The use of digital technology at home during the COVID-19 outbreak:Views of social work students in Greece

Abstract

This study aims to explore Greek social work students' views on the use of digital technology during their stay at home due to the coronavirus lockdown. To do this, an online questionnaire was voluntarily completed by 550 students (89.64% female and 9.82% male) from different university departments of social work across the country. The study was carried out by the researchers from 21 April 2020 to 1 May 2020. The results presented here describe aspects of using digital technology and its connections to learning interactions, communication with others, self-fulfilment and wellbeing. Also, they describe aspects of support either providing or receiving assistance as forms of solidarity and voluntarism during the COVID-19 confinement period. Overall, the results highlight the critical role digital technology played in numerous aspects of the daily lives of students, helping them to discover new ways to navigate the unprecedented new reality formed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adopting xRM in Higher Education: E-Services Outside the Classroom

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of IT services to all areas of our lives, including the higher education environment. We find the results of this study significant for future education development processes as digital technology has come to play a crucial role in numerous aspects of daily students' lives [80]. To our knowledge, this study was one of the first that explored and evaluated students' acceptance and use of digital technology in an "outside the classroom" context.…”

“…Today, digital technology has become an essential part of students' everyday lives and has a crucial role in their academic and non-academic activities. We live in a new digital reality [80], and educational institutions will have to adapt to it quickly. The proper use of digital technologies could play an important role in educational institution sustainable development in the future.…”

Real-Time Lived Experience of Social Work Students in Their Field Training during the Coronavirus Crisis: Insights from Photovoice-Based Research

“…Another study, conducted in Greece, examined the perspective of 550 students in relation to the use of digital technology following the national curfew and the move to working from home. Student reports indicated that the use of digital technology contributed to creating a sense of continuity regarding academic learning and maintaining contact with others; and a sense of self-fulfilment and well-being, demonstrating solidarity towards others and increasing volunteer involvement ( Papouli et al , 2020 ). In a study that examined experiences of remote learning with 122 undergraduate social work students in the USA, it was found that remote learning had a negative impact on interpersonal relationships and quality of communication—critical values in social work learning fundamentally based on involvement, engagement and a sense of belonging in the class-room ( Smoyer et al , 2020 ).…”

“… Dekel and Baum, 2010 ), new challenges have been added. These include theoretical learning and practical training based on distance learning; the demand for rapid adaptation to new paradigms; the acquisition of new knowledge using technological means and online working methods and personal and professional conduct under high levels of uncertainty ( Berger, 2020 ; Farkas and Romaniuk, 2020 ; Morris et al , 2020 ; Papouli et al , 2020 ).…”

Wellness Constraints Among International University Students Transitioning Through Covid 19

“…International university students based in their country of study, are a vulnerable population who have experienced wellness challenges. For example, it can be argued that while the use of technology during social distancing presents opportunities for students to reduce anxiety and stress; build community; and prevent loneliness, not all students were able to cope with the unsurmountable pressure arising from the pandemic (Papouli, Chatzifotiou & Tsairidis, 2020). Thus, investigating the impact of Covid 19 on the wellness of international students is of paramount significance to ensure appropriate and real time responses.…”