رحمت الله خسروی

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant effects and outcomes on primary education. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand teachers' experiences of the effects and outcomes of COVID-19 on the quality of education in elementary schools. Methodology: This qualitative study was phenomenological in nature. The research population consisted of elementary school teachers in Zanjan County, from which 24 were selected as samples through purposive sampling based on the principle of theoretical saturation. The samples were subjected to semi-structured interviews, the validity of which was confirmed through triangulation and the reliability was calculated as 0.88 using the intercoder agreement coefficient. Data analysis of the present study was conducted using thematic analysis in MAXQDA software. Findings: The results of this study indicated that understanding teachers' experiences of the effects and outcomes of COVID-19 on the quality of education in elementary schools consisted of 14 sub-themes under 2 main themes. The main theme of the virtualization of education included 9 sub-themes: deficiencies in facilities and infrastructure, lack of information and experience among teachers, decreased quality of learning, increased stress among families, behavioral and psychological problems of students, health and physical problems of students, economic problems, educational gaps, and the organization of psychological strengthening courses. The main theme of developing new policies and strategies in education and teaching included 5 sub-themes: a new approach to modern education, new policies in school development, new strategies in teacher training, new work procedures and goals, and the integration of technology in the workplace and life. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it was determined that COVID-19 opened a new window for the education system to adjust and change educational policies and develop the necessary infrastructure to improve the quality of education.

Purpose: the present study aimed to design and validate decentering schemes for decision making about curriculum based on Schwab’s practical theory and features of the educational system in Iran. Methodology: in the first step, qualitative methods of "Speculative Essay", "Evaluative Inquiry: Situational Assessment", and "Integrative Inquiry: The Research Synthesis" were employed to explain decentering curriculum according to Schwab's theory, to evaluate and analyze the characteristics of the curriculum system in Iran with regard to the decision-making structure, and to codify the first options of decentering the curriculum, respectively. To evaluate the quality of the primary scheme and codify the final one, the qualitative research approach and interviews were employed. Findings: the findings of this study show that decentering decision making about the elements of curriculum in Iran’s curriculum development system includes seven schema as follows: (a) uniform (one type); (b) multiform (four types); (c) formless (ten types); (d) a combination of uniform and multiform (four types); (e) a combination of uniform and formless (ten types); (f) a combination of multiform and formless (forty types), and (g) a combination of uniform, multiform, and formless (forty types). Conclusion: in the designed scheme, several decision-making positions for curriculum are introduced according to various area features of the country to enable all areas to make optimal choices with regard to their capacity.

Purpose: the aim of the present study was to investigate the dimensions and quality of teaching-learning interactions by elementary teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: this was a qualitative study carried out using a phenomenological approach. The study population included all elementary school teachers in Abhar City (Iran). From this population, 12 individuals were selected as participants in the study using purposive sampling (chain sampling) who were engaged in online teaching from the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Data collection instrument included semi-structured or in-depth interviews performed in the Google meet interactive platform. The interviews continued until reaching data saturation. Data analysis was also carried out using thematic analysis and theme network formation. Validity was also assessed using peer review and member checking and reliability was assessed by text coding of three interviews by anonymous people outside the research. Findings: the results reflect the dimensions and quality of teaching/learning interactions by elementary teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic in the form of 226 basic themes, 21 organizing themes and 4 global themes. Conclusion: the results showed that elementary teachers had relatively acceptable interactions with themselves, students and parents during this process. However, there were no acceptable interactions between teachers and their colleagues.