Distance learning of pedagogy students during the COVID-19 pandemic – empirical considerations

The article presents the results of research conducted in 2020 among students of pedagogy of the Institute of Education and Communication Research of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice (Poland) regarding the evaluation of the quality of remote education introduced in response to the situation caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with the results obtained by others native and foreign researchers, which made it possible to specify several conclusions for further work on the application of this form of education in academic education. The main method used in the research was a diagnostic survey with the technique assigned to it. The survey, taking into account the current situation of the university, resulting from distance learning during the pandemic, as well as other information disclosed by the media, consisted of two parts. The first part contained four questions (including those relating to demographic conditions). The second part consisted of questions focused on the research issues set out in this study, the main purpose of which was to learn about the opinions and views of students of pedagogy on compulsory distance education, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the research have brought a lot of new information, important for the extended analyzes and measurements of remote education conducted in many countries during the lockdown, which will allow, during possible subsequent epidemic threats, to exclude the diagnosed and identified problems that hinder the implementation of remote education of students.

Development of students’ social competence in an age of online learning

The article is the research report. The aim of the investigation was to address the question how students evaluate the development of their social competence regarding learning online which became inevitable due to the COVID19 pandemic. 350 students from three universities in Opole participated in the research. The diagnostic survey method was applied. In order to collect the research material, an original online survey questionnaire was used. The study participants responded to questions on the basis of a fivepoint scale. The analysis of the results indicates that the highest valued competence for the respondents was the ability of selfmanagement in time (M=3.71) along with the ability of expressing one’s own opinion (M=3.66), whereas the lowest valued competence was maintaining relations (M=2.84) and regularity of learning (M=2.87). It also turned out that women valued the development of their social competence significantly higher than men (M=3.44; M=2.94). Considerably higher results also appeared in extramural students compared to fulltime students (M=3.63; M=3.27). Moreover, early years students rated the innovative approach to problemsolving and systematic learning significantly higher than older students.

Accounting Education in times of the COVID-19 pandemic – virtual teaching and implications for the future

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the transformation of education from a traditional to a virtual model. The aim of this study is to present the most important didactic challenges faced by accounting lecturers during the pandemic. On their basis, the problem of teaching methods and the substantive scope in accounting education in the future was analyzed. The basic research methods used are literature studies, as well as formulating conclusions on the basis of the deduction and synthesis methods. The first pandemic experiences in accounting education were intensive work on rethinking and redesigning the in many cases exclusively traditional blackboard education for the use of e-learning. The rebuilding and updating of teaching materials, combined with technical problems, was very time consuming. In accounting education, new methods such as flipped learning, microlearning, crowdlearning have been introduced. In addition to discussing modern methods of education, the article highlights the need to supplement or extend the substantive scope with issues related to online accounting services and cybersecurity in accounting offices. An additional challenge is to ensure an adequate level of education in the times of growing challenges related to reporting sustainable development by economic entities.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the university education system in Albania to operate in distance through information and communication technologies. The purpose of this study is to explore students’ perceptions about accessibility, learner intentions, social and lecturer issues in online learning. In order to achieve the aim of the study, the quantitative method is used. The data are collected online through the completion of a survey which contains closed questions. The sample included in this study are students of bachelor and master degree (N = 236) who belong to the teaching programs from the University of Tirana and “Aleksander Moisiu” University of Durrës. The study points out some challenges faced by students during online learning which are related to online accessibility, lack of motivation of students and the barrier of their involvement in online group work activities. It was also noted that the online environment presents challenges for lecturers, which require a better mastery of digital competence by the academic staff. The findings of this study are designed to help policymakers, education executives and academic staff to have a clearer view and make the necessary interventions to overcome these challenges faced by students during online learning.

Analysis and Evaluation by Teachers of the Experience of Distance Learning in the Study of Graphic Disciplines

The article presents the results of a study that was conducted to analyze and evaluate the new pedagogical experience of teachers obtained in distance learning in the context of a global pandemic. According to the results of the survey, most teachers assess this period as more difficult than the period of traditional education, but they consider the experience gained as positive and useful for the future. The teachers noted the need to master modern digital tools suitable for distance learning (video conferencing and communication services, recording audio and video lectures, etc.), design and transform their lecture courses, methodological materials and all auxiliary materials for successful online learning. Teaching graphic disciplines, as well as a new look at the possibilities of social networks, instant messengers and the e-learning system of the Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture. At present, an urgent task is to comprehend this experience in order to understand its essence, identify positive and negative factors, determine the most effective technologies in terms of teaching disciplines by teachers and assimilation of material by students, predicting possible options for the development of the education system within the framework of not anti-pandemic measures, but during hostilities and after the introduction of martial law in Ukraine. This experience was very useful for the teachers of our country, because, despite today’s conditions, the educational cycle continues in some regions of the country. Teachers were asked questions about their psychological state in the initial period of online learning, when they had not yet gained some experience in this area, and questions about the experience, quality and achievements of the students and teachers themselves during distance learning. The opinions of teachers differed in assessing the degree of assimilation of educational material by students in the context of online learning. Most teachers believe that students have mastered the material at the same level as in full-time study, or even better; some teachers noted a decrease in this level. The need to ensure the appropriate quality of education requires finding ways to solve problems that arise in the process of distance learning in modern military and post-war conditions in Ukraine.