Parental Experiences With Remote Education During COVID-19 School Closures in the Upper Midwest

• In Event: Inequities of Distance Learning Pre- and Post-COVID

Abstract

Schools across the globe closed their doors during the spring of 2020 to decrease the spread of COVID-19. Rapid shifts to remote learning placed more responsibility for learning on families. Experiences of parents with their children are worth examining to inform future policy decision making. This study aimed to investigate parents’ experiences and struggles during school closure using an online survey. Results suggest parents experienced difficulties with balancing responsibilities, learner motivation, accessibility, and learning outcomes. Results suggest the need for: educators to better listen and understand the continuum of home/school balance; increased instructional differentiation to reflect familial needs; guaranteed and viable curriculum with learning coaches and stressing socialization and play time, especially for younger learners despite learning platform challenges.

Authors

• Nikki Logan, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

• Amber Garbe, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

• Uzeyir Ogurlu, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

• Perry A. Cook, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point