Why Parents Shouldn't Be Afraid of Virtual Online High School for Their Kids?

There might be a handful of reasons why you might be skeptical of a virtual school for your child.However, on the contrary it has been seen that a virtual high school is a pretty good idea after all.

Here are some very common myths related to a virtual high school and which need to be debunked:

·         Online schools are easier than traditional schooling

Most of the instructors come up with highly-engaging ways to present the study material. Thus, it gets easier for students to hone their learning skills, gaining considerable self-discipline in course of time.This certainly does not imply that an online course is easier! It is just that online students get the chance and drive to channelize their focus entirely on their studies. Thus, online schooling is no easy on its own. It gets easy when you are diligent and serious enough!

·         Online courses are not accredited

Many parents have a misconception that online courses are anything but accredited! This is simply untrue. Just like traditional schools, there are some online schools too that are not accredited. Online high school courses need to meet the same high standards as on-ground courses in order to be certified. Almost all of the topmost online high schools are nationally and regionally accredited. You just need to be cautious at the time of making the selection for your online school.

·         A high school diploma is seldom recognized by colleges and employers

Many think that a high school diploma is never accepted by the top universities and employers. This is false. When an online diploma is accredited, it is always well-regarded. There might be some employers who need to be educated about online schools. However, there are many who instantly recognize that the skills students gain through virtual learning, such as time-management, are top-level in the workplace. In fact, in today’s times, an online degree can give you an edge. Almost all the colleges accept diplomas from accredited online high schools.

·         Online schools make children socially awkward

Well, this is nothing but a myth! Students get to talk to their online teachers via email, Skype, or chat. Most of the virtual high school courses include group projects.  It works wonders for all the shy introverts. These are the ones who feel shy about speaking up in a traditional classroom setting. They may have an easier time participating in online discussions.

Most of the accredited online schools make sure to provide a strong sense of community through active online community. They incorporate extracurricular activities that are fun yet educative.

In a genuine online school, students regularly socialize and interact with peers. The patterns of socialization for virtual learners are not so different from those students in a traditional school. Virtual students even are given the chance to go on field trips, and also socialize with adults in their schools, at home, and in the community.

The flexibility allowed by the virtual schools allows students to socialize outside. They actually get a good deal of free time to do so. After all, most of the online students get to finish their online work fast when compared to the traditional schools.

·         Online students spend all of their time in front of a computer

In case of any online school, the computer is a tool for teachers and parents. It is required to manage and track assignments, communicate, and deliver interactive curricular materials. However, it is a fact that students complete many assignments offline. They often spend time reading textbooks, using workbooks, reading library books, and doing hands-on science experiments in their down time period. This is just like they would in a traditional school.

·         Cheating is likely to occur at a Virtual High School

It is a fact that cheating can happen anywhere. However, certified teachers know how to keep two steps ahead of students who try to violate the honor system. This includes software programs that help recognize plagiarism.

·         Online learning is not led by teachers

The accredited online high school courses are usually led by certified teachers.In fact, parental involvement is not even required in most of the cases. Thus, online teachers are heavily involved in online courses. 

However, many report that they know their students better online than in a traditional classroom setting. Accredited online schools make sure to employ highly-qualified teachers. They are provided with special training as to how to deal with handling of a virtual classroom. They are trained to pay special heed to tailoring instruction to match students’ needs and learning styles.

In case of home-based virtual learning, students are mostly under the guidance of a certified teacher. A parent or other trusted adult has the opportunity to serve as a Learning Coach as well. They might decide to assist the child with day-to-day learning activities as needed.

Many online schools strive to provide a peaceful and nurturing environment where the teacher works directly with both the student and Learning Coach to develop an individual learning plan for the child.

·         An online student needs to be technically efficient

Well, it is true that an online student needs to be aware of the various online tools and resources in order to gain knowledge and work smoothly on their courses. But, just knowing the basics is all it needs. And the child need not be a pro right from the day one. Online schooling gives a good deal of time to every student to cope up and then take up speed.

Most importantly, most of the reputable virtual schools also take the curriculum and instruction very seriously for students, apart from the technology!

At the time of choosing a virtual school, look for a virtual school with a track record of delivering student academic achievement and high levels of parent and student satisfaction. Of course look for the accreditation from AdvancED, the faculty background, state-of-the-art technology resources and community activities, extracurricular activities, curriculum designs, customizability etc.

What can I do to make sure I graduate high school in time?

