MBO Today | “COVID-19 Is Bringing About Lasting Changes in Education”

During the summer months, the consulting firm Turner conducted an extensive survey among vocational schools. As part of the survey, approximately 2,400 students and 2,600 teachers were asked about their experiences with education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey shows once again that an incredible amount happened in a very short time in March. Overnight, teachers had to switch to online education. This “sprint to online” generally went well, according to the researchers. Schools organized training sessions for teachers, with a strong focus on the technical aspects of distance learning. Teachers are quite satisfied with this support. Ninety percent of staff members believe their own organization is well-equipped to adapt to change. Many teachers also indicate that they received good support in innovating their education methods.

Coronavirus Response Team

In March, all schools set up a kind of “COVID-19 team”: a central team capable of making quick decisions about implementing COVID-19 measures. In addition, many institutions also have advisory teams that focus on educational matters such as testing or internships. The study recommends that schools continue to work with COVID-19 teams for the time being. This is the best way to address urgent matters.

Students

The survey of students reveals a mixed picture, just as in a recent study by JOB. Some students are happy with distance learning, while others are struggling with it. There are a number of complaints about unclear schedules and the availability of instructors. Many students also struggle to stay motivated while studying at home. Once again, the instructor appears to be the most important Success Factor. The perception of online education depends heavily on the instructor. Instructors themselves indicate that effective distance learning takes a lot of time. Like students, instructors miss the interpersonal contact at school.

“Blended”

According to the study, online education certainly has its advantages, but fully remote education is not an option. Many see a mix of distance learning and in-person instruction at school as the ideal. Students indicate that a mix of about 40 percent online and 60 percent in-person could be ideal. “The future is blended,” the researchers state. Schools must carefully assess which elements of education are suitable for online delivery. Tests, for example, are less well-suited to distance learning. Teachers have a strong need for further guidance in setting up distance learning programs.

BREAKTHROUGH

The saying “never waste a good crisis” therefore seems to apply to the COVID-19 crisis and vocational education as well. According to the researchers, this period could lead to a breakthrough. They advise schools to continue experimenting with renewals. This does not have to be school-wide; it can also be done on a limited scale. Schools would be wise to facilitate this innovation as much as possible.

Presentation

During the online presentation of the research data, John van der Vegt (ROC Twente) and Oege de Jong (mboRijnland) said they could relate to the study’s findings. Both believe it would be beneficial for schools to build on the experiences gained after the COVID-19 crisis. There is much to learn from the crisis, and distance learning should not disappear entirely. However, both believe that a mix of 30% online and 70% in-person instruction is better than the 40/60% mix mentioned in the report. Adnan Tekin, chair of the MBO Council, also agrees with the study’s findings. Vocational education can certainly learn from the crisis, but at the moment, all attention is still focused on the problems schools and students are currently facing. It appears that the entire 2020–2021 school year will continue to be dominated by the coronavirus. That is also why Tekin sounded the alarm earlier this week. He hopes that vocational schools will soon be given more flexibility to provide students with the best possible education through tailored approaches.