Analysis of distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic on the example of a secondary school in Szczecin, Poland

Purpose: The aim of the article is to present the opinion of students of one of the secondary schools in Szczecin on the implementation of the remote learning process. In order to examine the impact of the pandemic on the effectiveness of teaching, the results of the Matura exam in 2021 (year of students learning partly remotely) were also compared with the results of the exam in 2019 (year of students learning entirely stationary). Design/Methodology/Approach: The research analysis used the survey method for which it was used a CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) internet survey, which was sent by e-mail to a specific research group with a link to the survey. In addition, in order to examine the effects of the pandemic, the results of the Matura exam in 2021 (year of students 2018-2021 studying partly remotely) were compared with the results of the exam in 2019 (year of students 2016-2019 studying entirely stationary). In order to objectively compare the obtained results, the stanine scale was used, which allows to determine the position of the result obtained by the school against the results achieved by all educational institutions in the country. Findings: The obtained results clearly show that despite the difficult situation in education caused by the coronavirus pandemic, maintaining an appropriate level of teaching largely depended on the creativity of teachers, but also on the students themselves - their discipline and willingness to cooperate remotely with the school and teachers. Despite many disadvantages, distance learning also had many positive aspects. Good cooperation on the teacher-student line resulted in very good results in the final exams of the year, which to a large extent studied at school in a remote form. As the analysis showed, the results obtained by the students were not worse, and even slightly better than those of the full-time students, which clearly shows that with good organization of work, distance learning can be just as effective. Practical Implications: Distance learning resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic affected Polish schools overnight, becoming everyday life for thousands of students in the country. The conducted research shows that the period of remote learning gave rise to many problems that needed to be responded to quickly. Therefore, most students view the period of distance learning through the prism of difficulties that they, but also teachers, had to constantly overcome. The analysis of the research results showed how distance learning looks like in reality and which areas of it require further work. Originality/Value: The originality of the research results from a comprehensive analysis of the distance learning process in one of Szczecin's high schools and showing the differences in the educational effects of students between stationary and remote learning, which will allow for the improvement of the distance learning process in the future.