What is self-paced? Self-paced is learning at your own pace and on your own time. Self-paced courses are not live courses. They are prerecorded educational videos that your child can watch/stream anytime.
These courses are recorded in a variety of locations. Some videos are recorded in a live classroom, outdoors at a specific location, like Italy and some videos incorporate animation to make learning more engaging.
Like online education, self-paced learning allows you the freedom to create a schedule that best fits your child, but without the commitment to a live class schedule.
Self-pace is an excellent learning method. It allows the student to focus and master a subject without the pressure of trying to keep up with the traditional classroom setting.
Let’s investigate the perks of self-paced learning.
1. Self-paced learning provides immediate feedback
Immediate educational feedback is always helpful.
As parents, it is not always clear where your child struggles and what kind of extra academic support may be needed.
A self-paced education provides immediate feedback on your child’s strengths and weaknesses allowing you to easily identify where additional support is necessary.
For example, if in your self-paced course, you notice that your child is struggling with reading comprehension, perhaps make that the focus for a while.
Introduce different levels of reading material, take extra time, and read out loud together. Self-paced learning allows you to catch the struggle immediately and do something about it.
2. Self-paced courses and curriculums are affordable
There are numerous self-paced courses and curriculums. Some programs are completely online with no extra textbooks to buy.
Other programs, you will pay for the self-paced course and additional school supplies. Parents who decide to join an online school that offers self-paced courses will pay tuition. Prices vary.
Most are affordable and as low as $25 a month. Parents receive a weekly report on their child’s progress delivered straight to their email. Detailing how their child is doing across all subjects.
Parents who opt to only purchase individual self-paced courses will also obtain a weekly report.
Purchasing a curriculum and structuring your own self-paced program is an option too. Most curricula can be structured into a self-paced course, but some curriculums have designed their subjects to be worked on 2-4x a week only.
These curriculums come with a suggested schedule to follow and an optional DVD to follow along. If possible, buy a used curriculum. Purchasing a brand-new set can be expensive.
3. Self-paced education can increase confidence and motivation
Self-paced learning can really boost your child’s confidence and motivation to learn. How? With immediate feedback and progress reports on your child’s work.
With this information, parents can tailor their child’s goals and educational needs based on where their child is academically. Challenging them where needed. Slowing down where necessary. Making for a more relaxed, stress-free way of learning.
When students see that they are doing better and improving this leads to greater success and improved confidence in one’s academic ability.
4. Self-paced learning is a combination of working together and independently
For younger elementary students, self-paced classes require parents to be actively involved. You can start self-paced classes at any time, but I would recommend starting courses in 3rd grade and above.
There are certain fundamental basics that younger children need to establish before diving into self-paced courses, like following directions, numeracy, and literacy skills.
For older students’ autonomy is key. When students have a choice about the classes they take and when they can take them, they are more motivated to get their work completed, so they are free to pursue their own interests.
5. Self-paced courses can be engaging and interactive
Self-paced courses are designed to engage and interact with students. Although it may look different than your traditional, live interactive classroom setting.
Self-paced courses have a teacher teach a specific subject, pause, and then ask the student to practice on their own.
For example, if the subject is math and after a few examples of demonstrating how the problem is done, the teacher may instruct the student to pause the video and attempt to solve the problem on their own.
Once completed the student would resume the lesson.
Although this may seem very basic, self-paced courses can be filled with dynamic videos and engaging teachers who can provide examples and connect lessons to students’ lives, which makes learning more engaging.
Some self-paced videos add interactive games and stories throughout the lesson that correlate to the topic. Tests and quizzes can also be found throughout self-paced courses.
6. The flexibility of self-paced education is unmatched
Self-paced courses are not a one-size-fits-all program. They can be personalized to fit your child. Self-pace allows you to move through courses as fast or as slow as needed, avoiding redundancy where applicable.
You can customize your child’s self-paced course to meet your state’s academic requirements. Freeing your mind from worry, knowing that all the required subject matters are being covered.
WHO says school can only happen between the hours 8 am-3 pm, Monday- Friday? Perhaps a Wednesday-Saturday schedule works better for you and your family. This approach to learning also leaves ample time for extracurricular activities.
Self-paced learning combined with technology allows for unlimited academic growth. The ability to pause, take notes, and rewatch any portion of a lesson as much as needed is extremely beneficial.
With self-paced learning, you are not confined to a classroom and have the freedom to get up, move, and take breaks when needed. Self-paced learning promotes freedom. You set the schedule. You’re in control.
The hardest step to take is the first one. Go ahead and try something different!
I encourage you to further research self-paced learning and check out the links below.
What are your experiences with self-paced learning? Share them with me.