Online Learning and other Post-Pandemic Predictions

I keep thinking about what life will be like after the pandemic is over. As Bob Dylan sang, “The Times, They Are A-Changin’.” Change is always a constant drip, and at times, it’s a rushing river. This pandemic? It has been a rushing river that has flooded us with a host of new behaviors and norms. Take a minute to think about the many things we do differently now to protect ourselves from the virus: we socialize less, work from home more, and we no longer shake hands. These are just a few of the ways our culture has changed to cope with coronavirus.

In a post back in April of last year, I suggested some predictions about life after the pandemic. Ten months later, with more water under the bridge, it seems like some of the predictions are still worth considering. However, I completely missed one of the most life-changing dynamics of this pandemic: online education! Note what Forbes has reported:

“It has become quite clear that corporate education and training will never return to the in-person classroom. Sure, there will be exceptions where training will be necessary in-person (think physical equipment, medical labs, etc.) – but any education and training that can be done online will be done online, always, from this point forward. The reasons for this are simple: companies have realized they can do it faster, more effectively and less expensively online while their employees also widely prefer it too.”

Forbes, “Corporate Education Will Never Return To The Classroom”

Do you agree? Will most companies never go back to face-to-face training? What about schools and universities? Will they, like the corporate world, find enough benefits in the virtual classroom to stick with it in a post-pandemic world? What other norms might be transformed in the long term as a result of the pandemic? What do you think?

Take the Updated Post-Pandemic Survey

I’ve updated my Post-Pandemic Predictions survey in light of what we’ve experienced 11 months into it. I’d like to know what you think. Check it out – it’s anonymous.