Norwegian teachers’ experiences with distance teaching and online schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In Mach 2020, the Norwegian schools were closed in response to Covid19. The current study concerns teachers’ experiences of distance teaching in April 2020 during the online schooling period in one Norwegian municipality. A survey was sent via e-mail to all teachers in primary and secondary state schools in the explored municipality. Thematic analysis of the data provided the following three themes: (1) Adjustment of teaching context (2) Involving and supportive management. (3) A culture of collaboration and sharing. Distance teaching is timeconsuming for teachers, increases inequality in learning and increases the needs for adaptive education. Teachers’ experience of interaction and collaboration with other professions is generally challenged and reduced due to online schooling.