Parental evaluation of teachers’ competences and characteristics during COVID-19 pandemic homeschooling

Abstract

With the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, school-related closures and the hasty transition into homeschooling, parents were required to take a more active and positive role than ever before in collaboration with their children’s educators. Thus, with this unprecedented situation, parents became an important source of information during the pandemic. Considering this unique event, the study at hand aims to explore parents’ perspectives regarding primary and upper secondary school teachers’ digital competence, digital differentiated instruction, and feedback during the first SARS-CoV-2 school shutdown in Germany. Additionally, the study examined parents’ evaluation of teachers’ characteristics. Results reveal that parental ratings were generally positive. Moreover, parents with children attending primary schools perceived and evaluated teachers’ digital competence and digital differentiated teaching highly, and perceived significantly more teacher feedback than parents whose children attend upper secondary school. In addition, positive correlations were found between parents’ evaluations of teachers’ feedback and how motivated, appreciative, and devoted teachers are perceived to be. Practical implications and further research areas are discussed.