Top 4 Virtual Learning Lessons to Implement Post-Pandemic

COVID-19 challenged learning institutions in profound ways. Before the coronavirus pandemic, research indicated that a primary barrier to increased online learning was faculty resistance. Surveyed participants reported obstacles such as a lack of skills or confidence in the ability to teach in an online environment. Others felt they would not have the time available to prepare virtual courses, while others believed their subject matter would not be suited to online teaching.

In the emergency shift to online instruction, much was learned about the strengths and weaknesses of virtual learning. Experiences varied, but many schools discovered that most lessons can be taught virtually just as well as in person.

With many schools planning to preserve a blending learning approach as they return to normal, virtual learning and teaching are here to stay. According to a fall 2020 RAND survey of kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) school district leaders, two out of 10 districts plan to continue offering virtual schooling after the pandemic.

Students have jumped aboard the virtual learning bus, too. The Digital Learning Pulse survey found that a significant number of students want the option to take fully online courses in the future: 73% say they somewhat want this option, while 46% strongly want it and 68% are interested in a combination of virtual and in-person learning.

With these numbers in mind, let’s look at some of the top virtual learning lessons to implement post-pandemic so your educational institution can provide a successful experience for teachers and students alike.

Lesson 1: Simplify Access to Learning Tools

Having the right tools in place is critical to ensuring that students and teachers have what they need when they need it. When schools are faced with multiple grade levels and subject matters, it can be difficult to sift through the many resources available to find what they need.

To further complicate matters, students and teachers leverage a variety of devices running on different operating systems. Endpoint compatibility is necessary for accessing applications and shared resources. A virtualized IT infrastructure simplifies the learning environment. Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) is a streamlined virtual learning solution that provides staff and students with secure access to virtual applications and desktops.

Designed to be reliable, flexible and easy to use, Parallels RAS supports virtual learning environments on a wide range of devices. IT teams can easily filter access to applications and tools based on end-user criteria, delivering full desktops to teachers and administrators and restricting student access to specific resources. Creating flexible, mobile-ready learning spaces helps IT staff spend less time helping students and teachers configure programs on their devices.

Lesson 2: Leverage Thin Client Deployments

Thin clients are low-cost computers equipped with reduced computational resources, such as RAM, CPU and storage. When used in a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environment, the thin client is used as a connection point to shared resources that are running and stored on a central server. The thin client device does not store any data because all operations occur remotely on the server.

Because of their reduced computing and storage components, thin clients require less space and energy than traditional hardware deployments. They consume less energy and do not need rotating hard drives or a cooling system to operate.

Thin clients can also help improve data security. Because a thin client simply connects end-user devices to remote applications and desktops, if a thin client is damaged or stolen, applications and data remain secure on the server. This centralization of administration, maintenance and security tasks gives IT teams greater control over the VDI environment.

Installing new applications, upgrading tools or patching applications takes place on the server—not the individual thin clients. Thin client deployments also allow technicians to offer remote assistance to student and teacher devices, ensuring that technical issues do not negatively impact learning.

Lessons 3: Build Flexible Learning Environments

Flexible learning environments also give students more ways to participate in the learning process. In face-to-face classes, primarily teachers deliver knowledge and then assess student understanding of that knowledge. Virtual learning provides opportunities for teachers to augment and enhance the learning experience. Rather than lengthy, lecture-based instruction, they can help students understand the material with discussion-based learning and synthesis activities.

For example, technology features such as discussion forums, online chat and recorded video content create opportunities for students to reflect on the material. Instead of a classroom environment where students rush to contribute (or try to avoid being called on), everyone has time to contribute thoughtfully to the learning process.

Parallels RAS lets teachers deliver instruction from any location at any time to any device—including smartphones, tablets and any HTML5 browser. Students can then access the digital tools and educational resources with their preferred devices.

Flexible learning environments also allow students and faculty to work from more than one device or OS without losing their progress. With Parallels RAS, there’s no need to restart sessions or reconfigure local devices such as printers or scanners. This is particularly useful for teachers, who often rely on printed materials such as worksheets, study guides, tests and quizzes.

In addition, the ability to switch from one device to another helps minimize disruptions in teaching and learning because there’s no need to re-download applications—users can simply pick up right where they left off.

Lesson 4: Implement the Right Technology

Despite their obvious benefits, many VDI solutions can be expensive and complicated to use. Many require costly third-party add-ons to achieve full functionality, stretching schools’ already limited IT budgets. However, Parallels RAS provides all needed features and capabilities out of the box, reducing system complexity and costs. This is also seen in the Parallels RAS all-inclusive single license model, which helps educational institutions save money by paying only for what is used.

Concurrent-user licensing means that schools need to pay only for the number of licenses that are expected to be in use simultaneously—not one for every potential user. This cost savings is especially beneficial during school breaks, such as the summer months when fewer people utilize school data and resources.

The right technology must also be easy to use, providing an optimal user experience without a steep learning curve. Parallels RAS decreases complexity for both IT administrators and end users. It streamlines IT management, thanks to smart wizards and automation tools, eliminating the need for IT teams to devote time to lengthy, repetitive tasks. Configuring and managing the Parallels RAS infrastructure requires minimal knowledge.

Full training on the Parallels RAS solution is also provided free of charge, helping IT administrators harness the product’s many capabilities. The end-user experience is intuitive and consistent across any device or operating system—including smartphones and tablets—allowing students and teachers to be productive whether they’re at school, at home or on the go.

Enhance Virtual Learning with the Power of VDI

Parallels RAS is a simple solution that supports virtual learning and remote access to desktops and applications. It helps improve the educational process for students and instructors, thanks to its flexible IT infrastructure. Seamless, user-friendly access to education technology can be instrumental in delivering successful learning outcomes.

In addition, educational institutions now have access to an all-inclusive, cost-efficient VDI solution with the Parallels Education License Program (PELP). Designed specifically for learning organizations, PELP provides remote access solutions that students and teachers can access from their preferred devices. With no upfront costs required to join, PELP offers a pay-as-you-go, monthly pricing model. This means you pay only for the instances of Parallels RAS you actually use.

Learn more about the Parallels Education License Program, or experience the benefits of Parallels RAS for yourself with a free 30-day trial download.