At its peak in spring 2020, COVID-19 caused school closures in over 190 countries, negatively impacting 94% of enrolled students, globally, according to the United Nations. Within days, the education landscape underwent a major shift with technology being the main driver of change. Open collaboration tools such as cloud platforms for digital learning can allow students to learn at their own pace while also providing them with valuable skills in digital literacy.
Virtual modes of engagement are increasingly becoming the norm, with the COVID-19 pandemic further accelerating this transition. When used effectively, these new tech-enabled education tools can help standardize instruction, increase learner engagement, and provide effective and differentiated instruction per the students’ needs. Foundational STEM education is more important now than it ever has been to ensure that students are ready for the future of work.