The programming committee for the 77th Annual SAM International Business Conference is pleased to announce the acceptance of the presentation COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts and Lessons Learned – Implications for Future Academic Planning by Rassule Hadidi, Joshua Behl, and Gabriel Warren of Metro State University, Minnesota State University and Bemidji State University.
Presentation Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many lives and livelihoods all over the world. It has already impacted how we educate individuals, regardless of their age. The lack of technology availability and access to high-speed Internet, in particular, in the rural areas is creating additional burden on low income and indigenous communities. This further adds to the existing equity related problems that already exist in some school districts, colleges, and universities in various regions. The lack of equity is not limited to the Midwest or even the United States. Rather, it seems that it is apparent in other parts of the world. In a study about students in Germany, Händel et al. (2020) found that there were two groups of students that significantly differed in terms of their readiness for online learning: Those who do have access to the needed technology and have prior experience with e-learning and those who do not. To avoid an additional equity gap as a result of the pandemic and moving to the online mode of course delivery, there is a significant need for supporting school districts and low-income college and university students to make sure technology and access to high speed Internet is available to all students regardless of their location and family income level. The panel members will discuss lessons learned and related future pandemic planning issues.
Join us online to see this great paper and many more March 31 – April 2, 2022. For registration information visit www.samnational.org/conference.