It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact across the globe in many areas. We watched as the world shut down and went into quarantine, closing restaurants, shops, office buildings, and public spaces. In just the second quarter of 2020, over 400,000 businesses closed in the United States.
Education was no exception to the effects of COVID-19. Almost all primary and secondary schools were ordered to close due to a declared emergency in 2020 and were not yet prepared to switch to distance learning. Whether it was a lack of proper technology, or not having resources at home, primary and secondary education struggled to convert to online during the pandemic.
College campuses also closed but had advantages over primary and secondary schools as many colleges already offer some sort of online education. The pandemic allowed for fully online learning to become the only source of learning for college students. College institutions often have more technological resources to make online programs easier, such as laptops, e-books, and instructors who have previously taught courses fully online.
Other reasons for online learning's popularity
In 2020 a study showed over 2,500 colleges in the United States were offering fully online programs. Since then, that number has increased. Yet, many in the education industry insist online learning is inevitable and likely to happen over time anyway due to its convenience and flexibility to students’ schedules.
Remote learning for higher education offers a range of options including degree programs, certifications, boot camps, micro-credentials, and more. These options made programs available to college students through the pandemic so that they could still earn an education without having to go to campus locations and risk contracting the virus.
The pandemic also caused many financial concerns. Business closures caused job loss, and economic problems, and with many out of work or being laid off, making ends meet was a challenge. With the difficulty of paying bills and rent, many students considered putting their education on hold. However, thousands of students found that attending college online saved time and a lot of money. Making the switch to online meant no paying computer or lab fees, commuting fees, room and board, and more. But at the height of the pandemic, it also meant no exposure to COVID-19. For college students who may have had to stay home to care for their child during the pandemic, their own education did not have to be put on hold as they could earn their degree or certificate in their own time from their home.
Are online programs right for you?
Focus EduSolutions offers fully online certificate programs including boot camps and micro-credentials for students looking to earn an education on their own schedule when it works for them. If you have ever wondered how online academics can help you, review our programs today.
References
Decker, R. A., & Haltiwanger, J. (2022, May 6). Business entry and exit in the COVID-19 pandemic: A preliminary look at official data. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/business-entry-and-exit-in-the-covid-19-pandemic-a-preliminary-look-at-official-data-20220506.html
Gallagher, S., & Palmer, J. (2020, September 29). The Pandemic Pushed Universities Online. The Change Was Long Overdue. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://hbr.org/2020/09/the-pandemic-pushed-universities-online-the-change-was-long-overdue#:~:text=This%20is%20already%20happening%20in,U.S.%20Department%20of%20Education%20data.
(2022, February 22). Schools Took Immediate Steps at Beginning of COVID-19 Pandemic to Connect Students to Online Learning, NCES Report Shows. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 24, 2023, from https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/2_22_2022.asp