The beginning phase of Covid-19 Global Pandemic brought the world to a halt. Along with the other areas, educational sector failed miserably in delivering to the learners. This hard time demanded a change in the course through imperative reinvention of educational structure with the change in objectives to building resilience in students to face various threats, adaptability and even rapid technological change. 1.2 billion children approximately in 186 countries were affected by school closures due to the pandemic.This required shifting to online mode of education. The integration of information technology in education eventually became an integral component of education worldwide, bringing the world closer thus, confirming the righteousness of the Sanskrit Phrase ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ meaning ‘The world is one family’.With global EdTech investments skyrocketing and the overall market for online education projected to reach $350 Billion by 2025, it is certain that this sudden shift will have a substantial impact on teaching and learning long forever even after COVID-19 crisis end. Furthermore, the investment in e-learning shall never dry up.
We might blame it to Covid-19 disrupting the educational system, but no one can deny the fact that education was already losing its relevance in the pre COVID-19 times. Centuries-old, lecture-based approaches to teaching, deep-rooted institutional biases, and outdated classrooms were appalling.Now for those who do have access to the right technology, there is evidence that learning online can be more effective in a number of ways. Research shows that on average, students learn faster and retain 25-60% more material when learning online compared to only 8-10% in a traditional classroom setting. This is because they can learn at their own pace, going back and re-reading, skipping, or accelerating through concepts as they choose.Clever Gamification of academic content has demonstrated higher engagement and increased motivation towards learning, making students truly fall in love with learning.
In today’s deeply interconnected world, the online educational model has transformed students to tech-savvy with limitless sources of information at their fingertips. Educators have shifted from departing information to nurturing intelligent, responsible, and good decision-makers in this new world.So, experiencing the first-hand benefits, we can conclude that e-learning is the ‘new normal’. Let’s take this pandemic as an opportunity which has reformed and even altering how millions around the globe are educated.