Predicting Remote Learning Trends After COVID-19

Last spring, the delivery of education changed in the blink of an eye. As coronavirus rates surged throughout the country, thousands of schools shut their doors to help reduce the spread. The weeks that followed were complete chaos as schools scrambled to move everyone online.

Despite its initial challenges, remote learning does have its benefits. With online college, for example, busy students juggling multiple responsibilities can learn at their own pace and re-watch lectures to digest information more easily. And, of course, there’s the obvious benefit of being able to learn during a crisis, whether it’s a global pandemic or some other disaster.

Remote learning isn’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future, and many experts are predicting that it will become a fixed part of the educational landscape after the pandemic. Below, we’ll share a few remote learning trends that are expected to stick around for the long-term.

Increase in Hybrid Learning Models

Remote learning has its pros and cons, but so does in-person instruction. Why not take the best parts from each learning strategy and use them to teach more effectively? That’s the main idea behind hybrid learning, which involves using a combination of online and in-person instruction.

Many educators experimented with hybrid learning models last fall until coronavirus cases surged, forcing them to return to fully remote instruction. And while there was some initial skepticism, others have pointed to the benefits of hybrid learning. In a 2014 meta-analysis, the U.S. Department of Education found that blended learning produced stronger student outcomes than classes with solely face-to-face instruction.

One of the main benefits of hybrid learning is that it allows greater flexibility for students. They can work at their own pace and time, returning to class only for hands-on projects that require in-person instruction. After the pandemic, we predict that more educators will want to experiment with digital tools that complement the classroom and support hybrid learning instruction.

More Personalized Approaches to Pedagogy

The best educators know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching, and that what works best for one student may not work for another. Personalized learning has been a buzzworthy topic in educational circles for this exact reason: by customizing the learning experience to the unique needs of their students, teachers can improve learning outcomes for all.

With remote instruction in particular, personalized learning could be the key to keeping students engaged and on track — especially with the use of educational technology (EdTech). Students can work through lesson plans at their own pace, while educators monitor their progress using technology. This self-paced approach can also help free up the educator’s time, allowing them to devote more time to students who are struggling and falling behind.

A Spotlight on Project-Based Learning

When schools shuttered nationwide and traditional grading systems were briefly discarded, many educators saw it as their chance to switch to project-based learning (aka, PBL). In the months that followed, educators encouraged students to use the tools and information around them. Many educators also implemented a feedback-based assessment system to gauge their progress.

PBL had been gaining traction before the pandemic. This type of instruction and feedback system is believed to help students develop critical thinking skills and communication skills, which makes it easier for them to find internships and launch successful careers. And now, due to the COVID-19 crisis, we may end up seeing more districts adopt project-based learning.

Accessible and Immersive Experiences with AR and VR

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) aren’t new technologies. Indeed, educators have been using these technologies to support their in-person lesson plans for years.

But now, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, some educators are turning to VR and AR technology to help them engage students and enhance their remote learning experience. With VR technology, a student can visit a virtual science lab and conduct experiments from afar. In another scenario, a teacher might present an idea via a Zoom call and let the students explore the concept with augmented reality technology.

Although AR and VR technology are still out of reach for many educators, this is beginning to change. The cost of AR and VR is slowly declining, making the technology more accessible. Some companies are also making it easier for educators to access AR by allowing them to create their own AR apps, which they can use in a virtual classroom.

Increased Gamification and Game-Based Learning

Gamified learning activities have been a godsend for remote educators these last two semesters. Gamification, simply defined as using elements of game design to facilitate learning, can reduce passivity in the classroom and give students the opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time.

While gamified tools have been used in classrooms for decades, we’re likely going to see more remote educators leverage digital games to make conventionally boring topics fun and exciting for students. By developing online quizzes, puzzles, challenges, and scavenger hunts, educators can engage modern students and improve learning outcomes.

Tighter Data Privacy

When education transitioned to remote learning, many described it as “emergency learning.” The rapid move to online everything didn’t leave leaders much time to consider the potential data privacy problems that would come along with it.

But now, with multiple semesters of remote learning behind us, many parents are sounding the alarm. Some have voiced concerns over their children downloading education apps that could be collecting their data. As we go forward, it’s likely that more school districts will focus on updating their data privacy policies for modern technology.