Introduction:

In the past couple of decades, the advent and rise of the internet have given way to many new things. Be it social media websites, digital marketing, Ecommerce, etc.

But, one important revolution that has been a significant part of the internet since its inception is online learning. No one could have thought in the 90s that someday completing one’s education from home while studying in a reputed institution is possible. An institution that could be 900 or 9000 kilometers away. This benefit of technology is accepted worldwide now. In almost every developing country, at least 10-20% of institutions are offering online courses.

Nowadays, formal education is also possible with online learning. All a student needs is a laptop and a good internet connection. Be it a degree, a professional diploma, or a certificate. Many students also study online in their free time to gain extra skills and knowledge.

While the online learning industry was growing at its stable pace, the COVID-19 pandemic has given it a boost. With schools and colleges shut all over the world, the only solution was to build access to students via an online mode. Therefore tech companies like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet are earning more profit than ever.

Let us learn more about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on online learning from a business and individual perspective.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Online Learning:

As mentioned already, the pandemic has helped boost online learning platforms. Education companies like Coursera, edX, Future Learning, Udemy are a lot of new registrations daily. While platforms like Zoom have earned so much profit that its founder has come in the 150 rich personalities of the year.

While Coursera goes public and aims to build its AI system, several other start-ups are booming. New apps and software are also coming up to pick on the first mover’s advantage.

Talking about the pandemic’s effect on students, the biggest relief has come to international students. They can now study in their home country while being enrolled in their preferential university in some other country. This helps them to save on several fee charges and expenses if they were living there. Everyone knows that many students have to take education loans to finish their education. This number is steadily going down as newfound ways are helping students learn and earn at the same time. Working and studying remotely not only saves money but also time.

Although studying online is not completely effective as it significantly harms the learning of kids. They miss out on the interactive learning environment and collaboration. It is also important that kids engage in group activities to make friends and learn social skills, which is not possible online.

Conclusion:

Hence, although the COVID-19 pandemic has come as a major boost for online learning companies. It is not widely accepted yet. Although some parts of learning can be online, to miss out on the classroom environment is an enormous loss for many. Among all this, it is important to understand that these are not normal circumstances. We all need to be patient and do best with what we have.