The future of education, specifically post-secondary education, lies in online learning. A post-secondary institution that delivers content materials and teaches its students online just as successfully as it does in person will fare far better in the advancing digital world. This article comments about an imagined student from the Yukon territory who can successfully attend a university in Ontario. Online classes would allow the student to stay at home surrounded by family and friends for support while getting a quality education. This would also enable the university to stretch its reach and make a larger impact on a national scale.

Furthermore, it is the role of the university to prepare its students for the job market. Some of the most valuable lessons needed for the job market are the ability to self-motivate, self-regulate, set goals and manage time well. These skills are taught well when put into action which is something that online schooling does well because it’s the student’s responsibility to keep up with class lectures and assignments arguably more than they would have to during an in-person class. The job market is also starting to expand into the online realm, thus making these skills even more valuable.

While the pandemic has been devastating, one silver lining is the pressure it has put on the education field to expand its online resources and invest in supporting students and employees digitally. This article argues that reopening classroom doors too early would be a mistake as this is a good opportunity to expand online learning as a resource and tool for academic success. Public health officials have also warned about the second wave of COVID-19 that would force schools to close their doors again. Thus, it would be wise to continue online provisions and prepare for the next wave of the pandemic. This article states that the best course of action is to continue investing in online education to prepare for the future of remote distance learning and a digitized job market, as well as protect the health of students throughout the pandemic. In doing so, this ensures that public health guidelines are being adhered to, while opportunities for post-secondary learning through electronic means are optimized.

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This post was written by Hibah Sehar