In response to the rapid shift to online education that has occurred across the globe, Copenhagen based education professionals, Poormina Luthra and Sandy Mackenzie have argued in a World Economic Forum article that there are four main ways that the pandemic could change how we educate future generations. Firstly, COVID-19 illustrates how connected we all are, demonstrating the importance of working across international boundaries in a collaborative way. Online education has also redefined the role of the teacher to that of a facilitator, helping students to access knowledge and skills through their computer or smart device.
In addition, the pandemic has demonstrated that the life skills needed to navigate this crisis are the attributes that future employers will seek, including creativity, communication, collaboration, empathy and emotional intelligence. Finally, write Luthra and Mackenzie, the quick uptake of remote learning in response to COVID-19 has resulted in the unlocking of technology to deliver education. “Educators across the world,” they write, “are experiencing new possibilities to do things differently and with greater flexibility.”
Students have risen to the challenge, showing that they are capable, resilient, empathetic, flexible and self-motivated. From expressing concern about the wellbeing of their teachers to embracing online learning at the kitchen table, young people are demonstrating that they are more outwardly-focused, connected, motivated and work-ready than they are often given credit for.
There are early indications that some students are finding that the online learning environment suits their circumstances better than the traditional classroom model. As reported by Robert Bolton in the Australian Financial Review, school ‘attendance’ has been higher since the move to online learning, with data collected by Compass Education finding that the absentee rate has halved. There also appears to be some evidence that certain groups of students are benefitting from the move to digital learning; those who are introverts or suffer from anxiety report that the online learning environment works well for them. Other advantages that could be encouraging greater online attendance include the improved ability of gifted and special needs students to learn at their own pace. Other benefits will range from higher quality online teaching materials and improved teacher collaboration, including across international borders, to a greater appreciation of the vital role that teachers play in educating and caring for the wellbeing of young people.
The OECD agrees that digital learning is here to stay with its worldwide education survey, PISA, focusing on ‘Learning in the Digital World’ in 2024. “These skillsets,” states the OECD, “are essential in preparing students to learn autonomously in an increasingly complex and digital world.”
Ros Curtis