Give Them Grace: An Autoethnographic Study on Instructors’ Adaptation to Online Technology in Education as a Result of COVID-19

Abstract

This research paper describes the study of instructors' experiences in K-12 and higher education as they adapted to new technology while education shifted to an online format as a result of COVID-19. This autoethnographic study sought to understand commonalities in five instructors' attitudes toward online education tools, external variables that affected their adaptation, and their overall perceptions of the technology and its usefulness. The research design was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Deductive analysis of reflections, interviews, and focus group transcripts demonstrated the presence of TAM constructs in participants' experiences. Participants recognized the usefulness of various technologies and tools but did not inherently view them or the experience of teaching online in a positive way compared to teaching in-person. Participants noted the need to practice empathy with their students and themselves, the effect that external factors (such as administrative support) had on their acceptance of technologies, and the lessons learned on how their instruction has changed as a result of online instruction.