The link Between e-Learning and Economic Development During the Pandemic

In the one year that the COVID-19 has been around, it has dramatically impacted human lives. The world economy has suffered the most because of the pandemic as governments imposed lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus. As a result, many people around the globe lost their jobs. The industries that were hit hard require their employees’ physical presence, like education, restaurants, manufacturing, travel, and other cottage small industries.

The impact of COVID-19 on industries has been two-fold. First, it has transformed how industries operate by forcing many to work remotely. Second, it has had a cascading impact on cost-cutting and loss of business among related sectors. These changes have also revealed the benefits of learning language for businesses as companies target a more global client base.

New Opportunities

Despite hitting many industries hard, the pandemic has opened up new opportunities for other industries. The “new normal,” as it is popularly known, has forced many industries to adopt remote working. This trend has produced enormous opportunities for technology-based service providers. Remote working is booming, opening a myriad of opportunities for many digital businesses.

elearning Is One Of The Biggest Beneficiaries

Studies reveal that eLearning is experiencing an all-time increase in business opportunities. Now that eLearning has become the new normal, many people prefer learning online. UNESCO claimed that school closures affected up to 1.6 billion students in around 194 countries.

Findings from research suggest that the COVID-19 has forced many education systems to adopt alternatives to everyday face-to-face learning and teaching. The studies also reveal that online learning has been essential in sustaining skills development during school closures.

This trend has opened up business opportunities for content and technology support providers in the training and education sector. In addition, many educational institutions have shifted towards technology-based learning. This has increased the demand for Learning Management Systems, support, technology management, and eLearning content creation.

The increase in demand for eLearning is a global phenomenon. All investors have shifted their attention to eLearning companies. Anytime, anywhere learning is well equipped to counter the demands of the pandemic. Learners can remain socially distant yet connected to their teachers and trainers.

The pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for the eLearning industry. Many people around the globe have started appreciating the real potential and benefits of eLearning. The worldwide lockdowns helped catapult the adoption of eLearning even in regions where it was struggling to break through.

When teaching and learning went online, the demand for online content and learning platforms also surged. Studies have suggested that many startups are rising to seize the opportunities presented to them by the pandemic. The world is undoubtedly experiencing the best innovations in learning technology at the moment.

More Opportunities for Online Tutors

As the number of online platforms offering eLearning services increases, the demand for online tutors also increases. Individuals gifted in different subject areas get the opportunity to use their knowledge to earn income. The opportunities are accessible to tutors from across the globe as companies target more global customers for sustainability.

Consequently, these new global companies have looked at language learning as a way of breaking barriers during the pandemic, as there is a growing need for a multilingual workforce to cater to clients’ needs from different regions. This new trend has opened up job opportunities for online platforms offering language tutoring services.

According to studies conducted in these areas, the most marketable languages are English, Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish, Italian, and German. This trend has ensured that despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, there is an emerging web-based economy that can inform the future of learning.

Hindrances to the Growth of Online Learning

Despite being an essential alternative to face-to-face learning, online learning has its fair share of challenges. For instance, education experts argue that this form of learning is only available to students that can access broadband connection at home. Many students living in rural areas also don’t have access to eLearning devices such as computers and required software.

The studies also suggest that students lack the necessary digital skills to adapt to the new way of learning quickly in some instances. For example, the researchers discovered that learners from humble backgrounds use digital technologies less frequently compared to their counterparts from higher socio-economic backgrounds.

The language barrier has also been a critical challenge to the proper adoption of eLearning. This explains why the pandemic has changed language learning. Tutors and learners find it necessary to learn a new language to make it easy for them to interact with others on online learning platforms.

Bottom Line

As the global community continues adjusting to the alternative ways of doing things, it will take the cooperation of governments and the private sector to make the digital economy a force to reckon with. For example, governments can partner with private investors to develop the infrastructure required to run eLearning without disenfranchising other learners. Language learning has also emerged as a critical aspect because of the globalization of businesses.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the management of EconoTimes