Читать книгу Online Learning For Dummies - Susan Manning - Страница 59

Perhaps the hottest area of growth and development in online learning impacts high school and homeschooled students. We address this topic in Chapter 18, but we review the basics here, in particular, the benefits of online learning for kids.

Even before COVID-19 made its first appearance, school districts offered online options for their students. In 2017, nearly 60% of public schools offered at least one online course. (These numbers come from the National Center for Educational Statistics.) In today’s digital age, learning online has these distinct benefits for young students:

 It advances kids’ technology skills. Consider that most white collar jobs now require technology skills. With the globalization of business and industry, collaborating with colleagues around the world is common for knowledge workers. Children who acquire computer-mediated communication skills already understand how to collaborate online. Online learning teaches 21st century skills.

 It helps homeschooling parents plan their curricula. In North America, homeschooling is inconsistently regulated. Having a quality source for instruction allows parents to select and supervise the curricula. Though state-supported schools still meet state mandates, parents can determine the most appropriate courses for their children.

 It allows kids to work at their own pace. Virtual schools for kindergarten through 12th grade are more likely to be self-paced with parental supervision. In other words, if your child is gifted and can finish algebra in eight weeks, they can move on to their next course without waiting. If your child needs more time, that can be accommodated as well.

 It facilitates the management of health issues. For kids with medical needs or disabilities, online education allows the family to manage health concerns without disrupting learning. For example, a child with severe diabetes can monitor blood sugar levels by snacking while learning. In a traditional classroom, the child would probably have to go elsewhere to snack, resulting in lost instructional time.

 It offers greater scheduling flexibility. Reducing the time children spend in school increases time for other activities. In some cases, teens work significant internships, acquiring additional skills that complement their online education. For kids who excel in the arts or athletics and need additional time for practice, online education fits their lifestyles. Not only can they schedule learning before and after workouts and rehearsals, but also schooling doesn’t stop because of travel to performances and events.

 It fills specialized needs that traditional high schools can’t. One high school can offer only so many classes, particularly in rural areas. The availability and expertise of teachers and school district financial constraints sometimes determine what courses students take. For students looking for more variety, online education can serve it up. Students aren’t limited to what’s available at their own school, but can tap into a wide network of available courses. They may find many of these courses at a state-supported virtual school, which directly ties into graduation requirements because those courses and programs follow the same state mandates.Advanced placement (AP) courses allow high school students to study more challenging subject matter at a higher level than traditional high school courses. Additionally, these courses often count for college credit. Virtual high schools put AP courses within reach of those whose schools don’t offer them. Even students who don’t study entirely online can have access to the kinds of classes they want and need through these online programs. Of course, buyer beware: Check with your local district to be sure they’ll accept the online credits.

Want to look further at online education for K–12 students? Visit the Aurora Institute at https://aurora-institute.org.