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COVID-19

Teachers' Experience of the Breakdown of Infrastructures During the Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

During the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers in Sweden had to adapt to a new reality of working in a disrupted environment. A study conducted at Jonkoping University involved 76 teachers from various levels of the education system, including preschools, primary, secondary school, and municipal adult education. The research aimed to understand how teachers experienced the breakdown of infrastructures during the pandemic, with a focus on institutional, social, technological, and pedagogical aspects of teaching and learning.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that changes in institutional aspects mainly concerned teachers' communication with colleagues, custodians, and school leadership.
  • Social and pedagogical aspects were emphasized in the teachers' accounts, while technological aspects were not as prominent.
  • The research concluded that commonly taken-for-granted aspects were brought to the fore, and their importance for teaching and learning has implications for the new normal and for what is of importance when creating future infrastructures for teaching and learning.
  • The study was conducted during autumn 2021 and involved thematic analysis of group interviews with the teachers.
  • The research was supported by Jonkoping University and was published in the journal Education and Information Technologies.
  • The study's results highlight the importance of communication and social relationships in teaching and learning.
  • The research has implications for educators and policymakers in creating future infrastructures for teaching and learning that prioritize social and pedagogical aspects.

Statistics:

  • 76 teachers participated in the study, representing various levels of the education system.
  • The study was conducted in Sweden during the autumn of 2021.
  • The research was supported by Jonkoping University.
  • The study's results were published in the journal Education and Information Technologies in 2024.
  • The study concluded that changes in institutional aspects mainly concerned teachers' communication with colleagues, custodians, and school leadership ( clarification needed, source states the results are based on qualitative data from group interviews, but no exact statistic on the frequency of this change is mentioned)

Sources:

  • "Teachers' Experience of the Breakdown of Infrastructures During the Pandemic." Education and Information Technologies, vol. 29, no. 5, 2024, pp. 5651-5671. doi: 10.1007/s10639-024-1057-x.
  • "Jonkoping University Advance Knowledge in Education and Information Technology (Teachers' Experience of the Breakdown of Infrastructures During the Pandemic)." Education Letter, June 25, 2025.

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