COVID-19: changing the future of elementary education

Abstract

In this thesis, I will explore the new school system during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it will change education forever, even post-pandemic. As a graduating future teacher, I am extremely interested in learning more about what worked and what did not work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and from whose perspective. I will discuss the technological aspect, and also the financial and personal components. I will also talk about the distractions at home, the lack of accessibility for students of different economic status, and the added stress and work from the teacher's perspective. Choices made during this time have created such a stir amongst teachers, students, and parents everywhere on what would have been the proper way to handle the recent significant changes in society. I have explored a variety of sources and arguments that have been published on this particular topic. In order to further develop my paper, I have also interviewed teachers, students, and parents that experienced the different types of schooling during the pandemic, ranging from fully virtual, hybrid, and in-person. Looking into my future career, it is important to discuss what is to be expected of elementary education post-pandemic. Will we learn from any poor choices that were made at the height of this crisis? And how should we approach the situation, should something similar happen again in the years to come?