Student Finals: Research Presentation The Coronavirus also known as COVID-19 has made a tremendous difference in everyone’s life. In this research paper we will be discussing the effects the virus pandemic has on education. Education being one. of the top priorities of life is being altered because of the virus. The ACT, in-person classes, school closure, virtual learning, and college and universities are some of the major changes that must occur in order to have a successful education. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected society mentally, physically, and financially. The coronavirus has been challenging for students, staff, and parents; not only in Louisiana but throughout the world. Our society must continue to strive for the best and overcome the challenges we have faced in order to have the best learning possible.

1. THE EFFECTS OF
CORONAVIRUS ON
EDUCATION
Past, present and post COVID
Hallay Armant
Lushane Linton
Khaliah Caldwell
Ogenna Chike

2. Abstract
The Coronavirus also known as COVID-19 has made a tremendous difference in everyone’s life. In this research
paper we will be discussing the effects the virus pandemic has on education. Education being one. of the top
priorities of life is being altered because of the virus. The ACT, in-person classes, school closure, virtual learning,
and college and universities are some of the major changes that must occur in order to have a successful education.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected society mentally, physically, and financially. The coronavirus has been
challenging for students, staff, and parents; not only in Louisiana but throughout the world. Our society must
continue to strive for the best and overcome the challenges we have faced in order to have the best learning possible.

3. EDUCATION BEFORE COVID

4. In Person classes and the ACT
Before Covid-19, The national center for educational statistics reported that approximately 26%
of college students have taken at least one college class online. 12.5% of all students take college
courses exclusively online (Best Colleges). Also, many universities require standardized tests like the
scholastic aptitude test (SAT), American college testing (ACT), or the Program for International
student assessment (PISA) as a factor for acceptance. The parameters for these tests include many high
school age students in a single room being closely watched by a proctor. Covid-19 has affected every
aspect of the classroom because the foundation for education usually includes many people in close
proximity to each other.

5. EDUCATION DURING COVID

6. In the United States, at least 124,000 public schools in 48 states and every U.S. territory have called for
statewide closures (Casares & Smalley). Some of the first colleges/Universities closed because of Coronavirus, as a
way to follow social distancing protocols, were big name schools like Harvard and the University of Washington but
with every pro there is a con. Although most schools closed to protect their student population, many students and
parents were adversely affected. For example, international students with no reliable way to get back to their home
country were faced with the difficult decision of finding a place to live for the duration of the semester. Also parents
of younger children had to take off from work to watch their kids/ balance working from home and working at
home. Virtual and remote learning have the capabilities to replace in-person instruction, but there are a few
noteworthy limitations. For example, around 17% of U.S. students do not have computers at home and about 18% do
not have access to high speed internet (Casares & Smalley). While the numbers do seem small, it is important to
note that all these factors contribute to student success levels, and it is important, for many students, to receive a
good education even in these prevailing circumstances. Also, there is no way to know if the quality of education that
students receive will ever be the same. Student performance, especially in students who are already struggling, can
be seriously affected.
SCHOOL CLOSURES & VIRTUAL LEARNING

7. ACCOMMODATIONS TO STUDENTS/ SCHOOLS
The United States Department of Education announced last month that they would consider relaxing state
assessments, requirements and identification of low performing schools if the schools are closing due to COVID.
Betsy Devos, the Secretary of Education, also announced that they would waive the usual 95% testing participation
rate and measures of absenteeism. The Department of Education will also grant a waiver to any state that is unable to
assess their students due to the national emergency (Casares & Smalley). Not only is the government taking actions
to accommodate schools, but national testing agencies like Collegeboard and the ACT/SAT are also changing the
way they operate. For the remaining spring semester, the ACT and SAT have been officially canceled and several
colleges/universities have announced that they plan to remove the existing standardized test requirements for
admission. The Collegeboard has announced that all AP tests are to be administered at home, and the GRE will also
be administered at home (Casares & Smalley).

8. EFFECTS ON COLLEGES/ UNIVERSITIES
With new information about COVID appearing everyday, it is easy to say that college life has changed, from
enrollment to athletics, every aspect of the “college experience” has been completely altered, some might say
forever. Many universities had to issue out room and board refunds since switching online, but some have also
paused collection of payments on state held student loans (Smalley). While this might seem good in practice, in the
long run it will most definitely have adverse effects on the overall longevity of the university. From purchasing
software for students and professors to issuing out refunds for room and board/ other parts of tuition, universities are
continuously losing money everyday. Every college obviously will be affected differently because of this money
loss, some have the financial backing to persevere, while others might face, unfortunately, an existential closing.
For example, The University of Kentucky estimates that by the end of the year, they will lose up to seventy million
dollars, while The University of Michigan expects to lose even more, at a whopping one billion dollars (Nadworny
2020). And even though colleges expect to continue everything online amidst COVID, there is fear that students and
their families will not be willing to pay as much for an online education.

9. EDUCATION AFTER COVID

10. Due to the recent pandemic of COVID-19, it is safe to assume that internet-based schooling might be
incorporated more into the classroom post-corona. This can be inferred because we do not know when
another national emergency will cause schools to shut down. Online companies like Plato, Edmentum and
Penn foster are now going to be in demand due to the fact they already have a framework that offers online
schooling without the need of teachers. Education will become more virtual as classes that do not require
mandatory face-face interaction let’s say like Spanish, English or even Math will probably be placed online.
So we might see a rise in independent learning as students rely more on internet platforms for education
with teachers serving more as reinforcers or aid to their students’ education rather than instructors. An
example of this is Xavier University of Louisiana hybrid classes which require students to take majority of
their class online and only meet with their professors once weekly at most. Like anything else in this world
this change in the education system will for sure have pros and cons. Some pros may be students will not
have to get up at ridiculous times to go to school, they can do work at their own pace and develop a sense of
independence. The Cons may be some students might not live in an environment suitable for learning and are
easily distracted. Some students might find new ways to cheat and get ahead, while others may need extra
help beyond a computer screen.
The Changes in Education Post Covid-19

11. Graphs showing survey data
https://public.tableau.com/profile/lushane.linton#!/vizhome/Covidsurveyresponses/Dashboard1

14. WORKS CITED
Casares, Jorge E., and Andrew Smalley. Public Education's Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
“COVID-19 Educational Disruption and Response.” UNESCO, 28 Apr. 2020, en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse.
https://en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse
Hartocollis, Anemona. “After Coronavirus, Colleges Worry: Will Students Come Back?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 15 Apr. 2020.
“How Many Students Take Online College Courses?” Best Colleges Online, www.bestcollegesonline.org/faq/how-many-students-take-online-college-courses/.
“Inside Higher Ed.” It's Time for a Completely Online ACT and SAT.
Jones, Katie. “How Technology Is Shaping the Future of Education.” Visual Capitalist, 17 Feb. 2020.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/how-technology-is-shaping-the-future-of-education/
Kingsley, Patrick, and Emile Ducke. “In Denmark, the Rarest of Sights: Classrooms Full of Students.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020,
www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/world/europe/denmark-schools-coronavirus.html.
Nadworny, Elissa. “Can Colleges Survive Coronavirus? 'The Math Is Not Pretty'.” NPR, NPR, 20 Apr. 2020.
Smalley, Andrew. Higher Education Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19).