After varying amounts of struggle, higher ed institutions across the country moved online for the spring semester in response to the coronavirus pandemic. But now the question is, what’s next?
While some hope campuses will re-open come fall, no one knows for certain. In the meantime, higher ed leaders are girding themselves for the possibility they’ll have to offer another semester online and asking themselves how to best prepare for more long-term remote learning.
About 58% of institutions are considering or have already decided to continue online in the fall, while 73% are considering or have already expanded their online course offerings for next semester, according to a survey from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Many higher education professionals are thinking outside the box — and outside the (virtual) classroom — about what resources students will need if online classes continue next year.
Over spring break, most campuses didn’t have the time to build the highest quality online programs as they scurried to open their virtual doors, but fall may hold new possibilities.
Clare McCann, deputy director for federal higher education policy at the think tank New America, stressed the importance of “instructional design” as well as online student supports like academic and personal counseling now that schools have a “small (albeit very small) extra amount of time to prepare.”
To prevent students from disengaging, universities also need to facilitate more interpersonal interaction between faculty, students and their peers, she added, “as often as possible and in different formats.”
