Collaborations amid the pandemic: east nusa tenggara preschool teachers’ experiences in developing distance learning during COVID-19

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective COVID-19 has been driving significant changes in all domains, including education. While prior studies tend to focus on the pandemic disruption in higher education, this paper extends this scholarship by focusing on preschool education. In particular, attention is paid to how preschool teachers develop teaching strategies during COVID-19. We want to explore how preschool teachers develop distance learning during COVID-19 in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia. Method 13 preschool teachers aged 24 to 35 in West Timor, Indonesia, participated in this photovoice study. Participants were instructed to take photos for seven days to describe their experiences related to the research topic. After that, participants were interviewed online using an online meeting application. Thematic analysis was used to formulate the findings. Results Three themes were identified in this study, including learning strategies during the pandemic, parents as teachers at home, and collaboration between teachers and parents. Conclusions Parents’ role has become increasingly vital in early childhood education during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the attention addressed to parents was lacking. It is crucial to provide them with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to strive with home learning.