The past 2-3 semesters have been an unusual time for students everywhere, but it may have sparked a new idea. Zoom and other video conferencing platforms were still popular before the COVID-19 pandemic, but specifically the past year these programs have been used for everyday purposes to make interactions the new “normal” for now. Schools all the way from elementary to college used zoom to allow students to still receive an effective education from home. Now in 2021 mostly all schools returned to an in person class setting while still maintaining social distancing and wearing masks, but those who became sick with the COVID-19 virus had to quarantine for 2 weeks and attend class on zoom or other platforms. This to me seems like an idea that should continue post pandemic.

Everyone has been sick at some point in their life whether it was mild or severe, and the result of being ill means not going to school. Why should the option of attending class on zoom not remain available after life returns to a normal setting? It should for many reasons: it will lower absences, not set back students so they have to catch up when they return, allow them to still receive a good learning experience, and will also help the instructors stay on track with lesson plans. This would be very beneficial to education systems everywhere with the appropriate guidelines to go with it. Students should have to provide a doctor’s note after 1-2 zoom meetings for proof they aren’t using it as a way to miss school, and depending on the circumstances of the student they should have to use the webcam at all times. Applying zoom as a permanent option would also require students in high school and below to be provided with a school laptop, but that is very common in all schools today. Elementary students would be a challenge to keep their attention on a zoom meeting, but that would still be better than no attendance at all.

In conclusion this could be a useful tool for schools and colleges everywhere to help students not fall behind when they are sick. Before we experienced this pandemic illness was still the main reason students missed class and had to catch up on material. Providing zoom or other virtual conference platforms as a permanent solution could change the education system for the better. If done correctly I think you will see this become a permanent alternative over the next few years.