The Slow Return to Normalcy

It’s hard to believe that another school year is well underway. More students, faculty and staff than not have returned to campus for full-time, in-person learning at K–12 and higher education institutions around the country. The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t in our rearview mirror quite yet, but after 18 months, it feels like there’s very little to say about it that we haven’t heard a thousand times. From wearing a mask to maintaining social distancing to getting the (now FDA-approved) vaccine if you’re eligible, the basic guidelines of living during a pandemic are pretty well established.

In the meantime, students especially seem enthused about the opportunity to resume real life and see their friends again. The benefits—both social and educational—of being surrounded by our peers instead of staring at a computer screen are too many to count. It’s nice being able to make small talk in the hallways again, or for a teacher to notice a wave of confusion ripple across the class during a lecture and clarify a point in real time. It’s not as nice having to set your alarm for 7 a.m. instead of 7:45 for an 8 a.m. class, but every situation has its drawbacks.

The content in this issue of Spaces4Learning reflects our odd hybrid state of getting back to normal, but still being mindful of a pandemic. You’ll find pieces on how schools can best utilize ESSER funds. The importance of handwashing and other basic hygiene practices. How schools can maintain and monitor indoor air quality.

But you’ll also get a glimpse of what vendors and educational institutions alike have been up to in the last year and a half. This glimpse comes via the results of our summer awards program, New Product of the Year, and our fall awards, the Education Design Showcase. The New Product Award program celebrates the exemplary product development achievements of manufacturers and vendors in the education industry. And the Education Design Showcase lets institutions show off innovative and practical solutions in planning, design, architecture and construction. All of the winners in both competitions represent the finest instances of ingenuity, resiliency and resourcefulness under pressure.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • DLR Group Hires Higher Education Business Development Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that Senior Associate Megan Todd will serve as its new Higher Education Business Development Leader, according to a news release. Her responsibilities will include building the firm’s reach and client relationships in the California higher education sector, based out of San Diego.

  • University of Kentucky Stormwater Harvesting System Receives Award

    The Utilities and Energy Management team from the University of Kentucky recently received a Grand Award at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards, according to a university news release. The award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky was for the university’s Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System, which activated in fall 2023.

  • The Role of Unified Communications in Hyflex Education

    Academic technology and pedagogy have evolved in ways few could have imagined a decade ago. Today, hybrid/flexible (or hyflex) learning environments — a mix of in-person and remote instruction — are the new normal. However, as promising as it sounds, making hyflex work smoothly is no small feat.

Digital Edition