Coronavirus Quarantine: More than 500 million students are out of school while working parents struggle to keep routines from falling apart

WINTERTHUR, Switzerland - March 11, 2020 - PRLog -- In the last 2 weeks, the Coronavirus pandemic has reached Europe via Italy. With over 5000 cases and counting, Italy's government has taken the drastic measure of placing the nation under lockdown, effectively shutting off the country's school system.

Italy is not the first country to do so. According to a statement by Unesco last week, there are more than 22 countries in 3 continents that have completely closed down their schools, including China, Japan, Iraq, North Korea, Lebanon, Bahrain and Mongolia, among others. The result is almost 300 million students out of school. Now, it's possible that the world's largest economic players - America, India, Germany and the United Kingdom - might be next, raising the number of displaced students to more than half a billion.

Beyond health concerns, the absence of classroom routine poses several problems. Affordable childcare and access to reliable transportation to supplement classroom hours are chief concerns, leaving many parents with no other option than to stay home with their children. Work absence, like classroom absence, diminishes yield over time, creating a lag not only in productivity but in the economy as well. Educators and parents everywhere are desperately looking for solutions to keep their children engaged while preventing a backlog of work.

Consider then the possibilities presented by online learning. Having access to a device with a working internet connection poses a great opportunity, yet offers only half a solution; conventional e-courses are hours in length and take weeks to develop. But what if courses on any topic could be created almost instantly? Microlearning might be the perfect alternative. Instead of a full course load, microlessons focus on small learning units, designed to increase aptitude while holding the student's attention. Teachers can quickly create lessons by linking to their existing digital material and adding small tests, which students can take using their mobile devices.

The demand for online learning has exploded, with educators demanding intuitive software tools. Companies such as the up-and-coming startup MicroLector.com have answered demand with resources such as an authoring tool and some free webinars. Described as a simple, fast and effective app, MicroLector.com lets students learn at their own pace, without jeopardizing their education, or their health.

The reaction to COVID-19 - in our schools, in our work and in our homes - requires agility and resilience in the face of a global pandemic. In this light, microlearning is a feasible solution for students and employees, and an imperative stop-gap on the road to economic and educational recovery.

www.microlector.com/webinar