The Editorial Board of International Journal of Research in E-learning (IJREL) is privileged to present a new volume 9(1) 2023. The content of the current issue was divided into three chapters. The first is devoted to Research on Distance, Online and Blended Learning in particular in the COVID-19 time. The second contains articles concerned with Innovative Methods and Technology in Education. The third concerns Theoretical, Methodological and Practical Aspects and Psychological Determinants of ICT and E-Learning in Education.

This article tested a widespread belief that by working in groups distance education students achieve cognitive goals of learning, and develop their social competencies and skills. The subject of the study was the achievements of 655 bachelor and master degree students enrolled in 22 on-campus and blended learning
units offered within 2 university courses, full-time and part-time, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e. in the academic years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. An instrumental case study was carried out: the grades students obtained for individual work were compared with grades obtained for work done in pairs and groups of threes within the same courses. It was found that a statistically significant difference did not exist. But the highest grades (on average 83.81) were obtained by students who had worked individually, and the lowest (81.64%) by those who had worked in groups of three. The highest grades were obtained by the final-year students. They showed an understanding of the assessment criteria and the ability to follow such. Also, they wanted to pass on the first attempt in order to have time to prepare for the final examination. International students were reluctant to work in groups. They focused on achieving good grades and preparing for the thesis due to the time limits of student visas and the unrest caused by the war in Ukraine. First-year students who had no experience in adhering to the assessment criteria and problems with
communicating due to isolation caused by the pandemic obtained the lowest grades.

The Covid19 pandemic has changed the day-to-day behaviour of society in many aspects, including education. The mode of operation of schools has changed from traditional to remote. The changes affected various school types, also universities. Remote teaching as a binding educational practice forced both students and teachers to adapt to a dynamically changing reality. Experience gained during the pandemic had an impact on the educational and professional prospects of students. The aim of the research was to learn about the expectations of students towards their own development and education, as well as to determine what their postulates are regarding formal education in post-pandemic times. Extensive empirical material was obtained from 100 people (women) studying at the Pedagogical University of Krakow. The objectification of the results was possible after a thorough analysis of the narrative texts (prospective). Formal and content categories were distinguished, which were arranged in four areas, taking into account the postulates of the surveyed students related to: (1) organisation and course of education, (2) use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, (3) fulfilment of students’ needs, (4) personal and professional development. The selected areas form a complementary whole in which students’ expectations relate to important spheres of functioning of an individual, that is intellectual, psychosocial and physical. The students participating in the survey expect that after the pandemic they will still be able to use experience and skills gained during the remote learning, they want the university to provide a secure physical and social space. They also want to receive emotional support which would help get rid of negative feelings and also receive instrumental support to allow correct behaviour and effective participation in post-pandemic education. The described categories were expanded to include examples of students’ narratives.

The article describes the authors’ experience of distance learning at Rzeszow University of Technology during COVID-19 lockdown. The problems associated with the didactics in the pandemic period were discussed. They concerned hardware, software, and teaching rooms. Technical and organisational issues were discussed. The aspect of student involvement in the distance learning process and the learning outcomes achieved by the students was also addressed. Finally, the conclusions that emerged from this stage of work with students were presented, as well as suggestions related to the improvement of the distance learning process for the future.

The 2021 transition to teaching online and to virtual environment due to COVID-19 was challenging for many educationalists, teachers, students and pupils all over the world. However, it was particularly difficult for teachers of learners with special educational needs, school therapists and counsellors. They had to provide highly individualized teaching and service without (or with limited) face-to-face contact. This article looks at teacher qualifications necessary to provide ICT based education for learners, particularly for learners
with special needs (from the American and Polish viewpoint). The Authors analyze the context of preservice teacher training in the COVID-19 conditioned environment with the particular focus of teachers of English as a Foreign Language (who wish to obtain teacher qualifications to teach in Polish public schools).

Research on digital collaboration scenarios in Higher Education (HE) is characterized by various approaches that often define the acquisition and development of global skills as learning goals. Virtual Collaborative Learning (VCL) in HE represents one approach to facilitating students’ global skills. Depending on the use case, these learning arrangements can include case study-based group learning under e-tutorial supervision. This paper focuses on the perspective of e-tutors – specially qualified student assistants – and their competence development during the summer semester of 2022. Based on previous research findings, a tandem setting was chosen for their competence development. This paper mainly compares expectations and experiences regarding the competence improvement of e-tutors in a multinational tandem. These expectations and experiences were queried through two quantitative questionnaires utilizing 5-point Likert scales and one short follow-up questionnaire after the finalization of VCL. In general, the positive expectations of the e-tutors were fulfilled, but not to a similar extent for each competence category. Especially the development of social and pedagogical competencies was positive, whereas the development of intercultural competencies was challenging. Several recommendations for action were derived, which impact further e-tutor training.

Several traditional MOOCs have been developed utilizing particular traditional approaches for distance learning. The main objective of this article is to examine numerous studies and research about the provision of adaptive and intelligent MOOCs to address issues, such as dropout rate, for improving their efficiency compared to conventional MOOCs. Important issues that have been the essential study interests of MOOC scholars in recent years, including dropout rate, completion rate, loneliness, and other topics, were studied. Finally, the research questions posed on the effectiveness of Adaptive and Intelligent MOOCs, the learner’s characteristics used for adaptation, the adaptive and intelligent methods and techniques used, and the improvements they bring to traditional MOOCs as a compass for designing Adaptive and Intelligent MOOCs in the coming years, are discussed.

Universities can offer their master’s students who want to improve their language skills different learning environments. They can range from traditional classes to online programmes equivalent to an on-campus experience or reaching beyond it. Learning technical English through a curriculum that is inspiring and stimulating due to authentic materials used in a gamified setting can result in positive learning outcomes and increased satisfaction levels among lecturers and students. The former can find new challenges helping prevent burnout, the latter have the chance to develop hard and soft skills, including analytical, reflective and critical thinking, through context-specific language. Interactions structured around online activities which involve searching for information in authentic resources and completing activities that allow for progress to the next level can effectively prepare students for challenges they will encounter in their professional life. They can also capture imagination and unlock the creative potential of the educators involved in their development and of participants bored with school routine and textbooks. Thus, a gamified language course for specific purposes can become a highly motivating environment, in which young people develop their creativity, language proficiency and knowledge of technological advances not only in the fields of their interest; they are also exposed to new learning practices due to the application of game-design elements. The ideas presented above will be supported by students’ opinions and attitudes expressed during a pilot Moodle course in a gamified format conducted at Gdansk University of Technology in the summer semester of 2021/2022.