RESEARCH PAPER
Demographic analysis of difficulties related to remote education in Poland from the perspective of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
2
Foundation of the Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
3
Faculty of Education, University of Warsaw, Poland
4
Department of Cardiology, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
Corresponding author
Magdalena Korzycka
Institute of Mother and Child, Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Warsaw, Poland
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2021;28(1):149-157
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all schools in Poland were closed and obliged to conduct lessons remotely. The aim of the study is to present the demographic analysis of difficulties with remote learning, as perceived by students during coronavirus pandemic in Poland.
Material and methods:
In April 2020, a nationwide online survey was conducted among adolescents aged 11–18 (N=2408). Quantitative and qualitative data were used. Teenagers were asked about the problems connected with remote learning. In order to examine the overall level of remote learning difficulties, a scale of remote learning difficulties (RLD) was devised (range 0–23 points). Differences connected with gender, age and place of residence were analysed.
Results:
More than a half of the teenagers surveyed rated the increased demands from teachers as a major problem. This answer appeared statistically more often among girls than boys (59.6% v. 53.2%). Almost every third adolescent saw the lack of consultation (31.6%) as a significant problem. Difficulties related to learning in the remote system were most often described as considerable by the oldest students (17–18-years-old) and those living in rural areas. The big problem for them was usually much higher requirements of teachers and poor organization of distance learning. The mean level on the scale of remote learning burden was M=11.9 (SD=7.1). Technical difficulties and insufficient skills in using software constituted additional problems most frequently mentioned by students.
Conclusions:
There is a need to pay particular attention to organizing appropriate technical conditions for remote learning, especially in rural areas, where students have complained more often than in cities about equipment and problems with access to the Internet during the pandemic.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Realization of the study entitled ‘Youth and COVID-19’ was
supported by resources of the Foundation of the Institute of
Mother and Child in Warsaw, Poland
REFERENCES (43)
1.
The Decree of the Minister of Health on 20 March 2020 declaring the state of epidemic on the territory of the Republic of Poland. Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 491.
https://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/D.... (access: 2020.10.09).
2.
Prime H, Wade M, Browne DT. Risk and resilience in family well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am Psychol. 2020; 75(5): 631–643.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/amp0....
3.
Prem K, Liu Y, Russell TW, et al. The effect of control strategies to reduce social mixing on outcomes of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, China: a modelling study. Lancet Public Health. 2020; 5(5): 261–270.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-....
4.
The Decree of the Minister of National Education on 11 March 2020 on the temporary limitation of the functioning of the education system units in relation to the prevention, counteraction and combating COVID-19. Act of 2020, Pub. L. No. 410.
https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.... (access: 2020.12.29).
5.
Raišiene AG, Rapuano V, Varkulevičiute K, et al. Working from Home—Who Is Happy? A Survey of Lithuania’s Employees during the COVID-19 Quarantine Period. Sustainability. 2020; 12(13): 5332.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su1213....
7.
Woynarowska B. Sedentary behaviour in front of the screen during leisure. In: Mazur J, Małkowska-Szkutnik A, editors. Students’ health in 2018 against the backdrop of the new HBSC research model. Inst. of Mother and Child, Warsaw; 2018. p. 93–102.
9.
Mental health considerations for children & adolescents in COVID-19 Pandemic. Imran N, Zeshan M, Pervaiz Z. Pak J Med Sci. 2020; 36(COVID19-S4): S67-S72.
https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.....
10.
Jiao WY, Wang LN, Liu J, et al. Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Children during the COVID-19 Epidemic. J Pediatr. 2020; 221: 264–266.e1.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped....
11.
Richardson C, Oar E, Fardouly J, Magson N, Johnco C, Forbes MR.The Moderating Role of Sleep in the Relationship Between Social Isolation and Internalising Problems in Early Adolescence. Rapee Child Psychiatry Human Develop. 2019; (50): 1011–1020.
12.
Singh S, Roy D, Sinha K, et al. Impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of children and adolescents: A narrative review with recommendations. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 293: 113429.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyc....
13.
Youth during the epidemic. Results of the survey: NAVIGATION ACTION – protect yourself, support others. Institute of Integrated Prevention. Foundation, Warsaw; 2020.
http://edukacja.gdynia.pl/wpco... (access: 2020.10.19).
14.
Długosz P. Research report: Cracow youth in quarantine conditions COVID-19. Inst. of Philosophy and Sociology, Pedagogical University KEN, Cracow;
https://ifis.up.krakow.pl/wyni... (access: 020.10.02).
15.
Tabak I. Mental health of children and adolescents. Support for children and adolescents in overcoming problems. In: Health of Children and Adolescents. Selected Issues. Stud BAS. 2014; 2(38): 113–38.
