The Perceptions and Lived Experience of Primary School Teachers from the Strengths and Weaknesses of Virtual Education during Corona Virus Pandemic

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and lived experience of primary school teachers of the strengths and weaknesses of virtual education in the corona virus pandemy in the academic year 2020-2021. The research approach was qualitative and phenomenological. The instrument used was a semi-structured interview. The target group included all fifth grade female teachers in girls' schools in Yazd, that 12 of whom were selected by purposive sampling. After the eighth interview, theoretical data saturation was obtained, but interviews were continued up to 12. Data were analyzed by coding and categorization methods and used seven-step Colaizy pattern. The validity of the data was obtained through triangulation method, in the form of referrals to the participants and also the analysis of the group of colleagues. After analyzing the data, 15 sub-themes were identified as strengths and 25 sub-themes as weaknesses, which were classified in to 8 main themes: educational, social, media mediation, parental mediation, cultural, ethical, environmental and economic. Then, contextual factors were extracted which were placed in 8 sub-themes at three levels: macro, medium and micro.