The World of Learning During Covid 19

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has closed schools, colleges, universities and all ‘unessential workplaces’’ across the island of Ireland and the globe. In the world of education, learning must go on and we are looking at the trends in the world of learning and education during the current environment.

eLearning is a term that was coined around the turn of the millennium and over the past two decades a lot of schools and universities have incorporated online learning into their learning programmes, but in the light of COVID-19 education has had to fully adapt to an online format. Globally, 1.2 billion children are out of the classroom. Many people have asked the question, ‘Will this be the way of the future?’.

In education in young children and teenagers, traditional schooling allows children to develop several skills and allows them to develop socially and make friendships which sometimes breaks down cultural and socio-economic barriers and allows for a healthy mindset and a positive outlook on life.

In the workplace and in colleges and universities where eLearning is already very common, an increase in the use of online learning management system use would be expected. Outside of the traditional school and university demographic, COVID-19 has also created a switch in the market. The supplier was the driver of the market, but now students are the drivers and creating a demand for courses and skills that were not previously there.

For example, many people are now out of work and there is a huge amount of uncertainty in the workplace, within the job market and in various sectors there aren’t currently a lot of opportunities. However, in other industries and fields such as the pharmaceutical and medical industry, there are opportunities where onboard training may not be possible or at least in a physical manner. The need to quickly onboard staff into a company has created opportunities in the LMS world and further increased the user-driving phenomenon in the eLearning market.

People out of work who are staying at home are seeking ways to fill their days. They have baked banana bread, rearranged their wardrobe and even matched odd socks and all while doing these mundane tasks, they have had time to think and consider upskilling.

Then there is the creative among us in the hair and beauty industry who have spent months turning down work and face another two months before reopening. They are turning to online learning to upskill and gain a competitive edge for when the world of hair and beauty recommences. Whenever things return to ‘‘normal’’, one certain thing is that education, training and online learning will be changed forever.