This research investigated the motivation to learn of young high school students from the State Public Network of Rio de Janeiro in face of the adversities experienced during the social isolation imposed by the covid-19 pandemic and the use of ICT and/or printed material to remotely continue the studies in the year 2020. Therefore, we look at the delimited field - students from nine high schools in the public education system in Rio de Janeiro -, according to the precepts of the Self-Determination Theory, which states that there are three basic psychological needs – autonomy, competence and belonging (bond) – whose satisfaction is essential for motivation and well-being but may suffer contextual influences. The research consisted of 3 articulated studies: a quantitative study, carried out with students who studied mainly through the use of the Classroom application; a quantitative study with students who used printed material; a qualitative-based study, with students from both groups, carried out through interviews. The materials from two quantitatively-based studies were subjected to psychometric statistical analyses; interviews were subjected to content analysis. Results were discussed from the perspective of the literature on motivation, specifically the Self-Determination Theory, and the literature on school culture. Overall, the results indicate that study conditions in 2020 did not favor the student s perceptions of meeting the psychological needs associated with the motivation to learn (autonomy, bonding and competence), especially bonding. They also indicate the lack of digital literacy and self-regulation of learning.