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COVID-19 Edtech Recap

*Normally we conduct monthly edtech recaps on major news we’re seeing throughout the industry. However given our current situation, we thought it would be more beneficial to provide a timeline recapping major news stories about how COVID-19 is impacting higher ed and how leaders in the space are responding. This recap is only representative of the timeline up until June 11, 2020.

COVID-19 Edtech Recap

February:

UNESCO has been monitoring global school closures in response to COVID-19 and report that local schools in China started closing as early as February 8, 2020. Link
Schools in Asia started closing at a national level due to COVID-19 mid-February (2/14/2020). Link
By the end of February, U.S. universities had started cancelling study abroad programs in Italy (2/26/2020). Link

March:

In early March, COVID-19 became a real threat for many Americans as the U.S. started planning for national school closures and how it might affect students (3/6/2020). Link
The bleak reality of what college closures means for low-income and disadvantaged students became all the more clear (3/11/2020). Link
The higher ed and education community at large came together and provided guides for online teaching and resources lists started popping up everywhere you looked (3/11/2020). Link
COVID-19 impacted and continues to impact different universities differently (3/12/2020). Link
College enrollment departments started to brainstorm ways to get students to commit without college visits and in person events (3/16/2020). Link
Colleges with developed online programs were better prepared for the pandemic than those without (3/20/2020). Link
Incoming students are starting to change their plans for the fall by taking a gap year or enrolling part time (3/25/2020). Link
The security and privacy of Zoom started to be questioned as “Zoombombers” entered the scene (3/26/2020). Link
Many educators weighed in on how the current form of distance learning is not representative of what successful online learning looks like (3/27/2020). Link

April:

Prepping for what a fall without in-person instruction might look like (4/1/2020). Link
Critiques on Zoom and synchronous teaching (4/2/2020). Link
Enrollment strategies change to attract new students (4/6/2020). Link
Boston University is the first school to announce they may not reopen their campus in the fall and remain online (4/11/2020). Link
Colleges and universities offer virtual study abroad programs (4/11/2020). Link
Students sue their respective college or university for tuition refunds (4/14/2020). Link
Universities experience significant losses, resulting in a different approach to their budgeting for the next fiscal year (4/20/2020). Link
The importance of community, especially virtual, are crucial for the fall (4/29/2020). Link
Survey results predict an estimated decline in fall enrollment of up to 20% for four-year institutions (4/29/2020). Link

May:

Top Hat survey reveals that students are reassessing their initial plan to return to their university in the fall (5/1/2020). Link
Hybrid-Flexible course models pose as an option for universities as they plan for the fall (5/7/2020). Link
Scott Galloway, Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, predicts that elite cyborg universities will take over higher education (5/11/2020). Link
California State University system plans for a virtual fall semester (5/14/2020). Link
While most institutions planning for in-person fall instruction are four-year colleges and universities, most institutions planning to remain virtual are two-year public colleges (5/20/2020). Link
Self-reflection by an ed-tech skeptic on their teaching experience during the COVID-19 crisis (5/28/2020). Link
Boston University’s plans for hosting a virtual new student orientation (5/29/2020). Link

May:

Top Hat survey reveals that students are reassessing their initial plan to return to their university in the fall (5/1/2020). Link
Hybrid-Flexible course models pose as an option for universities as they plan for the fall (5/7/2020). Link
Scott Galloway, Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, predicts that elite cyborg universities will take over higher education (5/11/2020). Link
California State University system plans for a virtual fall semester (5/14/2020). Link
While most institutions planning for in-person fall instruction are four-year colleges and universities, most institutions planning to remain virtual are two-year public colleges (5/20/2020). Link
Self-reflection by an ed-tech skeptic on their teaching experience during the COVID-19 crisis (5/28/2020). Link
Boston University’s plans for hosting a virtual new student orientation (5/29/2020). Link

June:

Invite students to be at the center of decision making for the fall (6/5/2020). Link
15 scenarios for the fall from “normal” to fully remote and everything in between (6/9/2020). Link
How to use data to support students (6/9/2020). Link
Can you create online learning communities? (6/11/2020). Link

Moving Forward:

Phil on EdTech has been keeping tabs on the progressing situation and segmenting it into phases. We’re in phase 2 and heading into phase 3. Link
How COVID-19 could change teaching and learning for the better. Link
Bryan Alexander has been watching the situation closely and as a futurist has been making predictions for the fall and beyond. Link
Holon IQ has been reporting and predicting how the pandemic has been affecting different regions and areas of education. Link
Faculty and Administrator perspectives on the long-term impact of COVID-19 on higher education. Link

Disclaimer: This recap is based on what the Yellowdig team came across in the edtech news media. We do not endorse any 3rd party sources or claim this list is comprehensive.

