Emergency distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic: A qualitative research from a special education perspective

Abstract

It is a fact that the world was caught unprepared for the Covid-19 outbreak. Especially when the epidemic broke out in many countries, educational activities were suspended for a while, and then distance education was started. Since this process is the result of a sudden transition, it has been seen that it brings with it many difficulties. Among these difficulties, perhaps the most prominent was the situation of students who need special education and special education teachers. In this direction, the aim of the study is to determine the difficulties experienced by students with special needs and special education teachers in this process. This research was carried out within the framework of the qualitative method. Within the scope of the research, 20 special education teachers were reached, and their opinions were taken with a semi-structured interview form. The responses received were divided into codes and categories, which were analyzed by content analysis, one of the qualitative analysis methods. According to the findings, special education teachers stated that they had the most difficulty in communicating with their students while negating the distance education process. Accessibility problem was also stated as an important problem and the problems caused by low parental technology literacy were emphasized. Although special education teachers find positive justifications for ensuring that education somehow continues in the distance education process, they make several valuable suggestions for structuring the system more inclusive and for all potential users. Platforms for students who need special education in the distance education process can be designed to support topics such as content, interaction, socialization. The family can take a more active role in this process as a stakeholder. For this, family members can be motivated with the necessary prior information and demands full of expectations.