When news of the impending COVID-19 pandemic first hit, educators across the country wondered how it would affect schooling. Once it became clear that the only feasible option was to quickly adapt to remote online learning platforms, it was clearer still that the educational landscape was going to change for good.

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc via the Delta variant, the reality is that remote learning is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Having said that, the world is reopening to the vaccinated among us, with many schools planning to return to in-person schooling for the fall. Scores of parents and educators alike are burned out on the concept of online learning, eager for any excuse to get the kids back into classrooms ASAP.

But after a year and change of remote learning, perhaps it’s best to take a moment to consider the pros and cons of this controversial approach to education in the age of COVID.

Yes, Online Learning Is Here to Stay… & That’s a Good Thing!

Remember what a drag it was, waking up at the crack of dawn in order to drag yourself to school? Did anyone enjoy the feeling of not being able to fully wake up until halfway through the second period of the day? What about the joys of trekking through belligerent snow and thunderstorms just to receive an education?

In a world dominated by remote learning technology, none of these problems matter anymore! If your SAT class is scheduled for 9am on a Saturday, all you have to do is roll out of bed a few minutes before class starts and open up your laptop. What’s more, online learning allows you the safety of remaining in your comfort zone (i.e., your bedroom) while taking in the various concepts of the day. After all, it’s a lot easier to learn in a comfortable environment than a cold and sterile classroom with bright fluorescent lights and desk chairs with a propensity for instilling lifelong back problems.

Online learning is easy, convenient, and perhaps most thrillingly, global. Thanks to platforms like Zoom and GMeet, educators have a much wider reach of students – sometimes a reach that surpasses continental borders. As a result, the educational landscape has been democratized for the digital world. 21 years into the 21st century, it’s been a long time coming to finally say goodbye to the classroom.

No, Online Learning Should NOT Stay… & It Probably Will Anyway!

It’s been a year and a half since the COVID-19 pandemic forced students across the globe to stay home and avoid schools altogether, opting for virtual classrooms on Zoom or GMeet instead. While the decision was certainly a necessary one to prevent the spread of the coronavirus amongst our youths, it’s been far too long to continue keeping them isolated for another school year.

The importance of going to school isn’t strictly limited to getting a good education. It’s in our youth that we develop our social skills and learn how to forge friendships and relationships. This can only be accomplished if direct social interaction is possible, which hasn’t been the case for nearly 18 months. As schools begin to roll out pandemic restrictions involving proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests, it is clear that it’s now possible to safely resurrect the social aspect of education and schooling as soon as possible. Moreover, it is vital for the mental health of our students that they no longer be confined to their lonely Zoom screens that simulate social gatherings.

Though it seems that online learning is here to stay, it’s time we started to consider just how much of a toll it is taking on our young people before it’s too late.

Online Learning Has Advantages & Disadvantages…& That’s OK!

Yes, online learning has its pros and cons, just like anything else in life. Taken to an extreme, online learning is either an educational miracle or a blight upon the very concept of learning. As ever, the truth remains somewhere in the middle.

It is undeniable and unfortunate that the isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected students across the globe. Furthermore, the inherent distance between educator and student that results from a virtual Zoom class may simply never be as effective as a lesson in a physical classroom environment. Having said that, an in-person classroom is only as effective as the educator holding court for the day. Bad teaching is bad teaching, no matter how you experience it. On the other hand, a great teacher makes the most of every situation, finding ways of inspiring and motivating students regardless of the challenges. This was true before the pandemic, and it will remain true for years to come.

What’s important is that you find an educator who’s right for you and your needs, whether online or in person. Click here now to get a free consultation to find out more about our SAT/ACT online and in-person programs.