Online learning efforts may remain even when the pandemic fades away. Teachers’ confidence wavers in using edtech for instruction. Perhaps (not) coincidentally, there is more spending forecast for education technology. All in this Edtech Reports Recap.

It’s clear that emergency remote instruction over the past year hasn’t been a pleasant experience for most school districts. But continuing it after the emergency ends may have appeal.

An appropriately titled RAND Corporation research report, “Remote Learning Is Here to Stay,” finds that one in five U.S. school districts plans to offer fully online learning even after the pandemic ends. The survey, conducted of RAND’s nationally representative American School District Panel from September through November 2020, included more than 375 K-12 public school districts and charter management organizations.

RAND researchers found that remote learning, in some form, is likely to outlast the COVID-19 closures. Virtual school or a fully online option is in the to-be-continued cards—either planned or being considered—by 20 percent of districts and charter orgs, and a blended or hybrid model by 10 percent. Seven percent indicated a more generic “remote learning in some form” based on the open-ended responses. Respondents’ answers could be applied to more than one option.

The RAND study also found that 69 percent of district leaders cited a moderate or great need for additional professional development to help teachers use technology tools to provide high-quality instruction.

Read the full article about remote learning by Frank Catalano at EdSurge.