IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/nathum/v5y2021i10d10.1038_s41562-021-01212-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Why lockdown and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to increase the social class achievement gap

Author

Listed:
  • Sébastien Goudeau

    (Université de Poitiers, CNRS, CeRCA, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l’Apprentissage)

  • Camille Sanrey

    (Université de Poitiers, CNRS, CeRCA, Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition et l’Apprentissage)

  • Arnaud Stanczak

    (Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LAPSCO, Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive)

  • Antony Manstead

    (Cardiff University)

  • Céline Darnon

    (Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LAPSCO, Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced teachers and parents to quickly adapt to a new educational context: distance learning. Teachers developed online academic material while parents taught the exercises and lessons provided by teachers to their children at home. Considering that the use of digital tools in education has dramatically increased during this crisis, and it is set to continue, there is a pressing need to understand the impact of distance learning. Taking a multidisciplinary view, we argue that by making the learning process rely more than ever on families, rather than on teachers, and by getting students to work predominantly via digital resources, school closures exacerbate social class academic disparities. To address this burning issue, we propose an agenda for future research and outline recommendations to help parents, teachers and policymakers to limit the impact of the lockdown on social-class-based academic inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Sébastien Goudeau & Camille Sanrey & Arnaud Stanczak & Antony Manstead & Céline Darnon, 2021. "Why lockdown and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to increase the social class achievement gap," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(10), pages 1273-1281, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:10:d:10.1038_s41562-021-01212-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01212-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-021-01212-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41562-021-01212-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Simeon Yates & John Kirby & Eleanor Lockley, 2015. "Digital Media Use: Differences and Inequalities in Relation to Class and Age," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 20(4), pages 71-91, November.
    2. Hans IJzerman & Neil A. Lewis & Andrew K. Przybylski & Netta Weinstein & Lisa DeBruine & Stuart J. Ritchie & Simine Vazire & Patrick S. Forscher & Richard D. Morey & James D. Ivory & Farid Anvari, 2020. "Use caution when applying behavioural science to policy," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(11), pages 1092-1094, November.
    3. Jonathan Guryan & Erik Hurst & Melissa Kearney, 2008. "Parental Education and Parental Time with Children," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 22(3), pages 23-46, Summer.
    4. Alison Andrew & Sarah Cattan & Monica Costa Dias & Christine Farquharson & Lucy Kraftman & Sonya Krutikova & Angus Phimister & Almudena Sevilla, 2020. "Inequalities in Children's Experiences of Home Learning during the COVID‐19 Lockdown in England," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(3), pages 653-683, September.
    5. Asanov, Igor & Flores, Francisco & McKenzie, David & Mensmann, Mona & Schulte, Mathis, 2021. "Remote-learning, time-use, and mental health of Ecuadorian high-school students during the COVID-19 quarantine," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    6. Courtenay Harris & Leon Straker & Clare Pollock, 2017. "A socioeconomic related 'digital divide' exists in how, not if, young people use computers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-13, March.
    7. Amory Martin & Maryia Markhvida & Stéphane Hallegatte & Brian Walsh, 2020. "Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Household Consumption and Poverty," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 4(3), pages 453-479, October.
    8. Carlana, Michela & La Ferrara, Eliana, 2021. "Apart but Connected: Online Tutoring and Student Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," CEPR Discussion Papers 15761, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    9. C. Russell Hill & Frank P. Stafford, 1974. "Allocation of Time to Preschool Children and Educational Opportunity," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 9(3), pages 323-341.
    10. Bol, Thijs, 2020. "Inequality in homeschooling during the Corona crisis in the Netherlands. First results from the LISS Panel," SocArXiv hf32q, Center for Open Science.
    11. Meng, Qingxuan & Li, Mingzhi, 2002. "New Economy and ICT development in China," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 275-295, June.
