Abstract:

The coronavirus epidemic has become a signal for a profound and structural change in the functioning of higher education. A significant number of universities around the world have moved to a distance learning model, with some delivering classes in a hybrid fashion. Online classes have their undeniable advantages, but also their disadvantages. First of all, online classes at a university save time and money for students, but not always for universities, which have to maintain the infrastructure. Another disadvantage is the minimal role of social contacts. Students do not know each other, do not make friends, do not socialise after classes. You may hear that online classes are at a slightly lower level than traditional classes. The student has limited opportunities to ask questions and the teacher is not always able to read the individual needs of students. Concentration is also a problem, when the student is away from the university and can afford to follow the class with one eye and focus on other things with the other. It is impossible to not see that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a new educational order. Universities had to make massive use of various communication technologies. Therefore, the research team decided to investigate how the problem of remote studying during the coronavirus pandemic actually looks like in the reality of Polish universities.