Distance Education: Parents' Perception

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the lack of information for analyzing parents' perception of the problems of introducing distance learning in secondary schools in the conditions of COVID-19. The purpose of the study is to compare the specifics of parents' perception of opportunities and problems of distance learning in conditions of self– isolation by parents in different regions of Russia, as well as to identify attitudes that determine the prospects for its further implementation.Methodology and sources. The theoretical base is represented by the works of Russian authors about the family (A.I. Antonov, O.M. Zdravomyslova, G.G. Filippova). A review of foreign studies of parenthood focuses on its socializing function (R. Benedict, A. Cardiner, M. Spiro). A separate block of works is devoted to the problems of the introduction of distance education (Gül Özüdoğru; Lee; Zhao et al; Garrote et al, Bezrukikh et al, R.S. Zvyagintsev, Yu.D. Kershi, M.A. Pinskoy). The study is based on systematic and activity-based approaches that consider parents as one of the most important factors in improving the effectiveness of distance learning. The article presents the results of an on-line survey of parents (N = 1526) in four regions of Russia (Leningrad and Irkutsk regions, Stavropol and the Republic of Bashkortostan). Data processing was carried out using the SPSS program.Results and discussion. The opinion on the implementation of distance learning was studied not only regarding the education of children, but also the possibilities of using technology by parents. The study showed that they quite objectively assess the problems of implementing distance learning. Parents are not inclined to criticize the school, but they doubt the prospects of implementing the technology in the format it was introduced, arguing that it costs a lot for health, unavailability of technical equipment and the level of training of both students and schools. In relation to their training using distance learning technologies, the statements were positive.Conclusion. A comparison of parents' responses by region showed, on the one hand, a commonality of opinions, and on the other, a significant impact on the results of the assessment of socio–cultural specifics associated with the dominant type of management, the demand for digital skills in the regional labor market.