The new normal: How virtual learning can benefit K-12 students

ABSTRACT

Although we can be proud of the way that K-12 educators and students battled the COVID-19 online learning storm, the experience may not provide the most representative version of what “online learning” can be. Many teachers, students, and parents were left with a distaste for this experience even though the emergency shift varied extensively from true virtual learning. It is important to consider how to best facilitate the movement toward true online education as the situations we have experienced during the pandemic are not going to end. Many schools are regularly implementing virtual learning for circumstances that would traditionally cause a break in learning, such as snow days. In order to take advantage of all that virtual learning can offer, it is key to explore some of the most effective virtual learning practices.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional Resources

1. The National Standards for Quality Online Learning website: https://www.nsqol.org/the-standards/

This website provides a valuable resource in the form of the National Standards for Quality Online Courses, Programs and Teaching created and revised through a partnership between Quality Matters, the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance, and the Digital Learning Collaborative.

2. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)’s online learning website: https://ncte.org/resources/resources-virtual-instruction-online-learning/#blogs

This learning resource lists examples from a wide range of books, blog posts, journal articles, and websites for incorporating virtual activities into classrooms across multiple disciplines.

3. Online Learning Consortium (OLC) resource website: https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/learn/resources-for-k-12-educators/

The OLC has compiled a set of resources ranging from professional development opportunities to specific lesson-sharing sites. Share My Lesson, for instance, allows teachers to access and share online lessons for students across a broad range of ages and topics.

Notes

1. For more information on the 5E model see https://ngss.sdcoe.net/Evidence-Based-Practices/5E-Model-of-Instruction.