Remote Education To Support Newcomer Pupils In Sweden

Abstract: In Sweden today there is an increase of newcomer pupils that need to be accommodated into the school system. This paper highlights remote education as a concept to support this process. Based on previous studies on videoconferencing and blended learning approaches as well as state of the art technology current remote education was explored. Conducted interviews and observations showed how technology is used in schools today through presentations, videos and tablet usage. They also explored the aspects of education that did not utilize technology e.g. whiteboards, physical material and the teachers’ use of the physical environment. A series of experiments were designed to transform specific aspects of the present teaching approaches into remote education. The study showed that the most important factor for remote education is to redesign todays face-to-face lessons based on the educational content. Physical practices will have to be transformed to fit the new format while already digital practices need fewer modifications. Remote education has the possibility to give pupils access to education otherwise unattainable. It could e.g. increase the number of mother tongue languages available to newcomer pupils and prevent pupils having to travel for their entitled education.