As we have seen, the coronavirus pandemic has created chaos in countries across the world, with tens of thousands becoming infected and thousands losing their lives. Naturally, leaders are eager to limit the spread of the virus, and this means stark changes to the day to day lives of people who work, have families, and go to school or college.
When it comes to schools and colleges, having classrooms packed with students and teaching staff can prove a big risk, and as a result many colleges across the United States have decided to close their doors to classroom studies for the time being until a solution is found to control the virus. This means that many students will now be unable to go to college and study, which could have an impact on their futures.
The University of Arizona is extending spring break until March 18 and will move to online classes when students come back. Arizona State University will be switching to online classes. Starting March 23, most classes on the Grand Canyon University’s Phoenix campus will transition to an online environment.
Turning to Digital Technology
Fortunately, we now live in a digital age, and while the virus is causing chaos on the streets, people can still turn to the internet for information, to work, and to study. With tools and resources such as OneClass available to students online, it means that those studying will not have to fall behind as a result of this potentially deadly virus that has swept the world. In addition, studying from home can help students to stay healthy during this difficult period.
Of course, millions of people around the globe will be affected by closures of not only schools and colleges but also workplaces. For students, however, the closure of so many colleges across the United States will be causing a lot of stress because their education depends on their ability to attend classes and learn, and their future depending on their education.
The ability to turn to online resources means that students may not fall behind as much as they may think, as they can catch up on their studies, access class notes, and continue with their studying even while they are confined indoors and unable to attend college. In the United States, more than 130 colleges have closed their doors and canceled in-person classes, so a lot of students will be affected. This includes Yale and other Ivy League schools, universities and colleges in Washington state, many colleges on the East Coast, and a range of major colleges and universities in the South.
Lessening the Impact
There is no doubt that this rash of college closures, which is being mirrored in many other countries around the world, will have a profound impact on students. However, it is likely that the colleges will be taking the virus into consideration when it comes to exams and results, and there may be delays in terms of when students take exams to make up for the time they need to take out because of the virus.
However, in the meantime, students can lessen the impact on their education by making sure they make use of online resources and tools, which can help them to stay more up to date with their studies. This will then minimize the impact of the closures in response to Covid-19.
