Informal learning experiences of school counselors during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aims to investigate the challenges, opportunities, informal learning experiences, and strategies for coping with the difficulties of school counselors during the COVID-19 pandemic from the adult education perspective. Phenomenology was employed in the research as one of the qualitative research approaches. Guided interview questions were utilized during the semi-structured interviews of the thirteen (13) school counselors, one of which was a pilot study. Thematic analysis was used for the verbatim transcripts of the interviews by utilizing MAXQDA qualitative data analysis program. In the current study, seventeen (17) themes emerged: four (4) themes emerged under the title of challenges, five (5) themes under the title of opportunities, four (4) themes under the title of informal learning, and four (4) themes under the title of strategies to cope with challenges. The themes of adverse effects on well-being, communication difficulties, technology adaptation challenges, and professional/vocational procedure difficulties are challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The themes of flexibility in terms of time and locality, the opportunity for self-initiated professional development, convenience and comfort, facilitation of participation, and online counseling are opportunities for the COVID-19 pandemic. The themes of social media and digitalization, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), reading and researching, and social support groups are informal learning experiences. The themes of getting information from reliable sources, physical self-care activities, professional solidarity, and connectedness, and maintaining daily routines are coping strategies.