Modern concepts of education are increasingly focused on e-learning and distance learning. Expectations from them are at least the same efficiency, but also results higher than those obtained by the traditional education system. In distance learning systems the modules of assistants (tutors, helpers) are very important. They provide immediate feedback both to the student and the distance learning system. Tracking and recognizing emotions in distance learning systems is of great importance, especially in the adaptive capacity of automated education systems towards the student, but also in a corrective role in the distance learning process itself. Here we present a model for evaluating students based on automatic recognition of emotions during task solving.

Benefits and risks of remote teaching from a students’ and academic teachers’ prespective of selected Cracow universities

The epidemiological situation in Poland and in the world was a specific impulse to change education from stationary to remote education, for which it was necessary to use appropriate methods and tools. These circumstances have become a challenge not only for students, but also for academic teachers who try to provide future graduates with the knowledge, competences and skills needed by young people to work in the profession. This publication attempts to discuss the theoretical aspects of remote education based on the available literature. The research conducted and the results obtained on the basis of the respondents’ responses to the proprietary questionnaire, which was carried out using Google Forms from March 10 to April 13, 2021, are described. 115 academic teachers and 229 students participated in the study. The diagnostic survey was an anonymous form of obtaining answers to 12 questions. In the questionnaire, the questionnaire was asked about the tools used for online classes and used to contact the academic teacher - student, student - student relationship. Concentration in classes and communication problems were also investigated. The article also considers the benefits and risks of distance learning at selected Krakow universities from the perspective of academic teachers and students. It was found that the most effective acquisition of knowledge occurs through a combination of distance and stationary teaching. The hybrid mode reduces the level of threats related to e-learning and sums up the benefits of traditional and distance learning.

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.

This text contributes to the debate on the change in the way of teaching mathematics as it responds to the shifts caused by the transition to distance learning during the pandemic. The author analyses the conclusions of contemporary publications and international research alongside teaching experiences related to various aspects of the functioning of mathematics teachers, the efficacy and quality of their work as well as the issue of their education and improvement. In the course of literature research, probing questions on the pandemic-era school failures occurring in mathematics have clearly highlighted inequalities in the education system. The author analyses the application of ICT in distance learning, which has significantly stimulated processes and phenomena linked to the functioning of an individual in schooling. The time of the pandemic has exposed the shortcomings of the Polish education system and necessitated reflection on the future of Polish schooling. When the magnitude of failures in mathematics does not decrease but remains constant, it is imperative that the reason why it is the leading subject of school failures is determined. Therefore, it is important to establish the new role of the mathematics teacher in the process of changes prompted by distance learning.

The article presents research results obtained as part of the implemented project regarding identification of the process of adaptation of students to the conditions of new education caused by the pandemic. The opinions of students have been obtained by means of a diagnostic survey. They allowed to reconstruct individual adaptation models adopted by the students in response to distance learning and need to adjust to the education process during lockdown.

At work, distance learning methods have been compared in Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice (Poland) and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul (South Korea). The results of the empirical research among the academic teachers and students conducted in both universities are similar: distance learning is not satisfying for both groups and it is not effective.

Distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the experiences of Polish students: everyday life and a vision of school’s future

Our project was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1955 students from Polish schools participated in the study. The aim was to detect school experiences of children, adolescents and young adults. The results show the lack of digital hygiene, but also the respondents’ general satisfaction with the distance learning and their including its elements in the vision of the school of the future. The differences in the experiences of boys and girls and of the learners in rural and urban areas are a premise for the interpretation of the obtained results in the direction of deepening the previously existing inequalities associated with distance learning.

The paper presents the ethnography of virtual phenomena and processes, conducted in the social, educational and cultural spheres of the Internet. It describes the most important features of the global network and shows all its aspects which are the subject of ethnographic studies at the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology of the University of Silesia in Katowice, i.e. the communication process and its semiotic character, the process of creating social networks, education supported by social media, virtual self-help groups for stigmatised people, and cyberbullying.

