Beyond the School Walls: Keeping Interactive Learning Environments Alive in Confinement for Students in Special Education

Effects of remote learning during COVID-19 lockdown on children's learning abilities and school performance: A systematic review

This systematic review describes the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on children's learning and school performance. A systematic search was conducted using three databases. A total of 1787 articles were found, and 24 articles were included. Overall, academic performance was negatively affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, with lower scores in standardized tests in the main domains compared to previous years. Academic, motivational, and socio-emotional factors contributed to lower performance. Educators, parents, and students reported disorganization, increased academic demands, and motivational and behavioral changes. Teachers and policymakers should consider these results in developing future education strategies.

How Can the Roma Deal with the Health and Social Crisis Generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic? Inequalities, Challenges, and Successful Actions in Catalonia (Spain)

The Roma is the most excluded non-migrant ethnic minority in Europe, facing prejudice, intolerance, discrimination, and social exclusion in their daily lives. This has led to a huge gap in several social domains between the Roma and non-Roma created for centuries. The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the social and health inequalities that the Roma faced. In this context, it is important to identify actions that have been successful in mitigating the effects that the COVID-19 has had in increasing such inequalities. This paper presents the findings of a mixed-method study carried out in Catalonia (Spain) with the participation of more than 500 Roma, who reported their experience. The study results confirm the significant vulnerability and the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Roma communities. Our research also highlights several successful actions developed by the Integrated Plan for the Roma of the Catalan Government, such as health literacy and adult education, as having a positive impact on the quality of life of many Roma during the health and social crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper suggests that the lessons learned from Catalonia could be transferred to other contexts across Europe and guide decision makers to promote the social inclusion and quality of life of the Roma, protecting Roma communities during current and future pandemics.

Children with severe disabilities: adaptation, virtual education, and prospects. Experiences of three Peruvian mothers, COVID-19 context

This study aimed to reveal and investigate mothers' experiences of students with severe disabilities regarding learning in distance education in Lima-Peru. This is a phenomenological study focused on understanding the world of mothers regarding the education of their children with severe disabilities. Their discourse focused on four categories: being the mother of a child with severe disability, pandemic category, virtual education, and family prospects. The participants were three mothers of children with Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Cerebral Palsy. An in-depth interview structured in 26 questions was used, applied face to face. With distance education, the mothers consider that their children's abilities and skills have assumed a leading role, developed creativity, and employed various strategies to comply with school activities. In addition, it also strengthened their family ties despite the pandemic.