The Coronavirus’ Chilling Effect Hits Edtech Industry Conferences

The recent U.S. spike in coronavirus cases, which currently numbers around 118 cases in 16 states, is leaving the edtech conference industry with an existential (if not quite Shakespearean) question at the start of its busy events season: to host or not to host? Across the broader technology world, the coronavirus has taken a toll on what were once routine gatherings. Facebook, Google, Microsoft have pulled out of annual industry conferences, and called off events of their own. Others, including the Games Developer Conference and the massive World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, have opted to cancel. Some in the edtech industry have followed suit: Educause pulled the plug on its ELI conference, scheduled for early March near Seattle. Docebo, the maker of a corporate learning management system, has postponed a London-based conference scheduled for April.