{"id":114436,"date":"2023-01-30T11:00:15","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T17:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/?p=114436"},"modified":"2023-01-30T11:03:59","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T17:03:59","slug":"grant-boosts-study-of-covid-pk-12-tech-use-future-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/grant-boosts-study-of-covid-pk-12-tech-use-future-application\/","title":{"rendered":"Grant Boosts Study of COVID PK-12 Tech Use, Future Application"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sara Platt (left), assistant professor of special education, and doctoral student Elizabeth Young Sweeney lead research into the use of technology in PK-12 education during the pandemic. The study, funded by a Governor\u2019s Emergency Education Fund grant, found that distance learning, while difficult for some, can help other students thrive. Photo by Thomas Graning\/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services<\/p><\/div>\n

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 Virtual and hybrid learning is a boon to student prosperity and continues to be a priority for state and local leaders. That is the main takeaway from state-funded research conducted by University of Mississippi<\/a> education professors who analyzed the impacts of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

In January 2021, the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund awarded the School of Education<\/a> a $500,000 grant to study in-person, virtual and hybrid PK-12 instruction during the pandemic. More simply, researchers wanted to know, what did we learn?<\/p>\n

“Technology is an amazing tool to enhance teaching and learning if used effectively,” said David Rock, UM education dean. “The pandemic caused one thing that I think is critical: it forced us into the 21st century whether we liked it or not.<\/p>\n

“How are we going to use the lessons learned during the pandemic to help teachers and students across the country succeed?”<\/p>\n

Sara Platt, assistant professor of special education, and doctoral student Elizabeth Young Sweeney led the research, which concluded in September 2022. <\/p>\n

“What did we do right and what can we improve?” Platt said. “We cannot just say this is over and done. We’ve gotten this far. We can choose to plateau our efforts to integrate technology, or we can continue increasing our efforts and move upward.” <\/p>\n

Among the study’s recommendations are:<\/p>\n