The New Normal: The Future of Education after COVID-19

Amidst the wake of the global pandemic in 2020, the way the world sees education has changed forever. COVID-19 has affected teaching and learning today, and maybe forever. In this article, we look at the new normal and ask:

What does the future hold for education?

Schools and universities closed down indefinitely during and after the lockdowns, remaining shut much longer than other sectors. However, digital learning came to the rescue of teachers and students everywhere. During 2020-21, eLearning apps have mushroomed everywhere, giving much-needed respite to the educational sector. Smart learning technologies have changed the future of learning in a way we never imagined it would –literally overnight!

However, online education trends have a long way to go!

There are many COVID-19 induced eLearning challenges, especially in India. Underprivileged students without the economic means to have the internet at home could not continue their education. Many parents who lost their jobs or faced pay cuts could not afford online education for their children. In addition, educators, inexperienced with technology, had to learn how to interact effectively in the new normal of online learning. While the world is still adapting to new teaching methodologies, there is a silver lining to the future of learning.

How does COVID-19 impact the future of education?

1. Open-Source eLearning Solutions

Governments and top institutions are developing open-source eLearning solutions to provide low-cost and accessible education to all students regardless of their connectivity issues. These Learning management systems (LMS) are mobile-friendly, accessible portals customized for easier teacher-student interaction. Some examples include Moodle, GoSkills, and TalentLMS.

2. Personalized Learning with AI

Artificial Intelligence can add value to traditional ways of learning like no other. What AI does is create personalized learning experiences for every student. Students will get a tailored education to suit their specific needs. Higher education will benefit from this the most, where the one-size-fits-all approach to college teaching fails. Customized learning can help prevent college and university students from dropping out. Educators can easily track every student’s progress with the help of AI.

3. Educators in the New Normal

We witnessed that the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced teachers to shift to online teaching suddenly. However, the educators of tomorrow need to be trained in the latest technologies so they can switch between offline and online teaching methods. Online learning trends have greatly affected the role of educators. Teachers are supposed to give knowledge, but now they are becoming “facilitators” of knowledge. In the new normal, teachers are expected to help students learn how to use online learning tools effectively for self-learning.

4. Easing Teacher Tasks

In the new normal, many assessment tasks done traditionally by teachers will get taken care of by smart technologies. Test evaluations, creating question papers, preparing grade sheets can be automated. Teachers will have more time to pay attention to improving the quality of teaching, enhancing self-skills, and designing innovative courses.

5. Rising Demand for Skill-Based Courses

Since the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, millions of people have lost their jobs. Uncertainties in the job market are here to stay in the new normal. In order to stay competitive, job seekers are scaling up their skills in technologies such as AI tools, data analytics, and more. Professionals and freshers alike are choosing industry-ready courses that can keep them employed longer. The courses with the most demand are skill-based online learning programs and short training sessions. Thus, EdTech start-ups are on the rise. In India, we have witnessed the popularity of Byju’s, Brainly, CollegeDunia, MeritNation, and GradeUp shoot up during the past year and a half.

6. Blended Learning

Today, most educators wonder, “What changes will there be in the classroom due to the COVID-19 pandemic?” The post-COVID-19 strategy will probably be a blend of learning face-to-face and utilizing eLearning tools. This way, students and teachers can get the benefit of both worlds. We expect homework to be submitted online and lighter school bags in this blended module. There are many advantages of combining methodologies. Blended learning will improve and weed outdated educational systems while preparing us for future crises.

Take-Home Message

The true power of online education lies in the future and how well people can adapt to these changes. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is “necessity is the mother of invention.” eLearning platforms are a great example of this. Nevertheless, when it comes to LMS tools, we are witnessing only the tip of the iceberg.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the world in a spin, and one of the most affected industries is education. However, most people think that the changes have done more good than harm – at least for the long term future. The new normal methodologies have prepared students, parents, and teachers for another pandemic or future crisis when we can learn and teach from home.