Prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the average U.S. public school teacher likely had little to no experience with running a distance learning environment. School closures nationwide forced them to adopt and adapt to this model practically overnight in March as they scrambled to salvage what they could of the 2019-20 academic year.
In that time, a number of innovative educators have risen to the occasion, and their efforts — as well as ongoing professional development put into place during the spring and summer — have helped to inform best practices as schools prepare for a new school year that will remain online to varying degrees for many in the fall.