16.
Tian L, Zhao J, Huebner ES. School-related social support and subjective well-being in school among adolescents: The role of self-system factors. J Adolesc. 2015; 45: 138–48.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adol....
17.
Wypych-Ślusarska A, Głogowska-Ligus J, Słowiński J. Social determinants of health inequalities. Piel Zdr Publ. 2019; 9(3): 229–236.
https://doi.org/10.17219/pzp/1....
18.
Piróg D. In search of methodological innovations in qualitative research – example from the analysis of the transition of the graduates of geography to the labour market. Ann Univ Paedagog Cracoviensis Stud Geogr. 2014; 6: 9–18.
19.
Kubinowski D. Qualitative pedagogical research. Philosophy-Methodology-Evaluation. Lublin: Publishing House of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University; 2011.
22.
Remote education – where were we, where are we going? Preliminary results of scientific research: Remote education and adaptation to social conditions during the coronavirus epidemic. Research project, Remote learning; 2020.
https://zdalnenauczanie.org/wp.... (access: 2020.10.01).
23.
Ptaszek G, Bigaj M, Dębski M, Pyżalski J, Stunża GD. Remote educaction – where we were, where we are going? Preliminary results of the research: Remote learning and adaptation to social conditions during the coronavirus epidemic. Warsaw; 2020. p. 22–31.
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.....
26.
Małkowska-Szkutnik A. School environment. In: Students’ health in 2018 against the backdrop of the new HBSC research model. Warsaw: Inst Mother and Child; 2018. p. 52.
27.
Spinelli M, Lionetti F, Pastore M, Fasolo M. Parents’ Stress and Children’s Psychological Problems in Families Facing the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy. Front. Psychol. 2020; 11: 1713.
https://doi/10.3389/fpsyg.2020....
28.
Guessouma SB, Lachala J, Radjacka R, et al. Adolescent psychiatric disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 291: 113264;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyc....
29.
Oblacińska A, Ostręga W. Standards of conduct and work methodology of a school nurse. A manual for school nurses and hygienists. Warsaw: Inst Mother and Child; 2017.
30.
Darling-Hammond L, Cook-Harvey CM. Educating the whole child: Improving school climate to support student success. Learning Policy Inst. Palo Alto (CA); 2018. p. 27–32.
32.
Hawkley LC, Cacioppo JT. Loneliness matters: a theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms. Ann Behav Med. 2010; 40(2): 218–27.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160....
33.
Scott SR, Rivera KM, Rushing E. “I Hate This”: A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescents’ Self-Reported Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Adolesc Health 2020; (Article in press; Online access 04.01.2021).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jado....
34.
Jurczak A. The duality of teaching process during the coronavirus epidemic. J Inst Pre-School and Early School Education. 2020; VIII 1(15): 133–149.
36.
Trends Shaping Education 2017 Spotlight. OECD (2016), Trends Shaping Education 2016, OECD Publishing (online) www.oecd.org/edu/ceri (access: 31.12.2020).
37.
Wilkin J. Polish countryside now and in the past – synthesis of the report. In: Wilkin J, Nurzyńska I, editors. Rural Poland 2018. The report on the state of rural areas. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe SCHOLAR; 2018. p. 11–24.
https://www.fdpa.org.pl/rural-... (access 31.12.2020).
38.
Chmielewska B, Zegar JS. Rural convergence and divergence processes and the rest of society in terms of income. In: Wilkin J, Nurzyńska I, editors. Rural Poland 2018. The report on the state of rural areas. Warsaw: Scientific Publisher SCHOLAR; 2018. p. 111–134.
https://www.fdpa.org.pl/rural-... (access 31.12.2020).
40.
Becker SP, Breaux R, Cusick CN, et al. Remote Learning During COVID-19: Examining School Practices, Service Continuation, and Difficulties for Adolescents With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Adolesc Health 2020; 67: 769–77.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jado....
41.
The Decree of the Minister of National Education on 12 August 2020 amending the decree on safety and hygiene in public and non-public schools and institutions. Act of 2020, Pub L No. 1386.
https://dziennikustaw.gov.pl/D... (access: 2020.10.09).
42.
Remote and hybrid learning for secondary school students – changes in the functioning of schools from Monday. Website of the Republic of Poland; Ministry of Education.
https://www.gov.pl/web/edukacj.... (access: 2020.10.16).
43.
The Decree of the Minister of National Education on 23 October 2020 amending the decree on temporary limitation of the functioning of education units in connection with the prevention, counteraction and combating of COVID-19. Act of 2020, Pub L No. 1870.
https://www.dziennikustaw.gov.... (access: 2020 Oct 29).