Did Virtual Replace Classroom Teaching? Lessons Learned after COVID-19

Abstract

What did we learn after two and a half years into the COVID-19 pandemic and variants regarding Brazilian higher virtual education? This article revisited the issue, providing an overview of lessons about the challenges and pitfalls of virtual learning and the challenges faced by teachers, and executive education professors in Brazil, regarding live online classes via the Zoom platform through archival research and qualitative interviews. Key findings pointed out (a) a drastic increase in the offer and the number of enrollments and admissions in distance courses instead of classroom teaching, but with fewer conclusions; (b) internet connection issues, (c) increasing absenteeism, (d) distractions, (e) dispersion, (e) lack of interest, and (vi) limited pedagogical resources as barriers to online live classes dispensed with the Zoom platform. This study aims to provide the academic community with a perspective regarding the online live education experience after COVID-19 in Brazil. Finally, this work provides ten lessons learned during the pandemic.