    12. Parolin, Zachary & Lee, Emma, 2020. "Large Socio-Economic, Geographic, and Demographic Disparities Exist in Exposure to School Closures and Distance Learning," OSF Preprints cr6gq, Center for Open Science.
    13. Per Engzell & Arun Frey & Mark D. Verhagen, 2021. "Learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(17), pages 2022376118-, April.
    14. Angrist, Noam & de Barros, Andreas & Bhula, Radhika & Chakera, Shiraz & Cummiskey, Chris & DeStefano, Joseph & Floretta, John & Kaffenberger, Michelle & Piper, Benjamin & Stern, Jonathan, 2021. "Building back better to avert a learning catastrophe: Estimating learning loss from COVID-19 school shutdowns in Africa and facilitating short-term and long-term learning recovery," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    15. Zachary Parolin & Emma K. Lee, 2021. "Large socio-economic, geographic and demographic disparities exist in exposure to school closures," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 522-528, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Gizem Hayrullahoğlu & Çiğdem Varol, 2022. "Understanding mobility dynamics using urban functions during the COVID-19 pandemic: comparison of pre-and post-new normal eras," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 1087-1109, October.
    2. Heidmann, Laure & Neirac, Lucie & Andreu, Sandra & Conceiçao, Pierre & Eteve, Yann & Fabre, Marianne & Vourc'h, Ronan, 2023. "Delayed learning to read and write during the COVID-19 pandemic: longitudinal study of the heterogeneous effects on all first graders in France," SocArXiv qn9a8, Center for Open Science.
    3. Yekaterina Chzhen & Jennifer Symonds & Dympna Devine & Júlia Mikolai & Susan Harkness & Seaneen Sloan & Gabriela Martinez Sainz, 2022. "Learning in a Pandemic: Primary School children’s Emotional Engagement with Remote Schooling during the spring 2020 Covid-19 Lockdown in Ireland," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(4), pages 1517-1538, August.
    4. Lee, Ryan C. & Sood, Neeraj & Deva, Sohini & Macedo, Marisol & Soto, Daniel W. & Unger, Jennifer B., 2023. "Evaluation of a COVID-19 rapid antigen testing program among student athletes in a public high school district," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    5. Xiaohong Liu & Li Zhao & Yu-Sheng Su, 2022. "Impact of Parents’ Attitudes on Learning Ineffectiveness: The Mediating Role of Parental Self-Efficacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Asadullah, M. Niaz & Tham, Eric, 2023. "Learning and happiness during Covid-19 school closure in urban Malaysia," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    7. Ladan Rahbari, 2023. "COVID-19 Pandemic and the Crisis of Care: Wellness Discourses, Neoliberal Self-Care, and (Dis)Infodemic," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-12, February.
    8. Sadia Jebin Sejuti & Bijoy Krishna Banik, 2024. "Educational Vulnerability of Children to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(8), pages 2074-2085, August.
    9. Ruyi Lin & Juan Chu & Lizi Yang & Ligao Lou & Huiju Yu & Junfeng Yang, 2023. "What are the determinants of rural-urban divide in teachers’ digital teaching competence? Empirical evidence from a large sample," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Patricia Vázquez-Villegas & Patricia Caratozzolo & Vianney Lara-Prieto & Jorge Membrillo-Hernández, 2023. "A Review on the Advances in Socially Oriented Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-15, November.
    11. Md Jahangir Alam & Keiichi Ogawa & Sheikh Rashid Bin Islam, 2023. "e-Learning as a Doubled-Edge Sword for Academic Achievements of University Students in Developing Countries: Insights from Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, April.
    12. Erin K. Gill & Mollie T. McQuillan, 2022. "LGBTQ+ Students’ Peer Victimization and Mental Health before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-17, September.
    13. Pan Zhang & Zhouling Bai, 2024. "Leaving messages as coproduction: impact of government COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on citizens’ online participation in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    14. Almudena Filgueira-Vizoso & Laura Castro-Santos & Ana Isabel García-Diez & Félix Puime Guillén & María Isabel Lamas-Galdo & Manuel Ángel Graña-López, 2022. "Opening or Not Opening Educational Centers in Time of SARS-CoV-2? Analysis of the Situation in Galicia (Spain)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, May.
    15. Mihai Curelaru & Versavia Curelaru & Mioara Cristea, 2022. "Students’ Perceptions of Online Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-21, July.
    16. Mateusz Babicki, 2022. "Use of Alcohol, Cannabinoids, Psychostimulants, and Sedatives before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Students in 40 European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-9, November.
