‛ Impact of Corona Virus on Education ’ Essay
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It’s that time of year again, graduation season! Right now, our social media feeds should be flooded with photos and posts congratulating this year’s high school seniors and university graduates.
However, ceremony invitations weren’t sent this year as the impact of coronavirus has tossed out the idea of a traditional graduation all together.
The near-total closures of schools, universities, and colleges worldwide has reshaped nearly every aspect of normal life. Based on UNESCO data, more than a billion (yes, billion with a B!) students were thrown into very uncertain waters as the pandemic put a halt to in-person classes and courses.
From primary schools to PhD programs, students across the globe are experiencing the altering effects of coronavirus as classrooms move online and course curriculums stretch into the summer.
Both students and teachers have been burdened with the task of adapting to an online learning environment seemingly overnight. As well, many parents have been forced to take on the role of IT technician, teacher, and babysitter as kids remain struck at home.
Although the stark consequences of COVID-19 have thrown both families and the education industry for a loop, the sudden switch to digital learning has brought with it a few valuable lessons. In fact, the future of education has been transformed to not only accommodate online classrooms, but embrace a digital education.
The Major Challenges of Online Learning
While the transition to online learning gave many schools a chance to salvage the spring semester, it didn’t come without its challenges. Students and educators were met with a number of unprecedented obstacles that made shift more complex than originally thought.
Technical Difficulties
Technology, am I right? When there’s a chance something can go wrong, it usually will.
Whether it’s unstable wifi or a confusing interface, technology plays a huge role in online learning. Subsequently, many teachers and students find it quite difficult to adjust to learning and teaching from the confines of a computer screen.
While this problem is likely to get better as users become more familiar and comfortable with the new online classroom platform, it’s nonetheless an annoyance to undergo.
Disrupted Schedules
For younger students especially, keeping a consistent schedule is extremely important for maintaining discipline and motivation. The sudden termination of in-person classes has made it much more challenging for students to properly manage their time and remain productive throughout the day.
Additionally, students must adapt to studying primarily at home with the diminished assistance of an instructor. While this may encourage students to explore new studying methods, it poses an extreme disadvantage for educators to evaluate students.
Substantial Delays
Due to the closure of schools and business, many students suddenly had no idea when or how classes would resume. During this time, teachers and administrators were understandably ill prepared as many scrambled to establish an online platform that could deliver the same quality of education as before.
This delay in courses has pushed the majority of student course schedules deeper into the summer. Although the educational system was unequipped to move 100 percent online, perhaps this experience will force schools to invest in an easily transferable digital platform for coursework in the future.
Struggling Parents
It’s no secret that most parents aren’t exactly delighted to fill the role of teacher this semester – especially those who are trying to work from home. Moving to online learning has put parents in a precarious situation as many have struggled to manage their professional and domestic responsibilities.
Furthermore, parents who are employed as health care professionals or front line workers are forced to either find childcare or take off work. This has placed extra stress on families and may even become a financial burden to some.