Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory: School Readiness for Children in the Context of Distance Learning During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

School readiness is an important factor that affects the child’s development. However, promoting children’s school readiness becomes even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a gap between the implementation of Distance Learning and the limited understanding about effect of Distance Learning to promote children’s school readiness. This study aims to find out how distance learning affects children's school readiness during the Covid-19 pandemic and to understand the role of the children’s environment in promoting children’s school readiness, in terms of Bronfenbrenner's Bio-ecological theory. This research uses a descriptive quantitative method. Data was collected by an online survey. There were 326 parents and 34 KG-B teachers from 16 private schools in Semarang who participated in this study. Data analysis uses descriptive analysis techniques and independent sample t-test. The result finds out that distance learning is less effective in promoting children's school readiness, especially in socio-emotional skills. The role of the ecological system also influences distance learning in promoting school readiness, so for promoting school readiness, both children’s skills and the roles of systems should be emphasized. The findings suggest the school needs to evaluate and review every strategy, planning and implementation of distance learning in their schools. The findings also suggest the kindergarten teachers need to enrich their competence in designing innovative, creative, and interesting distance learning activities, based on digital technology.
 Keywords: early childhood, school readiness; distance learning