Graduating on time in high school is essential because it builds up the future path for you. There`s no point in attaining a degree when you are taking 2-4 years in securing it. It simply reflects on the poor educational structure of your institution or the lack of attentiveness or capability within you.

Graduating early from high school has numerous benefits for students. Especially, this concern of graduating at time in high school hovers in the minds of traditional school students because they are the ones who are usually left behind a year or two due to poor grades or low scores. For example, you being a student of high school somehow pass the subject, but end up securing D grade. In realistic terms, D grade is something which no student adores because it shows that the student poor performance in the examination and only good enough to sprint across the passing line; that`s it. For online school students, things also at times get murkier at their ends and they also end up getting low grades in their subjects. Because of these reasons, the high school graduation of both traditional and online school`s students get delayed.

For these students credit recovery programs are the best alternatives in the current scenario which are offered by online schools. These programs give a second chance to the learners who couldn’t do well enough in their first shot. Credit recovery courses which are highly promoted in the online schools today help the student graduate the high school exactly on time. However, there still remains question in the minds of people as to what extra benefits does this credit recovery course have? Here, in this article we would understand the various benefits:

Let`s have a look at some of the astounding benefits which these credit recovery courses offer

·         Just build up on the knowledge you acquire- in the credit recovery programs, all you have to just strengthen the subject in which you already have knowledge. There`s no need of re-grasping a new subject or new matter altogether again. This is the beauty of this program. Credit recovery courses have attained demand within the students in the recent past because they offer a customized learning atmosphere. A student gets to manage time and his study material appropriately before he appears for a re-exam.

·         Customized learning- in the credit recovery course, a student has the option to personally modify and readjust the course material in any way it suits him. As the subject matter is already acquainted to the student, so it would be easy to just strengthen the base. Moreover, each unit will start with a pre-test and once the student passes this one, he can easily shift on to the next unit. This would eventually allow the student to just learn and finish off the course sooner in order to graduate sooner.

·         Easy assistance- in the online credit recovery courses, the best thing is that students easily avail the help from the teachers. Through phone calls, emails, chats, personal messages, they cansolve issues easily. It paves a smooth path for the learners in getting the good grades in their subjects.

·         A lifeline for the traditional school students- most importantly, these online credit recovery programs which have been initiated by the online schools are rescuers for those students who couldn’t secure decent grades in their subjects and on top of that don’t have any other mechanism to improve their performances. As these recovery programs are gaining limelight, more students are coming forward and enrolling themselves in these schools.

Transferring the gained credits back to regular school

The traditional school goers need not worry over the transferring of credits as most of the schools today accept the credit scores of the online schools. However, the final decision to accept the credit scores is all and will be dependent upon the school authorities. Here, the school will make note of two things.

• The subject expert will analyse whether the course structure of the credit recovery program is similar to the school`s syllabus or not. This to ensure that the syllabus remains at par with the standardized levels which the schools set. In case, the course material is different, then the transfer of the credits might be rejected by the school.
• Secondly, the credit system transfer gets extremely simple when both the schools i.e. the traditional and the online school are using the same system and procedure. For instance, one credit on one single full year high course is a norm in the schools of Florida, USA. So, if both the schools are using the same system, then the transfer of the credit becomes much easier. In case, there are differences, the credit transfer might get little complicated.

It`s always better to study in length the credit transferring of schools before you decide to take on the credit recovery program. Students should personally get in talks with their subject teachers and school authorities of their traditional school so that they don’t have to face the hassles anymore.

Always choose a reliable accredited online school

Since there have now arose numerous online schools, students should refrain from joining every other school which promises them lucrative deals on credit recoveries. Majority of them are fake and unaccredited schools, and their credit scores aren’t accepted by the reputed and premium schools at any cost. These schools are unaccredited which means they aren’t authenticated and verified by any educational agency. Before joining a school always check the accreditation and it`s reviews. Don`t mess up your grades in a hurry because at the end you will lose money and time both.

One school which has been in the good books of students off late is Forest Trail Academy which is also based in Wellington, Florida, USA. It is a fully accredited online high school which imparts education through internet from basic elementary level to high school. It is one of the best online schools which has achieved massive recognition by students from all over the world. It`s course structure, faculty, teaching pattern are all up to the mark. It conducts number of optional programs like the credit recovery. So, you can approach the school`s faculty via their website. Get in touch with a spokesperson from the school and discuss your query in brief.