Understanding online learning infrastructure in U.S. K-12 schools: A review of challenges and emerging trends

•Internet bandwidth affects student ability to participate in remote learning.•Fiber, 5G, smart city, and satellite internet will improve digital infrastructure.•Schools must defend against cybersecurity threats to protect student data.•Training teachers, parents and staff can be valuable for online learning. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid digitization of education in the United States. Before the pandemic, 1:1 computing initiatives, learning management systems, and professional development were in use. Students and teachers becoming reliant on technology when school buildings were closed showed the areas where eLearning technologies are effective and areas in which they need refinement in their design and implementation. In this paper, we address the history and current challenges in working with online learning infrastructure. We review standards prior to 2020 and then review technologies that were available during the initial phases of the pandemic. Finally, we discuss new tools, including our tool, for managing some of the network problems teachers faced while delivering content.