Abstract:

In the proposed paper, the results of a systematic qualitative research study focusing on the development of secondary school students’ attitudes towards distance learning during the pandemic crisis are presented. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it came to massive school closures in Slovakia and on-site teaching was repeatedly interrupted, which has had a negative impact on education. For the purposes of the presented research, the questionnaire method was used and in open ended items, secondary school students were asked about their experiences with distance learning gained during the pandemic crisis, as well as about the positive and negative aspects of distance learning in the online environment. Students were also asked to write brief essays about the impact of school closures on their lives and studies. The above research activities were carried during the first, second, and third pandemic waves. The gathered qualitative data were analyzed and the research results from the three pandemic waves were compared. The findings show that there was a shift in students’ attitudes towards distance learning and the eventuality of its application under standard, non-crisis circumstances in the future.

Keywords:

Secondary school students, COVID-19, school closures, distance learning, students' attitudes.