PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND DISTANCE EDUCATION: TEACHERS’ OPINIONS ABOUT PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

Abstract

Coronavirus pandemic has imposed significant innovations in all aspects of our lives which were a respond to precautional measures to avoid covid-19 spreading throughout the community. In many countries, Greece included, education shifted rapidly to a distanced form affecting this section of our lives as well. The present study attempts to investigate the intergration of distance education in preschool education in the future as well as the factors that promote or inhibit it, by examining the views of kindergarten teachers. By employing quantitative modes of enquiry and specifically a significant number of questionnaires we concluded that teachers argue about the effectiveness of distance learning. Specifically, in order for the educational community to start a meaningful conversation about the integration of distance education in preschool education, issues such as teachers’ technological readiness, technological equipment and parental involvement need to be addressed.