Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Distance Learning at Schools: An analysis of problems through the switch from classroom teaching to distance learning in Austria

Abstract

Due to the sudden emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, classroom teaching at Austrian secondary schools were no longer possible. Distance learning took the place of classroom teaching and an attempt was made to teach students virtually at home. This work provides a brief overview of (digitalization) initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research in recent years, shows general approaches and cornerstones for the successful implementation of change processes and sheds light on the actual experiences of teachers in dealing with distance learning, espe- cially during the pandemic. The feedback from the teaching staff, obtained via an online survey and a one-on-one interview, was subsequently used to formulate a recommendation for action for the future and to draw attention to problems that would have been avoidable. It is also clear from the feedbacks of the teachers whether past digitization initiatives have been implemented by schools and who is responsible for a successful distance learning in practice. Distance learning is more than simply moving the lessons from the classrooms home. In particular, topics such as social contact and personal relationship building, which are a matter of course in classroom teaching, must be given special consideration in distance learning in order to prevent negative effects on students, teachers, parents and all persons involved in everyday school life.