Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Teaching and Learning Social Studies: A Literature Review

Mohammed Abdullah Al-Nofli

Abstract


The unprecedented circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 crisis have affected K-12 education systems in most countries around the world. It is widely recognized that this crisis has presented opportunities and challenges for various school subjects. The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on teaching and learning social studies. The study reviewed the content of 53 articles on K-12 social studies and its associated subjects (e.g., geography, history, and civic education) published between January 2020 and July 2022. Overall, the research findings indicated that COVID-19 prompted social studies teachers and educators to prioritize important content areas in the social studies curriculum (e.g., health education, human-rights education, digital citizenship, and children’s everyday geographies), integrate a wide range of technologies, and implement innovative teaching practices. In spite of these opportunities, there were some common challenges that raised concern across international contexts, including pedagogical challenges, accessibility and connectivity challenges, administrative challenges, and insufficient professional development for teachers. The study recognized the need for more research on social studies, particularly in the area of learning loss.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.5.13


Keywords


COVID-19; impacts; learning; social studies; teaching

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abu Tayeh, N. K., & Al-Khawaldeh, N. A. (2022). Darajat alkafaiat altadrisiah lada muealimi aldirasat alaijtimaeih fi Alurdun khilal jayihat corona [The degree of the teaching competencies among social studies teachers in Jordan during the corona pandemic]. Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Science Series, 32(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.35192/jjoas-h.v32i1.336

Aç?kal?n, M. (2011). The current status of social studies education in Turkey. Journal of Social Science Education, 10(1), 44-53. https://doi.org/10.4119/jsse-554

Adedoyin, O. B., & Soykan, E. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic and online learning: The challenges and opportunities. Interactive Learning Environments, 31(2), 863-875. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2020.1813180

Akbulut, M., Sahin, U., & Esen, A. C. (2020). More than a virus: How COVID 19 infected education in Turkey? Journal of Social Science Education, 19, 30-42. https://doi.org/10.4119/jsse-3490

Akça, M. (2022). Social sciences teachers’ views about distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic process. Social Scientific Centered Issues, 2(2), 81-88.

Ak?nola, D. B. (2021). Tackling the menace of corona virus pandemic: Exploring alternative strategy of social responsibility initiative through social studies curriculum. European Journal of Education Studies, 9(1), 18-28. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v9i1.4086

Akmal, A., Fikri, A., Rahmawati, T., Hendri, Z., & Sari, N. (2020). Measuring online learning readiness during corona virus pandemic: An evaluative survey on history teachers and students. Jurnal PAJAR (Pendidikan dan Pengajaran), 5(1), 98-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.33578/pjr.v5i1.8169

Alea, L., A., Fabrea, M. F., Roland, R., D., A., & Farooqi, A., Z. (2020). Teachers’ Covid-19 awareness, distance learning education experiences and perceptions towards institutional readiness and challenges. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 19(6), 127-144. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.6.8

Al Darayseh, A. S. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on modes of teaching science in UAE schools. Journal of Education and Practice, 11(20), 110-115. https://doi.org/10.7176/JEP/11-20-13

Al Edwan, Z. S., Abusadah, D. K., & Daoud, A. I. (2021). The role of social studies teachers in enhancing consumption education in Jordan during COVID–19 Pandemic. Cypriot Journal of Educational Science, 16(5), 2137-2151. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v16i5.6231

Al-Maamari, S., Al-Nofli, M., & Al-Gharibi, Z. (2014). The state of social studies in basic education schools in Oman. Asian Social Science, 10(7), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v10n7p213

Almarashdi, H., & Jarrah, A., M. (2021). Mathematics distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE: High school students’ perspectives. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 20(1), 292-307. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.20.1.16

Al-Nofli, M. A. (2022). Pre-service teachers’ perceptions of teaching social studies in the context of COVID-19 in Oman. International Journal of Instruction, 15(4), 115-132. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2022.1547a

Altunay, F. (2021). Opinions of social studies teachers on distance education. International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies, 10(2), 31-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.10n.2p.31

Astutik, Y., Setiawan, S., Anam, S., & Suhartono. (2022). “I can teach with my videos”: How do teachers teach English to young learners in a technology-limited environment? International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 21(7), 157-177. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.21.7.9

Atubi., F., O., & Obro, S. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and the upsurge of online learning: Prospects for social studies in Nigeria. Journal of the Social Sciences, 48 (3), 4002-4009.

