Challenges and Effectiveness of Using the SHAD Social Network During COVID-19 According to Teachers, Parents and Students

Abstract

The present research analysed the challenges and effectiveness of using the SHAD social network in the COVID-19 era from the perspective of teachers, parents, and students of middle schools in Tehran. The sample size for the present qualitative research was based on theoretical saturation, and the data were collected through purposive judgements and snowball techniques. Thematic analysis was used to consider the qualitative data from 75 interviews. Eight themes were attained from 43 subcategories extracted from the verbal predicates; these themes related to the problems using SHAD, including lack of software and hardware infrastructures, user lack of familiarity with the new educational technology, lack of appropriate space for effective interaction, unconstructive interference in the education process and the impossibility of appropriate evaluation of operations, as well as psychological and behavioural disorders. According to the research findings, there were considerable differences between private and state schools in facing the problems and challenges. Participants believed that the quality of teaching in an online environment is lower than in face-to-face teaching, which they viewed as preferable. The degree of learning also decreased in the COVID-19 era, although both teachers and students spent more time and energy teaching and learning, and parents (notably) had considerably more involvement. In addition to using SHAD or the learning management system (LMS), all schools received help from social networks and were more satisfied with these external networks. However, teachers specified that student autonomy improved in the COVID-19 era, and the resulting environment was more suitable for introverted students, allowing them to be more involved. Finally, the research results indicate that creating a social network unique to education is not welcomed by the social network users, who preferred to use their favourite ones. This research supports e-learning practice by revealing that some widely-used social networks could become e-learning tools. In a few cases, due to the technical developments of these apps, these social networks have advantages over new e-learning systems. Solving technical problems is key to improving the performance e-learning systems, and teachers need to improve their ability in using online tools, while parents also need to be more involved in the learning process.