Distance Education and Digital Disruptions in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

The main issue examined in this paper, is the implementation of technological tools and equipment in educational procedures, under special circumstances or emergency conditions such as a pandemic period. It analyzes the way in which the members of the educational community could adopt and use contemporary techniques and methods introduced by the new era in education. Additionally, the means used and their effectiveness in teaching and learning processes are examined in combination with existing obstacles, as far as the availability of equipment is concerned. A basic prerequisite for an adjustment in such demanding conditions is the cooperation between the educational parties (teachers and learners) which proved to be invaluable. How important is it for the community to be prepared in advance to face such challenges? Teachers must be adequately trained and educated on the needs of distance education and students must be provided with the right motivations to be part of and deal with this kind of learning successfully. It is considered of high importance that the parties involved in the educational processes must be willing to move on, following the pace of times and try to come across the contemporary challenges that come up because of the extremely difficult condition of a pandemic within an unknown context and, of course, without losing the main structure.