By Haley Henschel and Annelise Hanshaw 2021-01-17 10:00:00 UTC When we spend so much of our time online, weâre bound to learn something while clicking and scrolling. Discover something new with Mashableâs series . In the past few years, technological advancements and high demand for accessible, low-cost education have led to ridiculous growth in the online learning sector. (For some perspective, experts predicted in 2018 that the e-learning industry would hit $325 billion by 2025 â that's triple its revenue from ten years prior.) So, while the coronavirus pandemic didn't launch the online learning boom, it sure didn't hurt its case. Yet even after several semesters of mandatory distance learning, an important question lingers: Can an online education truly replace in-person learning?Â