The coronavirus is forcing many colleges to go online only. But will it work for everyone?

The coronavirus is forcing many colleges to go online only. But will it work for everyone?

A 2018 study — this time conducted at California community colleges — showed disadvantaged students were most likely to flounder in online courses, said Di Xu, an associate professor at University of California Irvine’s School of Education and a co-author of the original Columbia study. “Younger students, male students, minority groups, and academically underprepared students tend to struggle more in an online setting,” she said. … “Self-motivation is really critical to success,” Xu said. “If you don’t have those skills, you struggle.”