What are some other ways global virtual communication can be used as a classroom tool for learning?
Virtual communication in education massively exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools were shut down and students were quarantined at home. During all this chaos, educators worked to stay on mission. I think the future of education will look similar to the future of work; a hybrid week with some days on campus and some days learning from home. There are so many non-academic services provided by schools such as hot lunches that long-term virtual education will face plenty of challenges. However, I believe the benefits will cause school districts to eventually adapt.
In 2030, being absent will not prevent a student from participating in class. Staying home with the flu will not cause the student to fall behind. Instead, because so much of the curricula will involve communication technology, absent students will be able to keep pace while recuperating. This sort of communication will also stretch out to help under-served communities of students. High-performing magnet schools may be able to raise enrollment if the school is required to bus in students only half of the week. On other days, students will collaborate virtually at home or on local satellite campuses that look like WeWork offices. Eventually, we may get to the point where students are only needed on campus to use labs. Schools that are investing money to train their teachers for this sort of hybrid education will be the most attractive to parents in the next decade.
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