Most teachers I've met are master improvisers. They have to be ready to adapt to situations in the moment, and the COVID-19 health crisis is a perfect example of when adaptation is a must.

Maybe none of the students completed last night's reading; perhaps the internet went down 10 minutes before an online test was scheduled to start. Skilled educators make on-the-fly adjustments constantly.

In the face of a growing global pandemic that has closed public spaces like restaurants, malls, libraries, and schools, educators and students are having to adapt in ways that few could have predicted.

Schools across the United States have closed in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus-and teachers are grappling with how to maintain student learning remotely.

This is a unique and scary time for everyone, and learning at home won't replace the classroom experience. But one key measure of success for remote learning efforts will be whether students and teachers have access to the right technology.