Babacan, ?. & Ceviz, M. (2022). Public school and private school geography teachers’ views of distance education. International Journal of Geography and Geography Education, 45, 53-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.32003/igge.935366

Bagoly-simó, P., Hartmann, J., & Reinke, V. (2020). School geography under covid-19: Geographical knowledge in the German formal education. Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 111(3), 224-238. https://doi.org/10.1111/tesg.12452

Bariham, I., Ondigi, S. R. & Kiio, M. (2020). Preparedness of Ghanaian senior high school instructors for application of online learning in social studies instruction amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Social Education Research, 2(1), 52-64. https://doi.org/10.37256/ser.212021554

Besand, A. (2021). The crisis as an opportunity to learn. Or: ‘Collateral civic education’ in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: An essay in times of crises. Journal of Social Science Education, 19, 8-14. https://doi.org/10.4119/jsse-3488

Bray, A., Banks, J., Devitt, A., & Chorcora, E. N. (2021). Connection before content: Using multiple perspectives to examine student engagement during Covid-19 school closures in Ireland. Irish Educational Studies, 40(2), 431-441. https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2021.1917444

Brown, C., Correll, P., & Stormer, K. J. (2021). The “new” normal: Re-imagining professional development amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Middle School Journal, 52(5), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00940771.2021.1978787

Brown, M. A. (2020). Teaching and learning history in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic: Reflections of a senior school history teacher. Yesterday & Today, (24), 226-238. http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/yt/n24/15.pdf

Çakmak, Z., & Kacar, T. (2021). The views of social studies teachers on distance education. Review of International Geographical Education, 11(3), 5-20. https://doi.org/10.33403rigeo.870846

Chadwick, R., & McLoughlin, E. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 crisis on learning, teaching and facilitation of practical activities in science upon reopening of Irish schools. Irish Educational Studies, 40(2), 197-205. https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2021.1915838

Chang, C. (2020). Teaching and learning geography in pandemic and post pandemic realities. J-Reading Journal of Research and Didactics in Geography, 2(9), 31-39. https://doi.org/10.4458/3617-04

Chua, C. Y., Wong, J., Chang, J., & Hagen, R. (2021). Virtual fieldwork in a time of COVID- 19. Teaching Geography, 46(2), 64-67.

Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Pearson

Crompton, H., Burke, D., Jordan, K., & Wilson, S. W. G. (2021). Learning with technology during emergencies: A systematic review of K-12 education. British Journal of Educational Technology, 52, 1554–1574. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13114

Davies-Craine, G. (2021). Geography of health for key stage 3. Teaching Geography, 46(3), 94-97.

Devitt, A., Bray, A., Banks, J., & Chorcora, E. N. (2020). Teaching and learning during school closures: Lessons learned. Irish second-level teacher perspectives. Trinity College Dublin. http://hdl.handle.net/2262/92883

Dhimitri, J., Pepkolaj, L., & Avdia, B. (2021). Geography and math teachers in distance

a. learning education amid Covid-19 pandemic in Albania. Dela, 56, 175-191. https://doi.org/10.4312/dela.56.175-191

Dolan, A., & Usher, J. (2022). The geography of COVID-19: A case study in geoliteracy. Teaching Geography, 47(2), 50-52.

Dolighan, T., & Owen, M. (2021). Teacher efficacy for online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brock Education Journal, 30(1), 95-116.

Elmorshed, Y. A (2021). Tathir jayihat corona ala Asalib waestiratijiat taelim madat

a. aldirasat alaijtimaeiah min wijhat nathar almuealimin walmushrifin altarbawiiyn fi Almumlakh Alarabiah Alsaeudia [The impact of the corona pandemic on the methods and strategies of teaching social studies from the viewpoint of teachers and educational supervisors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia]. Journal of the Faculty of Education-Benha University, 31(124), 45-74. https://doi.org/10.21608/jfeb.2021.173044

Erol, H. (2021). Views of social studies teachers on e-learning. International Education Studies, 14(6), 82-91. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v14n6p82

Firomumwe, T. (2022). Exploring the opportunities of virtual fieldwork in teaching geography during covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Geography and Geography Education, 45, 76-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.32003/igge.973983

Forsythe, M. F., & Chan, Y. (2021). Justice-centered education amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal of Environmental Education, 52(5), 347-357. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2021.1981208

Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2012). How to design and evaluate research in education (8th ed.). McGraw Hill.

