Because of COVID-19, many schools closed down to try to reduce the risk of transmission. Now, while some schools have re-opened their physical buildings, there are still districts that are closed. These districts have turned to online education to try to keep kids learning.

As can be expected when a lot of organizations suddenly start doing something, there are both good and bad outcomes being reported. One of the primary reasons for bad outcomes appears to be that in some areas, students aren't willing to regularly log on. Students are often unwilling to do homework, as well.

Instead of trying to force kids to sit at their computers all day and then do hours more of homework each evening, experienced online education providers have much more realistic methods. They know that with the online method, they can't physically trap kids in rooms all day long. Therefore, experienced remote learning institutions condense the lessons into 4-hour days. This greatly increases children's willingness to go along with it. In turn, educational success increases.

These institutions didn't just come into being when COVID-19 was recognized as a pandemic. Instead, they began by teaching children who have to travel too much for a regular school to effectively teach them, whether due to their own athletic commitments or because of their parents' careers.

One key to the success of this approach is the use of program learning (or programmed learning). With this method, the computer presents lessons in a way that ensures that one is done before the next is shown. This ensures proper understanding of earlier subjects before the next are presented. Because of this, students don't get left behind or lost. Educational quality is thereby improved – without the need for endless hours of boring repetition.