Online instruction has become an easy target to blame for learning loss during the pandemic. But in fact, it is a rich resource that can strengthen current classroom teaching and also prepare schools to weather future school closings. In Online By Choice, Stephanie Moore and Michael Barbour argue persuasively that online learning is a precious source of resilience and flexibility for schools now and going forward—an important feature of a robust ecosystem along with face-to-face and blended instruction—and that failing to incorporate online is strategically impoverished.

Choosing online instruction is very different from rushing to remote learning in an emergency manner, however, and doing it well involves a myriad of decisions. These authors provide essential guidance and tools for teachers and school leaders as they select, design and implement online education solutions, including the “handshakes” needed to align instructional needs with school or district-level infrastructure and supports.