The Advantages of Online Learning in the K12 Environment November 1, 2010
Posted by elearningtyro in : Useful Resources , trackbackThis guest post is contributed by Carrie Oakley, who writes on the topic of online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: carrie.oakley1983@gmail.com
It’s an issue that’s being dogged by controversy after the other; what with state-run public schools being up in arms against the funds that are allotted to virtual charter schools because they’re not limited to admitting students from one district alone and with for-profit organizations supplying learning materials and online curriculum, allegations of corporate profiteering are rampant in the online K12 schooling environment. But even with all these controversies, K12 online schools offer various benefits for middle and high school students:
- Those who live in small towns and don’t have access to quality public schools stand to gain the most because they’re provided with access not just to the right study materials and lessons, but also because they have qualified teachers to guide and instruct them and because they get to interact with students from various geographical locations. Students find that the experience broadens their horizons and allows them to see beyond the perspective and periphery of their hometowns.
- For parents who prefer to homeschool their children but have no clue as to how to set an organized study schedule or buy the right homeschooling material, online charter schools are a boon because they provide students with a computer, Internet connection, and various other materials needed to learn online. The moms only have to supervise their kids as they engage in reading, writing, arithmetic and various other activities.
- The curriculum is more practical in nature and may involve varied activities that are not offered in regular high schools. So your repertoire is wide and your skill sets varied.
- Schedules are flexible and lessons can be completed at the students’ pace instead of the student having to keep pace with the school – this works out well for students who are skilled in other aspects like sports, music or the arts and devote most of their time to practice and competitions.
- If the student is dedicated, he or she can finish high school in less time than it takes at regular schools. Online schools offer a fast track route to your high school diploma if you’re dedicated and determined to get there earlier.
- Although the lack of face-to-face interaction between teacher and student and the lack of camaraderie and communication with fellow students is often cited as a reason to eschew online education in the K12 environment, in some ways, this turns out to be a boon rather than a bane. Students are spared of peer pressure and are at less risk of developing habits that could derail their education and turn them onto the wrong path.
Online K12 schools are here to stay, and for students who are not averse to treading a new path, they’re a good alternative to your usual public school.
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