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63% of high school students in the U.S. use online learning tools daily, according to Statista. 47% of students agreed the quality of online instruction is the same as the quality of in-person learning, according to Statista.
Online high school classes is an educational approach allowing students to complete coursework remotely on digital platforms. Online high school classes enable students to have personal or extracurricular commitments requiring a flexible schedule. We’ll explain how high school online classes work and why students choose them.
Why Do Students Choose Online Learning?
65% of students all over the word prefer their education stay remote after a pandemic, according to McKinsey & Company. Let’s take a look at the reasons for this approach.
Flexibility
Online learning platforms give the ability to manage student’s time and regulate academics with other commitments. Students involved in sports, part-time jobs, or family matters find online classes more flexible to fit their schedules. Online learning provides consistency for students who are frequently on the move with their families.
Wide Course Selection
Online schools provide courses in more subjects than traditional schools, such as programming, analytics or Artificial Intelligence (AI). Online classes give opportunities for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, specialized electives, and career-oriented programs. It helps students to earn credits to college while learning in high school.
Safe Learning Environment
Anxiety, bullying, and social pressures are common problems in traditional school environments. Online education removes these challenges as students learn from the comfort of their homes in a secure atmosfere.
Adaptability for Special Needs
Online classes for students with special needs or learning disabilities are supported by special resources, such as assistive technologies. Students take all the time they need to understand challenging material without any pressure.
Advantages of Online High School Classes
Let’s look at the pros of online high school classes.
Self-Paced Learning
Online high school classes allow students to proceed comfortably. Students learn the material at their own pace. It makes students less overwhelmed or left behind. Self-directed learning reduces students’ anxiety and enhances understanding. Students review the areas with lack of understanding as many times as needed.
Access to Global Resources
Students at online high school classes access materials beyond set up in traditional schools. Online classes provide multimedia tools, such as videos, animations, and virtual labs, allowing the students to visualize abstract ideas.
Time Efficiency
Students attending online classes in high school save time to travel for school. This time is used for any other favorite hobby or extracurricular activities. The flexibility offered by online classes allows students to make a practical balance in life.
Cost Savings
Online high school classes are usually less expensive than traditional schooling with the same level of quality education. Digital textbooks and resources often replace the physical materials, uniforms and transportation are not needed, which reduces expenses.
Increased Teacher Support
Online high school classes offer more personalized support with one-on-one tutoring sessions, virtual office hours, and interactive feedback. Online platforms provide built-in tracking tools to locate further areas of improvement in a student’s progress. This evidence-based practice gives the teacher the capacity for differentiated adjustments in instruction to meet the needs of each student.
Disadvantages of Online High School Classes
Online high school has some drawbacks despite its benefits. Let’s review challenges students have and how they overcome it.
Lack of Social Interaction
Students lack some of the main sociable aspects of school like making friends, joining groups, or attending events. Students feel lonely or isolated. Social skills are harder for students to build inside the virtual classroom than real class.
Solution: Online high schools provide interactive group projects to help students. Students have the opportunity to attend any local community event, join a sports league, or participate in extracurricular activity. Sometimes online high schools run social events and offline meetings for their students.
Self-Motivation Required
Online learning demands a high level of self-discipline and motivation. Students are responsible for managing their time for learning. Some students struggle with procrastination or find it challenging to stay focused without direct supervision.
Solution: Students manage time more effectively and are able to set short-term goals with structured daily routines. Online high schools provide workshops on time management and tools to help students be organized in the completion of assignments and studies.
Technical Issues
Technical problems experienced by students who have low internet speeds or have outdated devices. It disrupts the continuity of learning for students. The technical issues create frustration among students.
Solution: Online high schools offer technical support services to help students resolve connectivity and hardware issues. Online schools provide offline resources, including downloadable materials, allowing students to study without the internet.
Fewer Extracurricular Opportunities
Online high schools lack extra-curricular activities. Students in online classes have fewer chances to participate in any sports or clubs or any other activities.
Solution: Online high schools offer students virtual clubs, such as debate teams, art clubs, or coding groups, to facilitate hobbies and interactions with peers. Online high schools sometimes coordinate with local community centers, sports leagues, and other organizations to allow students to have an extracurricular activity near their homes.
Perception of Online Diplomas
Some potential employers or colleges still prefer traditional diplomas from high school. Students in high school are responsible to verify all online classes and their certificates or diplomas. The best option is to choose an accredited online school for their classes.
Solution: Online high schools provide students guidance on how to communicate with colleges or give career consultations. Students need to choose online high schools with good reputations and recognized accreditation.
High School Curriculum
Let’s take a look at what is included in the curriculum for students who choose online learning.
Core Subjects
Online high schools’ core subjects are mathematics, science, English, and social studies, the same as in regular school. Online classes ensure the meeting of state and national standards of education.
Electives and Advanced Placement (AP)
Online high school offers a large array of electives for students. Elective courses range from foreign languages, computer science, to arts and vocational training programs.
Online high schools include AP courses. These online classes give an opportunity for students to start earning college credits while still attending high school. These courses prepare students for higher education.
Students have career-oriented course selections in business, healthcare, and information technology to provide job-related skills.
Flexible Material And Schedule
Online high schools provide flexibility in curriculum. Students have the opportunity to modify classes to fit their academic ambitions and personal interests.
Online high schools allow students to design specific schedules and include classes, which build a strong educational base.
How Do Online High School Classes Work?
Let’s break down how a typical high school online class works.
Structure of Online High School Classes
Online high school classes have the same concept as traditional classes. Online classes run through virtual classrooms in digital platforms called Learning Management Systems (LMS). Students log onto this platform to access class materials, submit assignments, and participate in discussions. Education materials delivered with video lectures, interactive modules, and multimedia presentations.
Communications in Online High School Classes
All the classes have live synchronous sessions where questions are asked. Assignments are submitted by students electronically, where teachers provide feedback and monitor progress. Most online high classes incorporate interactivity with quizzes, polls, and discussion boards or virtual labs.
Online classes provide students with collaboration in group projects and discussion. Communication with instructors is regular and systematic for every student. Instructors track the student’s performance very closely to provide support at the right time.
Schedules in Online High School Classes
Online high schools allow students to access the recorded lessons. Online high school classes are flexible. Students work on their coursework at times best suit their individual schedules with some planned live classes.
Online high schools run on traditional academic calendars but they offer options for every student. These options allow students to optimize and personalize their learning calendars.
Why Do Students Choose Legacy Online School for High School?
Legacy Online School is fully accredited in providing a STEM curriculum. This curriculum puts students for success in their future careers. Students develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and experiential learning.
The STEM program at Legacy Online School include:
- Focus on science courses. These courses include biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science.
- Focus on developing technology skills. These skills include coding, digital literacy, and cybersecurity.
- Focuses on engineering courses. These courses include design thinking, robotics, and applied sciences.
- Focuses on math disciplines. These disciplines help students develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Legacy Online School uses virtual labs, simulations, and collaborative projects to give students good experience in STEM disciplines. Students understand theoretical concepts easily and apply them in real-life situations.
Legacy Online School has certified, skilled teachers from diverse cultural backgrounds. Key goal of our school is to ensure the success of every student. Our teachers put their heart and soul into their work. Our teachers support students during lessons and beyond. Their goal is not just to teach the material but to help students fall in love with the learning process.
Legacy Online School’s teachers provide personalized attention and support to each student. A special approach awaits students with special needs, as we have experts with extensive experience in working with special needs children. These experts know which methods to use to help these students reach their full potential.
Every student at Legacy Online School finds something meeting their interests and needs. Contact our team to learn what we can offer your child.
