THE EVOLUTION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) IN EDUCATION: A LOOK BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

This article aims to explore how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have developed in public education, with a special focus on regular schools and institutions such as the Association of Parents and Friends of the Exceptional (APAE), before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a qualitative approach based on statements from teachers and students through interviews conducted in the cities of Barra Velha and Balneário Piçarras in Santa Catarina, the study analyzes the challenges faced, the adaptations that were introduced in pedagogical practices, and the repercussions that arose during this transition period. Furthermore, it seeks to understand how ICTs helped in distance education and inclusive education, especially in supporting people with intellectual disabilities. The results highlight the urgent need for public policies that promote digital inclusion, teacher training, and the improvement of infrastructure.