Being a Social Studies Teacher and Student in the COVID-19 Period

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the views of social studies teachers and their students about the education offered during the pandemic period, as well as their problems, if any, and their suggestions for that education in particular. The study sample consisted of 10 social studies teachers working in schools affiliated to Erzurum Provincial Directorate of National Education and a total of 30 students taking the classes of those teachers. The data required in the study were obtained with semi-structured interview questions prepared by the researcher, upon which the available data were analysed by content analysis. As a result of the data analysis, all teachers and students were found to have stated that they had experienced certain problems during the pandemic. Some problems experienced during distance education included the issues of students’ absenteeism in online classes and technical problems. Behavioural problems of students, ineffective lessons, and lack of communication with students appeared to be among the outcomes recently specified in the face-to-face education period. Nevertheless, this study also concluded that social studies teachers had improved their digital literacy skills during the pandemic.