Life skill education at the time of COVID-19: perceptions and strategies of Italian expert school educators

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a huge effect on adolescents’ health and learning. Health promotion strategies should be valued, and life skill education is a potential approach in this direction. This study aimed to investigate the implementation of an evidence-based life skill education programme during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Lombardy Region (Italy) by collecting opinions about the programme’s usefulness and feasibility and identifying the strategies for implementing it through distance teaching. The study involved 63 middle school expert teachers, principals or coordinators in life skill education. An online questionnaire with closed- and open-ended questions was used. A qualitative content analysis was carried out using N-Vivo Answers software. The participants recognized the high value of life skill education at the time of COVID-19, but they showed reticence regarding its feasibility. Positive effects of the programme on both health and learning outcomes were reported. The obstacles were related to interpersonal aspects, student involvement, methods, organization and planning. Many strategies were suggested related to the teaching method, the curriculum organization and the adaptation needs. These strategies can be used to implement active and cooperative learning at a distance to reinforce students’ life skills to cope with the crisis and promote their health.

Mobile Smart Parenting Teacher (MSPT) Application to Improve the Life Skills of Parents, Teachers, and Elementary School Students

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Using Google Meet in Group Discussions to Improve Learning Activities And Students' Problem-Solving Ability During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Management of Student Life Skills and Their Impact on Learning Outcomes of Madrasah Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic Period

“…Following the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of Corona Virus Disease as a pandemic in March (Zhang et al, 2020), the educational system must undergo significant changes. Along with the fear that ensued, the government, via the Ministry of Education and Culture, finally implemented a new policy, namely learning from home (Adham & Mahmudah, 2021;Ardiyanti & Munastiwi, 2020;Gamage et al, 2020;Velasco et al, 2021;Yulia, 2020). With the implementation of this policy, teachers need to be innovative and revise all previously prepared activities to establish a new learning system for students who study at home (Carlana & la Ferrara, 2021).…”