The Efficacy of Virtual Instruction in K12 Education

What have we learned in 2020 about best practices in virtual instruction? A recent Edutopia review of significant education studies published in 2020 includes a review of the literature conducted by a team at Georgia State University. Researchers found that that while there is insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of specific instructional practices, there is plenty of data to suggest that obstacles to student engagement can be addressed through low-cost “nudges.” Once technical accessibility is addressed, barriers to locating and accessing instructional materials must be addressed as well. Numerous studies, including many prior to the pandemic, show that reminding parents and students about learning materials and assignments, including how to access them, boosted engagement and improved learning outcomes. Download the literature here.