There are some people who believe that school is never going to be the same. On the other hand, school is just as important as it ever has been in the past. The coronavirus pandemic has created a medical crisis rivaling that of the Spanish influenza pandemic, which took place in 1918. Even though a lot of the attention has been paid to the medical issues and economic hardships that have developed as a result of this pandemic, it is critical to focus on changes that are taking place in the world of education as well. As schools figure out how they are going to be able to handle their educational duties in the face of unprecedented hardships, there are a few key changes that everyone should note.
The Growth of the Hybrid Educational Model
One of the biggest changes that have taken place this year has been the growth of the hybrid education model. There are many students who are already taking tests online. For example, many individuals who take standardized tests as a part of their advanced degrees travel to standardized testing centers and take them online. On the other hand, much of the learning that actually took place was done in-person.
Out of necessity, many schools are shifting to a hybrid model where students have the opportunity to complete assignments either in-person or remotely. As a result, the shift toward an integrated learning model, which incorporates both in-person lessons and digital learning, is essential.
Hygiene Is Essential Education for Multiple Reasons
One of the major complications of the coronavirus pandemic has been the rise of mental health issues. During the past few years, the stigma that used to surround mental health issues has largely evaporated. While this does mean that there are more resources available today than there were in the past, the pandemic has led to a mental health crisis as well.
Studies have shown that a large proportion of students are looking for access to mental health services. Therefore, it is important for schools to teach physical and emotional hygiene. Even though it may be funny to take a look at stories where students don’t even get out of their pajamas to go to school, it is important for schools to look at hygiene as a component of essential education. Particularly when it comes to earning a college degree, it is important for students to approach their education with a sense of professionalism and teachers need to find a way to communicate this, even in the online world. Then, teachers also need to make sure that students understand that there are mental health services available that can help them with emotional hygiene.
Some of These Changes Might Be Permanent
Finally, it is important to note that some of the changes that are taking place in the world of education could be permanent. There was already a massive shift moving from the physical world to the online world in a variety of industries, including the educational community. The pandemic has simply accelerated this transition. Just as some employees may continue to work from home even after the pandemic is in the rearview mirror, some components of education may continue to take place virtually as well. It will be interesting to see how the educational world and its students embrace these changes moving forward. Student performance, teacher performance, and the overall mental health of both communities will play a major role in dictating what the world of education looks like after the pandemic has been put in the past.