A new form of distance learning, online learning is education in which instruction and content comprising a formal course of study are delivered primarily via the Internet. K–12 enrollments in online courses continue to grow, and while there is great potential in the virtual schools movement, there are many challenges inherent in this relatively new method of education delivery.

What Works in K–12 Online Learning provides a comprehensive overview of effective online teaching and learning practices. Based on extensive experience and research, chapters cover a full spectrum of topics including virtual course development, online learning in elementary classrooms, instructional assessment and differentiating online instruction, professional development for teachers of virtual courses, and the challenges that virtual schools will face in the future.