Imagine, No buildings, No buses, No Books

IS VIRTUAL LEARNING THE FUTURE IN EDUCATION

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Due to restrictions caused by the Pandemic, we have seen the introduction of virtual learning as a replacement for traditional education. We have to admit the present educational system is basically a 19th century creation still dominate in the 21st century. While we have seen television supplant the radio and movie theater in the 20th century and Netflix and streaming threatening to eliminate Hollywood and cable TV, our education is stuck in the past. While the present experiment in virtual learning has been a quick short term patch to the problems created by the virus outbreak it has opened up a view into the possibilities for the education system of the future.

If we think about why we still gather up students every day on buses and transport them to a huge costly structures created with enormous debt and maintenance costs one has to wonder if there is not a better alternative. Not only a less costly and more efficient system but one that could offer so many more options for students and their parents. For parents who stay at home or work from home, education could take place without the risk of travel, infectious disease, bullying and classes that offer little challenge to many students. Students could learn at their individual ability and motivation, not being limited as to how fast or how deep they could learn.

For parents who work outside of the home virtual learning could be conducted by neighborhood pooling or centers with a moderator to make sure things go smoothly and efficiently. Also learning could be conducted anytime, day or night, on vacation or any setting 365 days a year. 

There could be endless education models and an unlimited choice of subjects and classes. A competitive marketplace would strive to introduce innovation and keep up with the latest advances in science and new career opportunities.  Such a system would make the best educational program available to anyone, rich or poor, no matter where they live, not only in this country but worldwide. The technology now exists that can make these programs interactive by using ideas used by the gaming industry, the possibilities are endless.

We can have unlimited 24 hour a day access to Netflix for $11.00 a month. While that may not be a realistic cost of learning in the future, it is very likely it would be much less costly than the antiquated high cost inefficient system we have today.

It would eliminate the politics of the education industry and free up education to make the students best interest supreme.

It is very likely we will see some enterprising entrepreneur or corporation introducing this idea in the near future. It is a huge market, just waiting for someone with a vision of the future.