Why read a book about online learning after the pandemic?

I wrote a book about online learning, and I really want you to buy it. https://bit.ly/berrypreorder  However, I know that some of you are thinking, why this, why now? A common question I’ve gotten about my book is, “why should folks still care about online learning now that the pandemic is over?” Below, I’ll respond to that question.

1.    The pandemic is not over.

I know that we are all ready to wave goodbye to COVID-19, but if we look at the data, we know that the coronavirus will be here, in various forms, for years to come. While the virus may not cripple whole cities, it can still spread through classrooms, offices, and colleges. As we approach cold and flu season, we’d do well to be mindful of intermittent shifts to online and hybrid instruction. If you end up having to go online because half of your class is under the weather, or because you yourself are recovering, do you really want to be unprepared?

2.    The pandemic is not the only reason you might be forced to transition online. 

I started writing this book a few weeks before the pandemic. I was hoping to turn research I began in the last decade into a guide for forward looking faculty and administrators. Like you, I was surprised when the pandemic forced us to move entire courses and programs online. However, when I first conceived of the book, I imagined that schools might have to go online for other reasons. For example, where I live in Southern California, natural disasters like fires have forced some universities to quickly pivot to emergency remote instruction. Folks in other parts of the country have had to pivot online due to storms, hurricanes, and other weather-related occurrences. As climate change continues to be a problem for the world to contend with, faculty, staff and administrators would do well to prepare for our emerging reality. Creating Inclusive Communities explores the special considerations for shifting online during a crisis, and provides insight for faculty looking to pivot quickly while simultaneously attending to students mental health needs.

Now that we’ve gotten the heavier parts, here are some other things to consider about the present and future of online learning.

3.    Online learning was a trend before the pandemic

Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 5 American college students was in an online program. Nearly 7 million college students were enrolled in online courses. The high rate of online enrollment before the pandemic warrants our attention. Yet, in many spaces in higher education, online students have been invisible. We cannot continue to ignore this significant part of the population.

4.    Some students actually prefer online instruction

As I noted earlier, I began researching online learning years prior to the pandemic. What I learned then is something that has only been amplified now — some students actually prefer online learning. Supporters of online learning have long touted its benefits, namely flexibility. For students seeking accelerated learning opportunities, online learning has provided a way to get through more content in a shorter amount of time. (Universities looking to shorten degree programs and expand certificate programs should be similarly motivated by this possibility.)

However, keeping the focus on students, learners from diverse backgrounds have indicated that online programs provide layers of support for them that are highly beneficial. For example, some students with disabilities have found that technology-enhanced classrooms are a nice compliment to assistive tools and allow them to participate in the academic environment in new ways. Students in caregiving roles may find that online learning allows them increased flexibility, and makes going to school a possibility. Students experiencing racist, sexist, or other microagressions on university campuses may find that online learning allows them to pursue their educational goals while limiting exposure to hostile campus climates. As we seek to be responsive to the needs of ALL students, we must consider the ways in which online courses and programs may be formats of choice for an increasingly diverse group of students.

 Hopefully, I’ve started to convince you of the continued need for online learning. In my next post, I’ll talk about why high-quality online experiences are important not just in the classroom, but in the workplace. To subscribe, click the link here. If you’d like to buy Creating Inclusive Online Communities, you can do so, here. https://bit.ly/berrypreorder

PS - Over the next few weeks, I’ll be blogging about the book. If you’d like to sign up to get notified about the posts, you can do so, here. https://bit.ly/berryupdates