Our education system is going through a major change — including online high school classes. There are many reasons why this is happening. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced many changes upon schools all over the world, the ideas of traditional schooling institutions and what they bring to the lives of young people was being questioned. More and more parents have started opting to homeschool their children.
Typical schools — both public and private — continue to face large and frustrating challenges. These range from budget cuts, to course options, to additional rules and regulations that must be followed. Taking classes online has become a common trend in most developed countries. Especially for middle school and high school students. This alternative to the brick and mortar concept of schooling has become more popular as the internet integrated into daily life. Although there was some initial criticism about online learning being subpar to traditional education, it has since been proven that this is not the case.
We are going to discuss several of the benefits of taking high school classes online. But first, here’s a quick look at the evolution of learning.
Learning And Its Evolution
During medieval times, high school and colleges consisted of clergy members who would teach students. They would learn about theology, county laws, and religious texts. These institutions were the hub of repositories of world knowledge. However, they were restricted in a lot of ways. There was no space to learn other subjects. Women learned only about housekeeping. Libraries were accessible to only a few lucky people. European countries took the concept of these institutions and evolved their education systems in the 15th century. There was early schooling in a range of subjects, like medicine, law, and business. This also evolved after the Industrial Revolution when technological changes were coming to the average household.
Online Education For High School Students
Online courses are promising. Not only because of the range of courses that can be offered but also because of the ease of access. Students can be exposed to a variety of possibilities to learn and expand their horizons. This is gradually redefining what we consider to be a good education. The traditional classroom is no longer the only home to brilliant minds and newfound ideas. Instead, there is an online community of educated and learned individuals. And we are constantly growing. The guarantee of online learning is not just one factor. There are many ways that online education is adjustable to meet and cater to all kinds of student needs.
This is something that we take pride in at Big River Academy. We know that every student is unique and has their own challenges. This is why we work hard to provide accommodations for students with special needs.
Special Accommodations
- Dyslexia — Our literature classes encourage students with dyslexia to listen to free audiobooks. Most of the books covered have them. We also work to improve reading skills. Teachers provide links and sources to audiobooks for the good of our students.
- Dysgraphia — Students do the vast majority of their communication and assignments through typing. For students with this challenge, typing tends to be a relief. For students who are intimidated by typing, it gives them ample practice. Many find that they improve by leaps and bounds throughout the semesters.
- Nonverbal Learning Disability — We provide opportunities for students to interact socially in the classroom if and when they are comfortable. Students can be as involved with others as they wish. Through the use of chat, many feel very comfortable and safe interacting. Because they can “edit” or “preview” their comments and questions, those who are typically shy in a group can feel freer to express themselves.
- ADD or ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) — Assignments are broken up into small enough sections that students can focus on manageable amounts. Instructors give students seven days to complete assignments.
Our teachers are more than willing to work with any student who needs extra special care and compassion. If you have a concern that is not listed above, please contact us for more information.
Online High School Class Benefits
Flexibility
When students study online, they have more room to create their own learning environments and study at their own pace and their lifestyle. This includes creating their own schedule. They get to decide what works best for them and give each course an adequate amount of time. It corrects one of the biggest problems that students face in traditional high schools. Following a schedule that may not fit their individual needs. For many teenagers, waking up early for school just doesn’t allow them to be at their best. For others, adjustments need to be made to allow for extracurricular activities, jobs, or other family situations. Furthermore, they can study anywhere they like, from their bedrooms to cafes. So whether they are out of town or even on vacation, they will never miss a class and stay up to date with their studies.
No Commuting Issues
Commuting to school wastes a lot of time and many students complain about their schools being far away. Traffic and weather conditions can cause a lot of commuting issues and public transport can lead to wasted time and tiredness for students. Attending online classes requires no commute and all students have to do is log in their details.
Fewer Costs
Online programs are either free, such as public high school GEDs, or are very cheap compared to the tuition fees of private schools. This is an easy way of getting a good quality education without the associated expenses that come with attending an institute. Even required course materials and books can be accessed for free. Save even more money!
More Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is a trait commonly lacking in most middle school and high school students. Studying by yourself through online courses is an important step in acquiring more motivation and building time management skills. This helps students focus on deadlines and work at their own pace with more responsibility. Some students are fine with the public school pace. Others can find that schedule to be too slow and need more of a challenge. This also allows students to spend more time focusing on subjects that may be more difficult and quickly do things that they are more comfortable with.
Technology
Taking online classes — especially live online classes — has certain requirements where technology is concerned. Using these virtual tools and resources helps to prepare students to do this in their future education or work environments.
Conclusion
We love what we do at Big River Academy and hope that you have enjoyed spending a bit of time getting to know us and how we approach homeschool for the 21st century. If you have any questions feel free to email us or message us on social media. Make sure to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram and YouTube to keep up with the excitement at Big River Academy.
