Elementary Teachers’ Thoughts about Distance Education and Learning 21st-Century Skills during COVID Pandemic

Abstract

There was a dearth of research documenting the Arab World’s educational response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, female Saudi elementary teachers’ views on distance education during those unprecedented times were under-explored in the research literature. In the wake of the outbreak in Saudi Arabia, concerns have been raised about education disruption at the elementary school level and its impact on instilling and developing 21st-century skills. Conducted at a college of education in Saudi’s Eastern Province, a qualitative exploratory study examined 20 Saudi postgraduate female students’ written responses to a journal question concerning teaching elementary pupils online about the pandemic while 21st-century skills were being inculcated. A critical finding was that the participants expressed a sense of ample scope for personal and pedagogical transformation despite the enormity of the challenge. Suggestions for future research, pre-service, and in-service teacher training, and professional development were recommended around pedagogical adjustments for teaching elementary learners online while ensuring they still learn and develop their 21st-century skills.