Whether the model is in-person, hybrid or remote, all schools and districts are incorporating some form of remote learning this year. Given the uncertainty the pandemic has caused, longer-term planning is essential.

According to a recent Rosetta Stone Education white paper authored by Liz Brooke and Suzanne Carreker, when developing a longer-term remote learning plan, although the instinct may be to throw out the playbook and start fresh, it’s more important than ever to rely on proven frameworks and instructional strategies.

Fundamental aspects of scalable and sustainable plans include community relationships, empowered teachers, multi-tiered systems of support already in place and effective online/blended programs.

In their white paper, Brooke and Carreker outline a four-phase approach for creating longer-term remote learning plans, outlining established traits and frameworks that have prepared schools and districts for this moment.

The first phase, Continue, emphasizes the importance of continuity of instruction while schools are remote; the second phase, Adapt, acknowledges that adaptations will be needed in order for instruction to continue in a remote-learning environment; Preserve underscores that instructional standards can be perpetuated and high levels of learning can continue with proven online learning solutions; and the final phase, Monitor, highlights the necessity of using data to inform decision-making and gauge progress toward goals.

As schools and districts create longer-term remote learning plans, equity should always be top of mind, whether it relates to digital access or to the same opportunities to learn. According to Brooke and Carreker, achieving educational equity requires a plan guided by a mission and vision and driven by data.

Read the full article about long-term remote learning solutions at Education Dive.