The paper focuses on pedagogical theory and practice, which was brought to the fore about a year ago in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors deal particularly with the implementation of electronic media into family-school cooperation. The paper presents mainly the views and theories of authors from abroad, where the issue is more researched than in Slovakia. These are maintained by selected empirical data obtained by the authors during the pedagogical practice by means of the research carried out during the first lockdown in Slovakia (2020). We obtained the results by providing an online questionnaire. The research sample consisted of teachers at the primary level of education and parents of primary school pupils. It can be observed that traditional face-to-face ways of communication are still favoured among parents and teachers and that various barriers determine the so-called e-nvolvement of parents in parent-teacher cooperation. Another dimension of family-school cooperation is represented by an insufficient preparation of both parents and teachers.

Current Aspects of Today’s Educational Process in the Country

The author substantiates the one of the priority areas of the modern education streamlining process is informatization, that is, the implementation of new information technologies into the educational system. Information technologies have already become a powerful tool in improving efficiency in studying academic disciplines, increasing the strength of knowledge, the interest of applicants in the subject and the overall effectiveness of the educational process, and saving time when studying educational material. It is defined withing the work that the implementation of new techniques, methods and tools in teaching that form the ability to independently acquire knowledge, collect necessary information, put forward hypotheses and draw conclusions is becoming more and more relevant in the modern educational process. It was also found that information technologies are closely in volved in these processes. So, it means that a modern educational applicant should have universal educational skills that ensure the ability to organize independent educational activities. Streamlining of the learning process combines different forms and methods in a specific combination, each time in the best possible way for a specific situation. Such digital interaction between applicants for higher education and teachers of the Department of Pedagogy and Teaching Methodology of Horlivka Institute of Foreign Languages State Higher Educational Establishment of Donbas State Pedagogical University is seen as an example. During the period the present in the country all tasks are available on the Moodle Learning Management System platform, and duplicated by sending via e-mail. Consulting is carried out by means of mobile connection, communication in various messengers (correspondence, audio, video). Besides, the development of means of telecommunications creates a comfortable environment for training applicants for education with disabilities professional development of employees by providing them an opportunity to access training materials at any location and at any convenient time. It is clarified and proved that the use of modern information technologies allows to optimize the educational process resulting in speeding it up, saving teachers’ time, actively implementing human and scientific potential of production facilities into reality, and developing their skills in dealing with new information.

eTwinning – a tool for creating a transcultural society

Significant changes in education that occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in terms of organization, in the form of the transition to distance learning, significantly increased the interest of teachers and schools to use the international eTwinning platform. The main task of the eTwinning program is to encourage international exchange by building a network of cooperation and interaction between students and teachers from various European countries. This, in turn, according to the author, is a way to build a transcultural society. Going beyond the current understanding of culture as a homogeneous creation, the author uses W. Welsch’s concept of transculturalism and Wittgenstein’s understanding of culture as a way of being and the result of intercultural interactions. Therefore, the article is devoted to the using of the eTwinnig tool in the process of shaping a transcultural society. There are also some presented examples of international eTwinning projects that have already been completed and are in the process of being implemented with the direct goal of acquiring intercultural competences by all its participants and those for whom this is an indirect goal, carried out while performing other tasks.

Distance learning in the perspective of deep and reflective learning

The aim of the article is to show the process of studying young people remotely and to search for solutions leading to the improvement of the process in the perspective of deep and reflective learning. The article aims to solve the problem: how is the process of studying young people remotely? The method of individual cases, the technique of uncategorized, in-depth interview, was used to solve the problem. In the theoretical part, attention was paid to understanding the process of studying in the light of various didactic paradigms and an attempt was made to outline the approach of a deep and reflective learning process, looking for ways to improve the process of studying young people in this perspective. In the empirical part, the course of the process of studying the respondents remotely was presented, highlighting, above all, the components to which the respondents drew attention in their statements. The analysis of the empirical material shows that the process of studying young people is understood surface, superficially, it is limited to taking actions offered by the university on the educational platform. Students do not use their potential in the process of studying, they do not show full, possible commitment. The analysis of the empirical material leads to the development of practical guidelines aimed at improving the process of studying young people, which result from the assumptions of deep and reflective learning. The research shows the need to focus attention on the process of studying and its effectiveness, the need to take action by academic teachers, and above all by students focused on improving the process.

