborate within and between our education and teaching communities. This has affected learners, their families, teachers, heads of institutions, as well as the wider community. The purpose of this study is to analyse the pre-school teachers' experiences about changes in the organization of the educational process during the covid-19 pandemic period (in Lithuania). The strategy of qualitative research was chosen for the study, 15 Klaipeda city pre-school education teachers were interviewed. The study revealed that teachers did not change the content of education programs, sought to maintain the continuity of education and develop all the competencies of preschool children. Participants of the educational process experienced a variety of emotions and disturbances. Teachers missed for more decisive action of the institution's administration. Many teachers note that it was difficult to manage time and organize activities for children. The opinion of educators discovered during the research helped to highlight advantages and disadvantages of distance pre-school education. Although the participants of the education process experienced difficulties, distance education enabled teachers to develop subject competencies and improve their ability to use ICT in the educational process.

La pandemia COVID-19 ha tenido un gran impacto en la educación y en la enseñanza, en relación a las maneras de aprender, enseñar, comunicarse, y colaborar entre y con la comunidad; y afectando al alumnado, sus familias, profesorado, equipos directivos de los centros educativos, así como a la comunidad en general. El propósito de este estudio es analizar las experiencias de los profesores de preescolar sobre los cambios en la organización del proceso educativo durante la pandemia covid-19 (en Lituania). Se eligió la estrategia de investigación cualitativa para el estudio, se entrevistó a 15 maestros de educación preescolar de la ciudad de Klaipeda. El estudio reveló que los maestros no cambiaron el contenido de los programas educativos, buscaron mantener la continuidad de la educación y desarrollar todas las competencias de los niños en edad preescolar. Los participantes del proceso educativo experimentaron una variedad de emociones y perturbaciones. Los maestros echaron de menos una acción más decisiva de la institución. Muchos maestros señalan que era difícil administrar el tiempo y organizar actividades para los niños. Aunque los participantes en el proceso educativo experimentaron dificultades, la educación a distancia permitió a los maestros desarrollar competencias temáticas y mejorar su capacidad para utilizar las TIC en el proceso educativo.