COVID-19 pandemic – online education in the new normal and the next normal

The development and advancement of information technology provide a technical platform for education reform and opportunities for innovation in education. The global COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal that further springboards such opportunities to large scale implementation of online education. Because online education has the advantages of flexibility, information accessibility, global reach, equity, innovation, and efficiency, a growing number of educational institutions are offering degree-granting distance and hybrid education programs. However, online education also has its shortcomings, which include technological constraints, the lack of a sense of belonging and connectedness, the presence of distractions, and a lack of engagement. Learners who have basic technical skills and access to technology (i.e., hardware and software), and are self-motivated in learning as well as self-disciplined in time management can succeed in online education. Online education in the post-COVID-19 pandemic, which is the next normal, will continue to play an important role. By incorporating artificial intelligence and mobile education, online education will co-exist with traditional education to provide more education options, promote education equity, and enhance education innovation.