The article concerns theoretical considerations on psychological concepts of learning in the context of e-learning. The author begins the theoretical analysis by reviewing the literature, including behavioural, cognitive and humanistic theories. Based on a detailed analysis, cognitivism is indicated as a theory that has particular application in e-learning, especially due to the continuity of the teaching process and adapting the content to the student’s level. An example of a cognitive model is D. Kolb’s model, which can be effectively used in e-learning because it includes closed cognitiveexperimental processes. The basic argument for adopting cognitive theories as dominant in e-learning is their ability to maintain the continuity of the educational process, which can be effectively implemented via e-learning platforms. A key element connecting cognitive theories with e-learning is the Multiple Coding Theory, which suggests that the transfer of knowledge becomes more effective when it takes place through different channels, enabling reception through several senses.

New distance learning technologies are not necessarily better for learning than old methods. Consequently, choice of learning method should be related to course content and students' needs. In this context, a hybrid distance learning model is imperative. This paper is based on the authors' personal and practical teaching experience with distance learning over 30 years, i.e. since 1972. The authors use their knowledge of distance learning and distance learning technologies - combined with their considerable experience of education in different types of higher education institutions - to analyse and reflect on the current vogue of distance learning and elearning. Using an argumentative research approach, the authors draw upon data collected from their personal experiences of distance learning in the UK. In addition, the paper surveys current literature and distance learning activities outside the UK, in particular in the USA.

In the paper we want to summarise results of our research and pedagogical efforts in an integration of Information and Communication Technology in Education at the University of Ostrava.

The evolution of theoretical learning concepts brings new stimuli to lifelong learning practice. One of the new theoretical bases appropriate for adult education is an experiential learning theory which analyses and evaluates educational projects and study materials for distance learning as well as e-learning educational programmes from the standpoint of potential learning effectiveness. At the same time, it can be a gnoseological theoretical basis of designing educational programmes for adults, either on a theoretical basis of distance learning, e-learning, or on the basis of their purposeful integration, which is becoming more and more frequent in andragogy. The study gives general tenets of andragogy, presents the main characteristics of experiential learning along with its two major developmental variants – Kolb’s cycle and Jarvis´ revised model of the processes of learning. It defines the basic features of distance learning and e-learning, and formulates general stimuli how to apply experiential learning within these relatively integral educational technologies. In conclusion, it brings about information on practical use of theoretical approaches to teaching pedagogical subjects within educational programmes at universities.

The article is focused on the issue of whole-life education from the point of view of one of its distance learning forms: e-learning. One of the core problems of this field is self-study and its arrangement; specifically study materials and a correct organization of learning.

The article deals with the theoretical foundations of professional training of future primary school teachers in higher education institutions. The necessity of digitalisation of the education system through the introduction of innovative digital technologies and the organisation of the educational process in higher education institutions is established. Today, the classical type of education is experiencing an almost instantaneous crisis around the world. Distance learning is gaining popularity due to its ability to attract more people, improve on-site learning and offer fast and affordable education at any time.

Selected areas of women’s functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland (compared to European Union countries)

The aim of the research is to analyze research reports, articles and diaries showing how women function during the COVID-19 pandemic. The subject of my analyzes was quantitative and qualitative data showing differences in the functioning of women and men during the pandemic, along with their real and potential consequences from the perspective of gender equality. Although I was mainly interested in the situation of women in the text, the adopted perspective of gender equality required me to often (for comparative purposes) compile data regarding men. The article attempts to answer the question: What changes in particular areas of women’s social functioning have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic? I decided to use nonreactive research using the method of analyzing existing data. My research shows that the Covid pandemic has caused unfavorable changes from the perspective of gender equality, not only in Poland, but also in other countries belonging to the European Union. Women suffered health consequences, felt exhausted by their duties and returned to stereotypical social roles. Despite the attempts to eliminate gender inequality in European Union countries (including Poland), the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reversed progress in these activities.

The problem of the study is to substantiate the content of the implementation of the case method of teaching. The article outlines the content of the case method of future bachelor training based on qualitative research. In the example of the academic subject “Cross-cultural studies and projects”, the main steps of developing cross-cultural student projects are traced. The main requirements for creating cross-cultural projects within the distance form of education are defined. The significant result of the study is that the use of teaching methods opens opportunities for students to master the content of professional training.