COVID-19 Edtech Recap

COVID-19 Edtech Recap

February:

UNESCO has been monitoring global school closures in response to COVID-19 and report that local schools in China started closing as early as February 8, 2020. Link

Schools in Asia started closing at a national level due to COVID-19 mid-February (2/14/2020). Link

By the end of February, U.S. universities had started cancelling study abroad programs in Italy (2/26/2020). Link

March:

In early March, COVID-19 became a real threat for many Americans as the U.S. started planning for national school closures and how it might affect students (3/6/2020). Link

The bleak reality of what college closures means for low-income and disadvantaged students became all the more clear (3/11/2020). Link

The higher ed and education community at large came together and provided guides for online teaching and resources lists started popping up everywhere you looked (3/11/2020). Link

COVID-19 impacted and continues to impact different universities differently (3/12/2020). Link

College enrollment departments started to brainstorm ways to get students to commit without college visits and in person events (3/16/2020). Link

Colleges with developed online programs were better prepared for the pandemic than those without (3/20/2020). Link

Incoming students are starting to change their plans for the fall by taking a gap year or enrolling part time (3/25/2020). Link

The security and privacy of Zoom started to be questioned as “Zoombombers” entered the scene (3/26/2020). Link

Many educators weighed in on how the current form of distance learning is not representative of what successful online learning looks like (3/27/2020). Link

April:

Prepping for what a fall without in-person instruction might look like (4/1/2020). Link

Critiques on Zoom and synchronous teaching (4/2/2020). Link

Enrollment strategies change to attract new students (4/6/2020). Link

Boston University is the first school to announce they may not reopen their campus in the fall and remain online (4/11/2020). Link

Colleges and universities offer virtual study abroad programs (4/11/2020). Link

Students sue their respective college or university for tuition refunds (4/14/2020). Link

Universities experience significant losses, resulting in a different approach to their budgeting for the next fiscal year (4/20/2020). Link

The importance of community, especially virtual, are crucial for the fall (4/29/2020). Link

Survey results predict an estimated decline in fall enrollment of up to 20% for four-year institutions (4/29/2020). Link

May:

Top Hat survey reveals that students are reassessing their initial plan to return to their university in the fall (5/1/2020). Link

Hybrid-Flexible course models pose as an option for universities as they plan for the fall (5/7/2020). Link

Scott Galloway, Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, predicts that elite cyborg universities will take over higher education (5/11/2020). Link

California State University system plans for a virtual fall semester (5/14/2020). Link

While most institutions planning for in-person fall instruction are four-year colleges and universities, most institutions planning to remain virtual are two-year public colleges (5/20/2020). Link

Self-reflection by an ed-tech skeptic on their teaching experience during the COVID-19 crisis (5/28/2020). Link

Boston University’s plans for hosting a virtual new student orientation (5/29/2020). Link

May:

Top Hat survey reveals that students are reassessing their initial plan to return to their university in the fall (5/1/2020). Link

Hybrid-Flexible course models pose as an option for universities as they plan for the fall (5/7/2020). Link

Scott Galloway, Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, predicts that elite cyborg universities will take over higher education (5/11/2020). Link

California State University system plans for a virtual fall semester (5/14/2020). Link

While most institutions planning for in-person fall instruction are four-year colleges and universities, most institutions planning to remain virtual are two-year public colleges (5/20/2020). Link

Self-reflection by an ed-tech skeptic on their teaching experience during the COVID-19 crisis (5/28/2020). Link

Boston University’s plans for hosting a virtual new student orientation (5/29/2020). Link

June:

Invite students to be at the center of decision making for the fall (6/5/2020). Link

15 scenarios for the fall from “normal” to fully remote and everything in between (6/9/2020). Link

How to use data to support students (6/9/2020). Link

Can you create online learning communities? (6/11/2020). Link

Moving Forward:

Phil on EdTech has been keeping tabs on the progressing situation and segmenting it into phases. We’re in phase 2 and heading into phase 3. Link

How COVID-19 could change teaching and learning for the better. Link

Bryan Alexander has been watching the situation closely and as a futurist has been making predictions for the fall and beyond. Link

Holon IQ has been reporting and predicting how the pandemic has been affecting different regions and areas of education. Link

Faculty and Administrator perspectives on the long-term impact of COVID-19 on higher education. Link

Disclaimer: This recap is based on what the Yellowdig team came across in the edtech news media. We do not endorse any 3rd party sources or claim this list is comprehensive.