Brick-and-mortar schools abruptly closed in spring 2020 due to COVID-19, resulting in a disruption to in-person instruction for more than 1.2 billion students. The ongoing pandemic and extended school closures forced teachers, many with no prior experience teaching online, to transition from face-to-face instruction to alternative virtual formats throughout the spring and into the fall. The impact of long-term closures also extends beyond the classroom, forcing schools to consider how to best support their communities and families.
Maintaining student engagement during virtual learning is one of the greatest challenges facing educators today. To overcome this challenge, schools must closely support teachers and implement methods to boost the behavioral, cognitive, and affective engagement of students.