As the world is facing one of its most stressful times during the COVID-19 pandemic, students have been striving to find opportunities in the uncertainty. With exam dates pushed forward and universities shut down, they have been looking elsewhere for learning resources. In a way, their commitment is commendable, as they focus on their studies to excel in the tests, no matter the circumstances.
This puts one question in the limelight. Are physical classrooms necessary for test preparations? When forced to study at home, students are investing in finding online resources. Meanwhile, test prep institutes are offering all the support not to lose business. In effect, we could be looking at a future where there is no longer a need for physical classroom crash courses.
According to industry experts, here are the main reasons for anticipating such a shift.
- Test Prep is Transforming
The transition to distance learning has forced both students and tutors to acknowledge the benefits of remote education. While classroom courses have their proven advantages, most of the test prep courses are evaluated on two main aspects: the instructor and the curriculum. These two can remain the same regardless of whether the lessons occur in person or through the internet.
- Online Classes offer more Consistency
The lack of instructors with sufficient training on test prep is one aspect that has been holding the industry back. If done well, remote learning could eliminate the need to hire mediocre instructors merely to fill the classes. E-learning test prep platforms such as LSATMax deliver high-quality lessons from instructors by combining their expertise to create multiple training sessions.
- Standardized Curriculum
Standardized exams have a set curriculum that applies to every student. It is only the individual learning tactics that differ. The challenges of teaching for these tests lies in creating a system that allows students to learn through the course content and do self-assessment.
In that aspect, online education could be as good as traditional classrooms. In fact, studies reveal that online learning could be as fruitful, or even better for students to gain knowledge. As more and more students are choosing self-paced learning models, online learning certainly has the edge over traditional classroom structures.
What’s the Future of Test Prep?
The test preparation market size is expected to grow by $10.72 billion by 2024 in the US. For such a powerful and established sector, this is not the first time the issue of traditional classrooms has been raised. The industry has been struggling to keep the current system afloat.
However, with the Coronavirus pandemic, the smaller, and high-tech learning solutions are moving ahead of the corresponding classroom-based models. These online-first companies have now provided study materials and test prep accessories for students in efficient and accessible ways.
On the other hand, if the test prep industry is to make a complete transition, one of the significant steps is to address the socio-economic disparity. The classroom model was indeed helpful for those less reliant on technology. As such, more accessible models have to be generated to ensure equal access for everyone. Test prep, much like any other aspect of education, has to be imparted without discrimination.
Coronavirus is changing the world as we know it. Education is one sector that stands to benefit tremendously. It would be the best time to embrace the changes and make a shift to a system that can merit students the most.
