Abstract:

The subject of the present research is related to the changes that the Greek primary school was "forced" to implement in order to respond to the new educational conditions created by the Covid-19 pandemic. The coronavirus Covid-19, which spread to Greece from February 26, 2020 onwards, highlighted even more the need to transform an educational unit into a learning organization, namely an organization that aims to change its own culture and professional profile of teachers (Fullan, 1995), in order to cope effectively with the new conditions. Specifically, ICT and distance learning platforms have become important "tools" in the hands of teachers in order to teach their students. The sufficient, therefore, knowledge of handling ICT influences and catalyzes the degree of effectiveness of the education provided by the teachers.

The present research aims to investigate the effect of the level of studies on the perceptions of the teachers of the primary schools of the prefecture of Achaia in the use of ICT and distance learning platforms, as perceived and reported by them. Among the results of the research, which emerged from a self-report questionnaire with closed-ended questions, it emerged that the level of education of the participants is statistically significantly related to the use of ICT and new distance learning platforms. Teachers who have only the basic degree are more wary and biased negatively towards ICT and the new distance learning platforms as opposed to teachers with additional studies who feel more familiar with them. At the same time, it emerged that teachers aged 40 and over have limited ICT knowledge, a fact that burdens them with feelings of insecurity.

Keywords:

The COVID-19 pandemic, Greek primary school, learning organization, ICT, new distance learning platforms.