What is online education? Online education is a virtual classroom that you can take anywhere. There are numerous fully accredited online schools that you can enroll your child in, where students K-12 can be taught by expert teachers in their field of study.
These online schools are completely different than the remote learning experience you might have been exposed to during the COVID-19 pandemic. These accredited schools offer full academic courses with live teachers and a low student-to-teacher ratio. Teacher’s are accessible and provide office hours for both parent and student if needed.
The majority of these online schools have your traditional dean of students and academic advisors. Most run on a college-like schedule, providing weekly classes, Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. Offering multiple class subjects at various times throughout the day and meeting, if not succeeding the 180 day of educational attendance requirement.
As a parent, you have access to all your kids’ classes and know exactly what they are learning. All classes are recorded so if your child is unable to make that live class for whatever reason they can easily access the recorded copy for that day. Here are a few more perks to online education.
1. Private schools cost approximately $12k-20k annually and if you have multiple kids that adds up pretty quickly
To send two kids to private school you’re looking at $24k-$40k a year and that does not even include uniforms and school supplies. Not to mention all the time spent on fundraising.
Some online K-12 schools are completely tuition free, some are not. But for the online education that requires a tuition, you can still enroll two kids for the entire academic year for under $10k.
Private schools are known not to be diverse enough. But with online education, you can have classmates from all over the globe, truly engaging and making friends from different backgrounds and cultures.
The prestige and stress that sometimes goes along with attending a private school can be stressful on students, but choosing to pursue your education online can relieve a lot of that stress and anxiety.
The academic peer pressure that is sometimes felt by students to do better or out-perform their public school peers is also no longer an issue with online education.
2. Neurodivergent? No Problem
Neurodivergent learners can excel in online education too.
This platform provides the chance for all students to excel to their full potential. Students that suffer from autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, etc. often thrive in quieter environments with fewer peers, less distractions and more 1:1 personal instruction.
The insecure and awkward feeling of being pulled from the classroom to receive special services are no more. Online education provides the freedom and privacy to learn in the best way that fits you and your family.
Having a bad day or not feeling well? Since classes are recorded you can go back and watch the lesson at another time when you’re feeling better. Recorded classes are a huge benefit for visual learners; those with auditory processing disorder; or just anyone who needs more time to grasp a concept.
3. Good mental health is imperative for learning
Good mental health is essential to learning in any academic environment. Online educational platforms allow students to be fully engaged and focused on their academics without the constant negative influence and peer pressure from classmates.
Bullying and microaggression in the classroom among students is a significant problem. It’s hard to concentrate when you are being made to feel inferior by your peers, or you’re constantly fearing for your own safety. This kind of constant exposure could lead to depression, self-esteem issues and anxiety resulting in poor mental health.
Armed with a chat box at their fingertips, students that are shy or suffer from anxiety will have more of an opportunity to excel and let their personality shine through in a virtual setting. Online education offers a chance for the insecure student to speak up and express their thoughts and opinion in a more regulated, semi-private setting where the price of being wrong is not as high.
Eliminating the social pressure of peers often allows students to focus and excel in their academics. Whether learning at home, the library or outside students learn better in comfortable, safe, stress-free environments.
4. Create your own schedule
While the conventional school system runs 8am-3pm, Monday-Friday, your online education can be structured to fit your life. Most online schools provide multiple classes at various times, so whether your child functions better in the morning, afternoon or evening there is a class schedule that can fit your needs.
Online education takes the stress out of going on vacation. Planning an extended vacation or road trip? You don’t have to worry about catching up on loads of missed school work, with online education you are able to take your education with you.
5. Students tend to be more motivated when they have more choices and flexibility
Online education provides students with flexibility, which can be a motivating factor for students to take charge of their academics.
Knowing that once students have accomplished their academic task they have time to pursue personal interest is highly motivating, especially for older students that may work, play a sport, or be involved in other extracurricular activities.
6. Online education benefits not only students but teachers too
The benefits of online education is a win-win for all involved. Online education provides a space for the very best teacher in their field (Math, English, Science, History, etc.) to come along side the parent to help educate their child without all the bureaucratic restraints that are found in the public classroom.
What could make for a better learning environment than to have a teacher that truly loves what they do and the freedom to do it.
When you have teachers that are afraid to go against the current out fear of losing their jobs, is your child really getting the best that teacher has to offer?
Online education not only provide families with excellent teachers but the academic transparency is undeniable. Parents know exactly what their student are learning and have full access to all their child’s work.
Don’t be afraid to take the first step.
Making the decision to switch to an online educational platform can be scary, mostly because it’s new and different, but it doesn’t have to be. I encourage you to do your own research and check out the links below for learning more about online education/schools.
You know of some other perks for learning online? Share them with me below!