    17. Bastian A. Betthäuser & Anders M. Bach-Mortensen & Per Engzell, 2023. "A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence on learning during the COVID-19 pandemic," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(3), pages 375-385, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kuzmanic, Danilo & Valenzuela, Juan Pablo & Claro, Susana & Canales, Andrea & Cerda, Daniela & Undurraga, Eduardo A., 2023. "Socioeconomic disparities in the reopening of schools during the pandemic in Chile," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    2. Monroy-Gómez-Franco, Luis & Vélez-Grajales, Roberto & López-Calva, Luis F., 2022. "The potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on learnings," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Boruchowicz, Cynthia & Parker, Susan W. & Robbins, Lindsay, 2022. "Time use of youth during a pandemic: Evidence from Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    4. Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln & Dirk Krueger & André Kurmann & Etienne Lalé & Alexander Ludwig & Irina Popova, 2023. "The Fiscal and Welfare Effects of Policy Responses to the Covid-19 School Closures," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 71(1), pages 35-98, March.
    5. Yekaterina Chzhen & Jennifer Symonds & Dympna Devine & Júlia Mikolai & Susan Harkness & Seaneen Sloan & Gabriela Martinez Sainz, 2022. "Learning in a Pandemic: Primary School children’s Emotional Engagement with Remote Schooling during the spring 2020 Covid-19 Lockdown in Ireland," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(4), pages 1517-1538, August.
    6. Grewenig, Elisabeth & Lergetporer, Philipp & Werner, Katharina & Woessmann, Ludger & Zierow, Larissa, 2021. "COVID-19 and educational inequality: How school closures affect low- and high-achieving students," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    7. Werner, Katharina & Woessmann, Ludger, 2021. "The Legacy of COVID-19 in Education," IZA Discussion Papers 14796, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Noam Angrist & Peter Bergman & Moitshepi Matsheng, 2022. "Experimental evidence on learning using low-tech when school is out," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(7), pages 941-950, July.
    9. Jo Blanden & Matthias Doepke & Jan Stuhler, 2022. "Education inequality," CEP Discussion Papers dp1849, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    10. M. Niaz Asadullah & Anindita Bhattacharjee, 2022. "Digital Divide or Digital Provide? Technology, Time Use, and Learning Loss during COVID-19," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(10), pages 1934-1957, October.
    11. Oikawa, Masato & Tanaka, Ryuichi & Bessho, Shun-ichiro & Kawamura, Akira & Noguchi, Haruko, 2022. "Do Class Closures Affect Students' Achievements? Heterogeneous Effects of Students' Socioeconomic Backgrounds," IZA Discussion Papers 15751, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Svaleryd, Helena & Vlachos, Jonas, 2022. "COVID-19 and School Closures," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1008, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    13. Amer-Mestre, Josep & Ayarza-Astigarraga, Alaitz & Lopes, Marta C, 2021. "E-Learning Engagement Gap during School Closures: Differences by Academic Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 14904, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    14. Bastian A. Betthäuser & Anders M. Bach-Mortensen & Per Engzell, 2023. "A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence on learning during the COVID-19 pandemic," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(3), pages 375-385, March.
    15. Kairon Shayne D. Garcia & Benjamin W. Cowan, 2022. "The Impact of U.S. School Closures on Labor Market Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," NBER Working Papers 29641, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Hossain, Mobarak, 2021. "Unequal experience of COVID-induced remote schooling in four developing countries," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    17. Harbatkin, Erica & Strunk, Katharine O. & McIlwain, Aliyah, 2023. "School turnaround in a pandemic: An examination of the outsized implications of COVID-19 on low-performing turnaround schools, districts, and their communities," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    18. Rita Takács & Szabolcs Takács & Judit T. Kárász & Attila Oláh & Zoltán Horváth, 2023. "The impact of the first wave of COVID-19 on students’ attainment, analysed by IRT modelling method," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    19. Contini, Dalit & Di Tommaso, Maria Laura & Muratori, Caterina & Piazzalunga, Daniela & Schiavon, Lucia, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and School Closure: Learning Loss in Mathematics in Primary Education," IZA Discussion Papers 14785, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    20. J. Gimenez-Nadal & Jose Molina, 2013. "Parents’ education as a determinant of educational childcare time," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 26(2), pages 719-749, April.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:10:d:10.1038_s41562-021-01212-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.