Geraghty, E., & Kerski, J. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on geography, GIS, and education. J-Reading Journal of Research and Didactics in Geography, 2(9), 21-30. https://doi.org/10.4458/3617-03

Giménez-Beut, J. A., Novella-García, C., Aguilar-Moya, R., & Cloquell-Lozano, A. (2022). COVID-19 and young people in Spain: The emergence of values education as a strategy for civic responsibility. Ethics and Education, 17(1), 77-100. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449642.2021.2019956

Hassan, M. A. (2021). The role of secondary school in the development of the values of digital citizenship for students under the Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19). Multicultural Education, 7(3), 236-245. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4628349

Hazen, H. (2020). Teaching COVID-19 topics in a geographic framework. The Geography

a. Teacher, 17(2), 33-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/19338341.2020.1764375

Hensley, M., Kenna, J., Magliocca, A., & Waters, S. (2021). A tale of two clinical experiences: A qualitative study examining two pre-service social studies teachers’ perceptions of a hybrid internship. Journal for the Liberal Arts and Sciences, 24(2), 3-25.

Hibszer, A. & Tracz, M. (2021). The impact of covid-19 on education in Poland: Challenges related to distance learning. Geographia Polonica, 94(3), 397-411. https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0211

Hulk, C., & Zhang, J. (2022). Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 education: A systematic literature review. New Waves: Educational Research and Development Journal, 24(1), 53-84.

Jamiludin, J., & Darnawati, D. (2020). History learning through online learning during COVID-19 pandemic: Teachers and students respond. Jurnal Pendidikan Progresif, 11(1), 12-26. https://dx.doi.org/10.23960/jpp.v11.i1.202102.

Khoiron, M., Harmanto., Kasdi, A & Rizki, A. (2021). Development of digital social studies teaching materials in the era of pandemic emergency learning. The Indonesian Journal of Social Studies, 4(1), 36-44. https://doi.org/10.26740/ijss.v4n1.p%25p

Kidman, G., & Chang, C. (2020). What does “crisis” education look like? International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 29(2), 107-111. https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2020.1730095

Kusumaningrum, E., & Pramudiani, P. (2021). The influence of using Kahoot learning media on primary school students’ learning interest in social Studies. Edukatif Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 3(5), 2696–2704. https://doi.org/10.31004/edukatif.v3i5.917

Maguth, B. (2020). Awakening the sleeping giant: A commentary on social studies during the coronavirus pandemic. Journal of International Social Studies, 10(2), 37-43.

Manfra, M., Grant, M., Turcol, K., Boop, L., Beller, D., Grow, M., & Grondziowski, A. (2021). Issues and opportunities in the digital transformation of social studies instruction. Social Education, 85(2), 93-97.

Marchlik, P., Wichrowska, K., & Zubala, E. (2021). The use of ICT by ESL teachers working with young learners during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. Education and Information Technologies, 26, 7107-7131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10556-6

Marshall, D. T., Shannon, D. M., & Love, S. M. (2020). How teachers experienced the COVID 19 transition to remote instruction. Phi Delta Kappan, 102(30), 46-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721720970702

McCorkle, W. (2020). Problematizing immigration restrictions during COVID-19 in the social studies classroom. Research in Social Sciences and Technology, 5(3), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.46303/ressat.05.03.1

McKendrick, J. H., & Hammond, L. (2020). Connecting with children’s geographies in education. Teaching Geography, 45(3), 118-121.

Mitchell, D., & Lambert, D. (2015). Subject knowledge and teacher preparation in English secondary schools: The case of geography. Teacher Development, 19(3) 365-380. https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530.2015.1042024

Mitoma, G., & Marcus, A. S. (2021). Human rights before and after Covid-19: Getting human rights education out of quarantine. Journal of International Social Studies, 10 (2), 127-140.

Morri, R. (2021). A question of geography literacy: Geographical studies on Covid Sars 2 and lifelong education. J-Reading Journal of Research and Didactics in Geography, 2(9), 5-9. https://doi.org/10.4458/3617-01.

Nasution, N., Sarmini, S., Warsono, W., Wasino, W., & Shintasiwi, F, A. (2021). Using coping strategies of informal sector traders amid COVID-19 in Indonesia for social studies teaching materials on realizing SDGs. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 12(3), 144-174.

National Council for the Social Studies. (1994). Expectations of excellence: Curriculum standards for social studies. Author.

Palaz, T. (2022). Investigating distance education experiences of social studies teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic period: A phenomenological analysis. International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 14(1), 543-565.

