With the rapid growth in numerous technologies and industries, there is a sudden emergence of new job industries and job roles that didn't even exist before. It has become quite challenging 97 for students to find the right career fit and explore new avenues. The role of career counsellors is taken into consideration here.

India has long been a land of opportunities for career-minded individuals to show their potential and excel. Highlighting career counselling opportunities is the best way to keep the focus on the most energetic and valuable workers, and it maximizes performance across the workforce. 

Four decades before, Alvin Toffler foretold that our society would be influenced by the Information Revolution thanks to the technology provided by the computer. This has occurred, and we have transitioned from an agricultural society to a factory/assembly line/ production society to an automated and knowledge-based society.

Online counselling is among the facilities provided by advanced technologies that pave the path for learners' career development. This study aims to examine and explain the role and impact of online career counselling interventions on learners' career development.

This arrival and advancement of technology, particularly from the beginning of this century, has affected the Career Counseling Industry to a great extent. The Internet has brought Career Counseling into the public eye as the younger generation is now aware of the significance of Career Counseling and Guidance. Parents are becoming more aware and are actively looking to include the equivalent in their child's life.

 In the past, government-run institutions or private schools weren't keen on having career counsellors or resorting to career guidance services. They believed that a student's marks were enough of an indicator to determine their future in terms of career. With the exposure and complete information available on Internet today, individuals and education institutes have started gaining awareness regarding Career Counseling and its benefits and how crucial it is for an individual's development.

 Initially, it may seem strange that the importance of career guidance and counselling to support students to make more informed decisions has been disregarded as necessary.

The age of Blended Learning

Due to the swift development in Information Technology and the onset of the pandemic, blended learning has become more admissible. Blended learning combines the best of both worlds: an opportunity to distribute time and effort freely and to acquire knowledge limitlessly beyond the classroom, as well as the advantages of working with the teacher face to face. The present trend is that more and more academic institutions rely on a successful mix of technology and traditional one-on-one instruction.

Changing Roles of Teachers 

When we address trends in education, we cannot overlook changing trends in how teachers impart knowledge to students. Students quickly adapt to the changing dynamic, but are the teachers equipped to do the same?

Two critical factors have changed due to the pandemic. First, pedagogical adaptations have proven significant as the traditional in-person teaching and lecturing models do not translate to a remote learning environment.

Second, the pandemic has altered how teachers divide their time between teaching, engaging with students, and administrative tasks

The pandemic has called attention to the need for flexibility and more time for student-teacher interactions.

 Teachers must be comfortable working with digital tools to communicate ideas to their students. But beyond that, they must also be capable of equipping their students with the skills they need to thrive shortly.

Remote Learning and MOOCs

Remote or Virtual learning is a model which enables students to attend a school or any institute of learning virtually. Through video classes, internet access to the online content and subject matter, students can take classes from the convenience of their homes. Remote learning usually involves using various technologies such as class forums, discussion sites and threads, online classes, and prerecorded videos. The teachers can also be made to mentor just like students. With Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) available on platforms such as 

Coursera, Udemy, iTunes U, YouTube Edu, edX, and Udacity, the popularity of remote learning has increased by leaps and bounds. As a result, students have access to a wider scope of knowledge, and in the process, it becomes customized to the needs and demands of every student.

Change has been the only constant in the years; even though we still face a lot of uncertainty, we need to be better prepared. Despite all the turmoil, education did not stop and was complemented by technology; the world has witnessed a significant transformation in how we learn. Trends in education will continue to change and prosper; we must adapt to them and be mindful of their importance. Inclusivity, diversity and equity are equally important trends highlighted in the last few months in light of the changing dynamics of education. Educators and related stakeholders should ensure that moving forward; they have to ensure a safe space for every student to learn.