For the time being, companies across the country (and the world!) are canceling events, moving colleges online, closing schools, and embracing remote work in response to COVID-19.

To stay safe and healthy in the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve all been staying home as much as possible. Even though an eternal weekend sounds great in theory, the reality can feel lonely and boring. 

As today’s professionals compete in an ever-changing digital world, they rely on learning to advance their careers. COVID-19 is challenging the ways learning professionals have relied on traditionally to engage their learners.

For many in the learning field, COVID-19 has thrust us into uncharted territory. We’re doing our best to stay home as much as possible, which in many cases means figuring out how to do our jobs from home. And even if we’re not working from home, we’re grappling with how to engage learners who are suddenly remote.

For the next few weeks, COVID-19 has many of us staying home as much as we can. Schools, places of worship, bars, and restaurants are closed for now. The CDC recommends we limit in-person gatherings to 10 or fewer people. And companies across the country are moving to a work-from-home policy (whether they feel ready for it or not).

The evolution of digital technology has created a new world of learning and, as a result, the expectations and needs of today's learners has changed. Only by understanding the needs of modern learners will you be able to help them succeed. Here are five things you need to know about the modern learner: