Beyond the Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities in the Post-COVID Classroom

The COVID-19 pandemic was arguably the most disruptive event thus far in the careers of most
educators in the United States. This was true at both the secondary and post-secondary levels.
The wide range of hardships that the pandemic caused included death, illness, quarantines,
mental health issues, and economic uncertainty. These impacted educators and students alike.
The pandemic made virtual learning in one form or the other a necessity. While many people
successfully adapted to this new learning environment, unfortunately, many students, particularly
those of more modest means, were left behind.
This paper will explore some of the major problems that linger in college History classrooms as
the pandemic has largely subsided and we have moved into a new post-COVID-19 world. These
problems include a loss of learning, poor study and attendance habits among some students,
burnout among faculty, and enrollment and funding declines at many colleges and universities.
Yet the COVID-19 pandemic created a hunger for human engagement and accelerated many
positive trends in technology that were only beginning to gain a foothold in 2020. This paper will
thus likewise outline some opportunities for historians in the post-COVID classroom, especially
with innovative gains made in online and hybrid classes, along with new possibilities for
activities in face-to-face classes.