Petrikovi?ová, L., ?urinková, A., Králik, R., & Kurilenko, V. (2021). Methodology of working with a textbook versus field activities of teaching geography during the corona crisis. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 10(2), 428-437. https://doi.org/10.13187/ejced.2021.2.428

Piedmont. E. V. (2020). Exploring COVID-19 in a social studies methods course: Preservice teachers harness the current pandemic to design inquiry-based WebQuests for elementary learners. Journal of International Social Studies, 10(2), 113-126.

Pier, L., Hough, H. J., Christian, M., Bookman, N., Wilkenfeld, B., & Miller, R. (2021). Covid-19 and the educational equity crisis: Evidence on learning loss from the CORE data collaborative. Policy Analysis for California Education. https://edpolicyinca.org/newsroom/covid-19-and-educational-equity-crisis

Piotrowska, I., Abramowicz, D., Cicho? M., & Sypniewski, J. (2022). Determinants and challenges of distance geographical education in Polish schools. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 32(2), 107-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2022.2084269

Pokhrel, S., & Chhetri, R. (2020). A literature review on impact of COVID-19 pandemic on teaching and learning. Higher Education for the Future, 8(1), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1177/2347631120983481

Polat, M. (2022). Exploring educational research during the Covid-19 pandemic: 2020 2021. FIRE: Forum for International Research in Education, 7(2), 86-144. https://doi.org/10.32865/fire202172276

Pourdavood, R. G., & Song, G. (2021). Engaging pre-service and in-service teachers in online mathematics teaching and learning: Problems and possibilities. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 20(11), 96-114. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.20.11.6

Putri, K. Y. S, Fathurahman, H., Safitri, D., & Sugiyanta, L. (2021). The use the elaboration

a. phase in ICT and social studies to educate junior high school students about the Covid 19 Pandemic. Journal of Social Studies Education Research, 12(2), 100-125.

Rawlings Smith, E., & Kinder, A. (2022). The professional needs and views of teachers of geography: A national research report by the Geographical Association. Geographical Association. https://www.geography.org.uk/write/MediaUploads/Support%20and%20guidance/GA_N ational_Research_Report_2022.pdf

Sittner, T. (2021). A case for the curriculum: Health geography. Teaching Geography, 46(1), 21-24.

Sloggett, G. (2021). COVID-19: An opportunity to review fieldwork provision. Teaching Geography, 46(1), 29-31.

Sudarmiani, S., Wahyudi, S., & Trilaksana, A. (2021). The need analysis of probing prompting in social studies learning to improve students' critical thinking skills in the Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 8(8), 487-494. http://dx.doi.org/10.18415/ijmmu.v8i8.2961

Tetep, T., & Dahlena, A. (2021). Fun pattern based learning approach for social studies learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 13(3), 1571-1580. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v13i3.1025

Torrau, S. (2020). Exploring teaching and learning about the Corona crisis in social studies

a. webinars: A case study. Journal of Social Science Education, 19, 15-29. https://doi.org/10.4119/jsse-3456

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2021). UNESCO strategy on technological innovation in education (2022-2025). Author. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000378847

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2022). UNESCO snapshots. Author. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381065

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization & Council of Europe. (2021). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student voice: Findings and recommendations. Authors. https://rm.coe.int/finalpublication-theimpact-of-covid19-on-student-voice/1680a42e52

Usher, J., & Dolan, A. M. (2021). Covid-19: Teaching primary geography in an authentic context related to the lived experiences of learners. Irish Educational Studies, 40(2), 177-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2021.1916555

Van der Schee, J. (2020). Thinking through geography in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. J Reading Journal of Research and Didactics in Geography, 2(9), 21-30. DOI:10.4458/3617-03

Wagiono, F., Shaddiq, S., & Junaidi, F. (2022). Implementation of blended learning during COVID-19 pandemic on civic education subjects in millennial generation era. Edunesia: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan, 3(1), 36-44.

Woltran, F., Chan, R., Lindner K-T & Schwab, S. (2021). Austrian elementary school teachers’ perception of professional challenges during emergency distance teaching due to COVID-19. Frontier in Education, 6, 759541. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.759541

Yasin, S. A. H. (2022). Almueawiqat alidariah liaistikhdam altaealum an baed fi dhili

a. jayihat corona min wijhat nathar muealimi aldirasat alaijtimaeih fi Alurdun [Administrative obstacles to using distance learning in light of the Corona pandemic from the point of view of social studies teachers in Jordan]. Middle East Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies, 2(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.56961/mejhss.v2i1.17


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493