A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s hard to know how school will look like in the future. Educational leaders — as are so many others — continue to struggle with questions like:
How long will this last? What will school look like next year, semester — next week even? What impacts will this have on students and teachers?
The constant state of change brought on by the pandemic has led to educators taking an approach of preparing for everything, remaining nimble enough to adjust class at a moment’s notice. But is that sustainable?
The Brooking’s Institute reported the pandemic’s impacts on schools could last for years.
“Coronavirus-based disruptions to schools could continue until at least 2024, and worries about contagion will not go away,” write Paul T. Hill and Ashley Jochim for Brooking’s. “Lack of trust among parents about vaccinations and health practices, and worries about especially vulnerable children and teachers, will persist beyond this school year.”
With so many factors, it’s nearly impossible to know what the future holds for education from grade school on up. However, trends have emerged, revealing early signs of what’s ahead.
Once the pandemic ends, some research suggests 82% of families prefer to return to school as it was prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. Although, a business-as-usual approach to schooling once it becomes safe to return likely won’t solve all students’ and teachers’ needs.
Schools Must Consider How to Integrate Technology into their Long-Term Curriculum
During the winter of 2020, New York City students braced for inclimate weather by hunkering down for not a snow day but a remote-learning day. Up to 40% of principals have implemented the change, according to reporting by the HuffPost. Up to 30% more will consider it for their own schools.
While doing away with snow days isn’t fun for students, the upside is that they don’t miss a beat due to dangerous weather or another disruption. Students can continue learning by accessing information wherever WiFi is available.
As situations like inclimate weather prevent some from making it to the physical classroom, technology creates a pathway for students to continue their education. What’s more, it prevents them from making up days in June. (Who wants that?)
Schools across the world have relied on video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams to connect virtually with their students; district leaders have leveraged live streaming applications to deliver critical messaging to staff and families; on-premises smart boards, video walls and digital signage serve as tools to remind about mask compliance, COVID-19 prevention and more.
The longer the pandemic has gone on, the more technology has become critical infrastructure to educational institutions. The schools that hesitated to invest at the beginning continue to play catch up, with some feeling enormous pressure as plans to return students quickly come together.
While it’s difficult to know how many students will return at once — even with the majority hoping to make their way back soon — it’s safe to say school will take a hybrid approach long term, meaning some students will stay home while others come back in a phased approach.
However, as important as it is, devices and software cannot solve for all students’ needs. Intentional planning and design play key roles in ensuring the success of a well-rounded technical solution.
While Distance Learning Can Benefit Students, Work Must Continue
Distancing learning has created an optimal learning environment for thousands of students, carrying many benefits, including:
No commute
Independent learning
A flexible schedule
While the benefits are many, they don’t affect all students the same way. "About 8.6 million children, K-12 age, do not have the necessary equipment at home to participate in online learning. That's about 1 in 6 children in America," said Kenneth Dodge, a professor who studies early childhood development, in an article by CNN.
As the educational landscape continues to evolve in the wake of the pandemic, technology will provide a vital role in shaping the future of learning. But, remote and hybrid programs must become refined in the months and years ahead to better accommodate more students.
Schools should consider how technology fits into their long-term plans for remote, hybrid and in-person learning. Consider working with a partner like CommLink to find easy-to-use, cost-effective technical solutions for education.