Education 2.0: Classrooms need a ‘voice lift’ to adapt to the new normal

Education 2.0: Classrooms need a ‘voice lift’ to adapt to the new normal

After being one of the first countries globally to entirely transition students to online learning in the wake of Covid-19, the UAE has been equally effective in restarting in-person classes. With key concerns from parents and guardians being around the wellbeing of their children, it is understandable that greatest emphasis during the re-entry of students to classrooms has been around ensuring proper health and safety protocols are developed and adhered to. Now that these measures have been effectively implemented and proven, it is time for schools and universities to adapt classrooms and lecture halls to new challenges that have emerged in the post-Covid world. As a consequence of measures such as social distancing, the pandemic has fundamentally altered the way we relate to the space around us. Whilst the solution may seem straightforward – let fewer learners in and keep them well apart – keeping person-to-person proximity within acceptable bounds poses unique challenges in classrooms, auditoriums, and other facilities that make up the typical educational institute. Moreover, while hybrid learning has recently been catapulted into the limelight as a solution to Covid-related challenges, its benefits extend beyond just optimising classroom occupancy and maintaining social distancing. This model affords students unparalleled