K-12 Online School:- Think about your childhood and the fond memories you might have. Early childhood, which usually is the period up to 8 years of age, has been considered critical by UNICEF. It is the time for the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of every child. It is also the same time when most of them begin their formal school education.
School Education- The Basic Building Block of Learning
School education is the most fundamental segment of a child’s learning that shapes the future. As parents, while we all want our children to receive the best possible school education, we often end up messing it up for a variety of reasons. For instance, the wrong choice of school, mode of learning, curriculum, and programs all play a vital role in determining how well or not the child has been educated and what prospects are for them. Therefore, it is important to choose the best school and curriculum for your child according to the needs of the changing times.
Changing Educational Dynamics in The 21st Century
School education has undergone a significant transformation in this digital age. Traditional physical schools are not the only option available for schooling today. The advent of digital educational tools and the spread of broadband has created full-fledged online K-12 schools. They offer live online classes from a faraway location to students sitting comfortably at their homes. Online K-12 schools not only offer flexibility, customization, and accessibility in learning but also save a lot of costs associated with brick-and-mortar systems of schooling. These qualities have made K-12 online schooling a go-to choice for new-age parents.
What Are K-12 Online Schools?
Simply put, K-12 online schools are just like any regular schools where children learn and complete their K-12 grades to get their high school diplomas. However, the major difference from regular physical schools is in the mode of learning that they offer to students. K-12 online schools conduct live online classes with a teacher who teaches students from a remote location, using live streaming platforms that can be accessed by the students from their homes. Therefore, it is also termed sometimes as the K-12 homeschool.
Reasons Behind The Enormous Rise of K-12 Online Schools
While the concept of online schooling is not that new, however, its rapid rise of K-12 online schools globally has been fueled by the following major factors:
1. Technological Progress
We are living in the age of technology, and education is one of the most technologically dominated sectors today. The mixing of education and technology has given rise to the concept of “ed-tech”. Online schools have leveraged the revolution of broadband and smart devices, which has made learning accessible and flexible to learners across the globe.
2. Influence of The Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to shift towards online mode, resulting in innovations that generated novel platforms, tools, and technologies to spread education. It also highlighted the practicality of online learning as per the needs of the times.
3. Demand For Personalized Learning
While the world we live in is shrinking every day due to increased connectivity, it is also undergoing significant change in terms of the individual looking for freedom in ways to learn. Today, students want freedom and flexibility in learning. They want not just to pursue their career aspirations but also explore and master their hobbies and passions simultaneously. These endeavors are often not supported by physical schools. Thereby leading to an increase in the demand for customized learning and support.
Why is Customization Necessary For a Child?
Every child is unique, and so are their learning needs. This essentially means we must consider providing them with enough room to bloom at their own pace and in their individualized space. For instance, two siblings from the same household may have different learning speeds and aptitudes or interests in a particular subject. This might create a divide between them if they are compared at the end of their grade scores. It may also lead to one of them becoming underconfident and less interested in learning with time and, in the worst case, anxiety and depression. This also might ruin their childhood and later their careers.
How K-12 Online Schools Can Help?
1. Customized Learning Plans:
K-12 online schools offer learning plans as to the strengths and interests of the child. They also customize the curriculum, programs, and assessment methods to suit the learner’s end goals.
2. Flexible Schedules:
The most significant advantage of an online school is the choice of flexibility in scheduling classes, assignments, and submission deadlines. These reduce stress and prevent burnout in students who may also have commitments towards families or have interests in sports.
3. Affordable and Diverse Courses:
K-12 online schools offer cost-effective online courses that can be easily purchased and enrolled into to begin learning right away. For instance, the fee structure of International Schooling, a KG-12 American curriculum online school, is unbeatable in terms of live classes and student support.
How Do K-12 Online Schools Help in Career Planning?
Let’s understand how a good K-12 online school, such as International Schooling, helps in your child’s career planning.
1. Diversity and Exposure:
School is the place where children interact with others, make friends, and make lifelong connections. However, this aspect is magnified several times when your child is enrolled in a K-12 online school where student diversity is huge, and thus exposure to different cultures and ideas happens seamlessly. Remote learning makes it easy for students from across the globe to be a part of a reputed organization known for its diversity and culture.
2. Scope For Mastering Hobbies:
K-12 online schools with flexible timings and customizable learning programs offer enough room for students to pursue and master their passions. They can excel in sports, music, social work, or any other hobbies of their choice. Besides, online schools often provide access to online forums, support groups, and live demo sessions on various extracurricular activities. It also enables them to make a career out of them in case they want to.
3. Skill Development:
Since online schools are largely tech-driven and therefore digital skilling is kind of inherently associated with them. Students learn technological skills through practical experience, online collaboration in projects, and much more. These skills are very much required in the modern workforce to excel in the job market, thus making them future-ready.
4. Time Management:
Learning online means students understand the importance of managing their time in terms of allocating it for study schedules and other tasks. It disciplines them for the rest of their life, and they respect time management for any deadline.
5. Independent Learning:
K-12 online schools foster independent learning among students, for they offer every learning material digitally, which can be accessed anytime without anyone’s help. It creates confidence in students, making them future leaders.
6. Career Counseling:
The right kind of career counseling is required early in a student’s life to mold them for the future. Therefore, selecting a K-12 online school, such as International Schooling, which has an expert team of career counselors to guide and support students in terms of career planning, can be icing on the cake.
Conclusion
K-12 online schools offer a strong alternative to physical schools in terms of learning flexibility and course selection according to a student’s interests and career goals. It also allows them to have enough time to explore their hobbies and passions to excel in them. In addition, regular intervention and guidance from expert educators, career counselors, and school administration are vital to having an enjoyable K-12 online schooling journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is it worth going to school online?
Ans: Online schools are as good and, at times, better than physical schools in many aspects. Therefore, it should not be a question of attending an online school or not; rather, choosing the best among the available options should be the target.
Q2. How do you switch to online schooling?
Ans: Switching from a physical school to an online school is quite easy, provided that you fulfil the requirements of a particular online school. For instance, a valid previous grade transcript, scorecard, transfer certificate, identity proof, etc are generally asked for by online schools while enrolling.
Q3. Can I do online schooling instead of going to a physical school?
Ans: Yes, you can always study in an online school with or without enrolling in a physical school. It is, however, advised to check with the government bodies in your region for the acceptance of the online diplomas.
Q4. Is online school valid?
Ans: It depends on the region and local laws applicable in that jurisdiction. Before enrolling in any online school, it is advisable to check with local authorities for the validity and legality of the schooling and degree awarded by the online schools.
Q5. Is virtual school good for kids with anxiety?
Ans: It can be the best choice for children with special needs and especially those suffering from social anxiety, introverts, etc. Virtual schools are also a boon for those parents who fear for their child’s safety in physical schools.
Q6. Is online school right for my child?
Ans: Online Schools can be the perfect choice for your child in this digital era. It allows for freedom and flexibility in learning that helps in learning at their own pace. It also supports them with enough time to master hobbies and passion.
Mira Lew
Jul 16, 2024
