The new classroom is now on a digital platform. Online learning was just scraping the surface for many educators but now, because of a global pandemic, many teachers are faced with the decision to adapt their curriculum online to continue to teach their programs to post-secondary and vocational students. 

In-person classroom participation is fun for social interaction but isn’t always possible due to the pandemic or because people are taking online classes to accommodate their lifestyle, such as part-time learning. Course curriculums have to be restructured to accommodate online learning. Teachers can no longer keep the traditional model of teaching students exclusively in a classroom setting.

“Instructors can no longer lecture for 30 straight minutes (or longer).  This just won't cut it with an online audience,” says M.J. Plebon, a Concordia University Continuing Education instructor, lecturer and Social Media Marketing Consultant. “The class must be delivered in five-minute chunks with varying techniques to deliver the content. A five-minute verbal instruction can be varied with compelling visual slides or videos. Adding polls, short quizzes, and giving the class time for their input is effective as well.  Putting them [students] into groups in 'break-out rooms' allows them to interact with other members of the class. In the end, the instructor needs to be much more creative in the delivery and how they interact with the audience.”

Online learning also encourages geographical diversity and allows for less traffic on the roads and reduces time traveling to class. The only downside of online learning is that not all teachers are adequately prepared to navigate the platforms that they are using and not everyone’s technological skills are the same; some are savvier than others. Familiarizing yourself with the platform that you are using can also help fine-tune your skills. Teachers shouldn’t be afraid to toy with new concepts and skills. Online courses can also be targeted to an international audience.

Online learning can still create a space of interaction for students. For example, in Zoom, you can create breakout rooms for your students to engage in discussions and project work. Sophie Lemieux is a Management Consultant and Trainer teaching at several universities in Montreal, including HEC, Concordia University and Université de Sherbrooke. She provides some insight to those who are creating their programs for online learning. “Change isn’t always a negative thing. Online learning is just adding a new way of learning,” she says. “In-person learning does not mean an increase in participation by students. Making exams open book and incorporating theory into exercises provides students with an insight into how the real world works as several careers today include virtual meetings and working with people all over the world and in various positions.”

Although virtual learning is now our reality, the future of education may be a hybrid model of both in-person and virtual classrooms. The world is our playground and will attract new talent to attend classes with those locally and at a distance.