The coronavirus crisis has significantly changed life, everyday life and work. Initial study results from the D21 Digital Index have already underlined the fact that everyone is living in an increasingly digital working world. The current situation is also changing a lot in education in particular, as schools now have to organise digital lessons and adapt very quickly to the accelerated digital transformation.
This year, the social study supported by aconium GmbH as a premium partner therefore also includes a focus on digital teaching during the coronavirus crisis. The study examined the experiences, attitudes and future prospects of teachers, pupils and parents.
Even though a large majority of respondents (83%) agree that digital teaching cannot replace face-to-face teaching at school, 70% already believe that there will be more digital applications in education and a boost in digital education after the coronavirus pandemic. 78% want mandatory further training for all teachers on digital learning formats – and teachers themselves agree with this even more strongly. The respondents are of the opinion that digital media and materials will be used more in future (72%), that schools should be better equipped with digital infrastructure (70%) and that new teaching concepts should be developed (61%). Furthermore, around two thirds of respondents expect teachers and pupils to be more open and competent in their use of digital media (60%).
When it came to homeschooling, the participants in the social study had different experiences, as digital teaching poses different challenges. Around a third (34%) of respondents were already using digital teaching materials at school before the coronavirus crisis. During the pandemic, one in two (50 percent) are exchanging teaching materials digitally, but teaching materials and editing remain analog. For around 42%, the inconsistent approach to how and where teaching materials are made available poses a difficulty.
Background:
The D21 Digital Index is a study that maps the level of digitalisation in society. This annual status report has been published by the D21 initiative since 2013 and documents the digital transformation of German society. The degree of digitalisation of the population is examined on an empirical basis. It serves as a basis for decision-making for political, economic, civil society and scientific stakeholders.
Within the D21 initiative, the Education working group offers a neutral platform for exchange in order to advance topics relating to digital education in Germany in a targeted manner. The network also conducts debates, exchanges experiences, breaks down potential barriers and imparts digital skills.
The network for the digital society – Initiative D21 for short – is an association of around 200 member companies and institutions as well as stakeholders from politics, administration, business and science. aconium GmbH is also a long-standing partner of the non-profit association D21 and supports the currently published study as a premium partner.
The press release and further information on the study can be found here:
https://initiatived21.de/digitaler-unterricht-lehrkraefte-bleiben-zu-oft-auf-sich-gestellt/
The complete D21 Digital Index will be published in February 2021.