Highlights: (1) Adequate preparation (e.g., providing technical equipment, didactical adaptation of teaching materials, fostering digital literacy in students …) is needed for distance learning to succeed.(2) Disadvantaged students need special support to avert a widening of the educational gap between students from different social backgrounds and with different learning abilities.(3) Distance and online learning should be designed to address the satisfaction of basic psychological needs to promote student well-being and positive learning outcomes.