• Teaching and Learning Experiences Survey Results

    To better understand how students, families and educators continued to adapt to hybrid/remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE)  administered the Teaching and Learning Experiences survey covering five key areas: access and connectivity, students’ academic needs, resources and supports, communication, and wellness and social emotional learning (SEL). The survey was distributed from April 27 to May 10, 2021. Sixteen (16) school districts and 22 charter schools participated with the following results:  

    Learn more about the survey and results:

    Key Takeaways

    • Access and Connectivity
      • Going back to school
        • When asked about comfort with going back to school, 64% of students, 71% of families, 70% of teachers, and 84% of school leaders preferred going back to school in-person in the fall, followed by hybrid and remote option.
      • Internet and device access
        • While great strides have been made in improving access to internet and devices across the state, there is still room for continued improvement – some students still do not have adequate internet access (13%) and/or a working device (15%).
        • Support every student and educator having high-quality internet and device access.
      • Instructional technology preparedness
        • With regards to instructional technology preparedness, about 80% of school and district leaders and 46% of teachers reported that they were quite or extremely prepared to use the technology and programs in the last school year.
      • Instructional technology personnel capacity
        • With regards to expanded instructional technology personnel capacity, 47% of district leaders, 48% of school leaders, and 30% of teachers reported needing expanded instructional technology personnel capacity.
    • Student Academic Needs
      • Satisfaction
        • Over two-thirds of students and families reported high levels of satisfaction with the teachers and schools but relatively lower levels of satisfaction with the remote education received (52%).
        • Notably, levels of satisfaction with the remote education have increased since last year.
      • Preparedness
        • 8 in 10 students and 7 in 10 teachers reported feeling like they/their students will be prepared (true or somewhat true) for the next school year.
      • Additional instructional time
        • Over one-third of the students reported needing additional instructional time with their teacher(s).
      • Instructional quality
        • Lastly, when examining instructional quality through modes of instructional delivery, satisfaction was higher among students, families, and teachers when instruction was delivered in-person, followed by remote and hybrid.
      • Motivation
        • Students whose classes were held in-person or remotely were more motivated to attend class (62% and 57%, respectively) than their peers who attended classes in hybrid mode (49%). Families and teachers reported that their students were more motivated to attend class in-person (64% of families and 58% of teachers) and remotely (57% of families and 62% of teachers) than in hybrid mode (45% of families and 40% of teachers).
      • Weekly opportunities for student to collaborate
        • 68% of teachers reported providing weekly opportunities for students to collaborate. 43% of students reported having the opportunity to speak with their classmates daily, 2-3 times a week, or weekly.
    • Resources and Supports
      • Supports
        • Over two-thirds of educators felt supported and valued by school leaders; more supports and resources needed in the fall.
        • There are notable differences in extent of how useful teachers and school leaders felt regarding the supports provided/received. Leaders and teachers should keep collaborating to ensure continued usefulness of resources, PDs, and PLCs.
      • Top areas for additional supports
        • Families reported unfinished learning (31%) and social & emotional learning (19%) as top two areas for additional supports. Similarly, school leaders reported addressing students’ unfinished learning (72%) and reducing barriers for at-risk students (69%) as key priorities.
      • Supports needed for the fall
        • Teachers and school leaders reported needing additional instructional planning time and resources, continued resources to support hybrid/remote learning, counseling services to support students, and additional instructional specialists.
      • Planning for the fall
        • At the time of the survey, school leaders were in advanced stages of planning for the fall, significantly ahead when compared to last year.
    • Communication
      • Channel of communication
        • School leaders were the main channel of communication for COVID- 19 related information for families.
      • Communication challenges reduced
        • Challenges communicating with students, families, and colleagues reduced significantly from last year.
      • Frequency of communication
        • Teachers communication to families decreased compared to last year. Last year 88% of educators shared that they communicated with families at least a few times a week to a few times a day compared to 57% this year.
    • Wellness & Social and Emotional Learning
      • Negative emotions decreased for students and increased for educators
        • The survey asked students, families, and educators how they felt in the past week. When compared to last year, there has been a decrease in proportion of students and an increase in proportion of educators feeling stressed out, frustrated, overwhelmed, and worried.
      • Positive emotions remained consistent when compared to last year
        • In contrast, though the last several months were very stressful and challenging, students felt safe, loved, kind, grateful, happy, and helpful.
        • Similarly, educators felt kind, grateful, helpful, hopeful, and happy.

    For more information, please contact Seher Ahmad or Nermin Zubaca.

     
Last Modified on July 27, 2021