ABSTRACT
In the concluding chapter, the four themes are placed into global patterns forged by the COVID-19 pandemic. It turns out that several interesting factors coalesce to form potential areas for reform. The reader learned that educational opportunity exists in society, serving individuals and groups to achieve success in varying degrees. The book suggests that once COVID-19 declines, institutions and individuals must be reinvigorated to draw on new technologies to boost social connections and networks that will reverse the decline of learning during COVID-19. Schooling needs to be reconfigured to ensure traditional face-to-face learning remains for elementary and secondary students to encourage socialization, while pressing ahead with educational digital platforms to expand all forms of learning everywhere. Results from the book suggest public policy must rethink public health services and welfare policies while it relays findings to the public through education and training. Business practices must be redesigned to encompass rapidly changing skill and talent shortages stemming from demographics along with employee well-being. In the area of culture and technology where social media is moving to augmented reality, new ways of communicating values and behaviors are needed in the digital setting. Insights follow and suggest COVID-19 has changed the trajectory of human behavior and societal practices for the better even though it is slow to alter society’s future direction.
