While countries are at different points in their COVID-19 infection rates, worldwide there have been more than 1.2 billion children in 186 countries affected by school closures due to the pandemic. While some believe that the unplanned and rapid move to online learning will result in a poor user experience that is unconducive to sustained growth, others believe that a new hybrid model of education will emerge, with significant benefits. There have already been successful transitions amongst many universities. For example, Zhejiang University managed to get more than 5,000 courses online. There are, however, challenges to overcome. Some students without reliable internet access and/or technology struggle to participate in digital learning; this gap is seen across countries and between income brackets within countries. For example, whilst 95% of students in Switzerland, Norway, and Austria have a computer to use for their schoolwork, only 34% in Indonesia do, according to OECD data. Could the move to online learning be the catalyst to create a new, more effective method of educating students? While some worry that the hasty nature of the transition online may have hindered this goal, others plan to make e-learning part of their ‘new normal’ after experiencing the benefits first-hand.
