Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education Institutions under the Martial Law

Abstract

The aim of the research was an empirical study of the effectiveness of distance learning in pedagogical HEIs of Ukraine under the martial law. The research involved surveying the subjects of the educational process of Ukrainian HEIs. The survey respondents were the students of pedagogical educational institutions, teachers studying at the advanced training courses, academic staff. The criteria for assessing the effectiveness of distance learning in times of war were the possibility and quality of feedback, access to educational/didactic and methodological content, the possibility and frequency of monitoring performance, consultations, meeting deadlines, interactivity, technical capabilities of Internet access. The survey evidenced the negative impact of the martial law on online learning, the limited interactivity of classes, the unsystematic consultations and monitoring, and poor-quality communication between the subjects of the online educational process. At the same time, the positive impact of the varied approaches of teachers to presenting educational materials to students on the effectiveness of distance learning was confirmed. As a result, students with different technical capabilities were able to access the educational content provided by the curricula. The results of the study can be used by other HEIs of Ukraine in the context of sharing progressive pedagogical practices of distance learning organization in times of war. Further studies involve expanding the research, generalizing the unique experience of higher education of Ukraine in providing distance learning in crisis conditions, and sharing it with the world scientific communities.