Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Research in Teaching and Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
[PDF]
How The Shift to Distance Learning Affected Homeless and Highly Mobile Students: A Qualitative Case Study
Dr. Mark Pierce, Celestina Rogers
ABSTRACT:
This qualitative case study investigates how affective the implementation of distance learning was for homeless and highly mobile students (HHM) during the COVID-19 pandemic-induced shift from in-classroom schooling to online learning. The preponderance of the literature agrees that students who are experiencing homelessness and high mobility (HHM) are more likely to earn lower grades in academic classes, score below average on standardized tests, and express lower levels of classroom engagement than their peers. Scholars have been predicting a paradigm shift in education towards digital technology with the extensive use of online platforms (Pavlik, 2015) for years now. This study exploits the upheaval of 2020-2022 to investigate the possibility that distance learning implemented properly could aid students on the move with maintaining connection with previous schools and communities. How did the shift from in-classroom to distance learning affect homeless and highly mobile students? This qualitative case study draws from 35 interviews to reveal the potential future use of cloud-based learning for students who are HHM. Findings indicate that while COVID-19 transformed compulsory education, the unplanned nature of the transition may have hindered the potential for a full-fledged third paradigm shift. Further research is needed to enhance and optimize the application of distance learning for students experiencing HHM.
keywords: Homeless and Highly Mobile Students; COVID-19; Distance Learning; Cloud-based Learning; McKinney Vento