Teachers’ Learning Challenges and Perspectives in the Online Environment during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Hybrid Teaching

Abstract

When the COVID-19 virus spread across the world, countries had to deal with its consequences and put restrictions into effect. As a result, in The Netherlands schools and universities were either fully or partially closed. Especially higher educational institutions had to change their didactical methods and hybrid teaching was proposed to ensure the continuance of education. However, not much research has been done focussing on the perspective of teachers regarding this method. This study therefore aimed to investigate teachers’ experiences with and attitudes towards hybrid teaching. Purposive sampling was used to gather participants. Within a phenomenological research, multiple semi-structured interviews were conducted among teachers at (applied) universities. Data was gathered and analysed in NVivo. Results show that teachers are critical towards hybrid teaching. Proper equipment and training is recommended if hybrid teaching is executed. However, this research found that hybrid teaching leads to a decrease in teacher motivation, an increase in teacher workload and a lack of community-building. Therefore, it is recommended that hybrid teaching is only implemented if necessary.