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Online homeschooling is an educational approach allowing students to learn while staying at home. Homeschooling rates increased from 5.4% to 11.1% between 2019 and 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Online homeschool classes are classes created for online homeschooling programs. Students at online homeschool classes receive education in the form of video lectures, virtual laboratory studies, and flexible online modules.
Advantages of Online Homeschooling
Online homeschooling provides key advantages to students and their parents. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits.
Addressing Individual Learning Styles
Online homeschooling is an effective way for students to learn in different styles. Teaching is adapted for the needs of each student. Visual learners use visual resources, such as videos, diagrams, and interactive simulations. Auditory learners use recorded lectures, podcasts, and spoken directions. Kinesthetic learners work with the interactive modules and virtual labs to have hands-on activities in a virtual world.
Resources are designed for students to understand material in the most comfortable way. Information is structured, and online learning at home is personalized in pace and difficulty.
Flexible Scheduling
Students have the opportunity to complete their studies at any time. Students with unique schedules or family commitments have highly flexible options to receive quality education. Online homeschooling provides the opportunity for students to take more time to subjects they struggle without the pressure of keeping up with a classroom. Students are allowed to review the materials anytime they need. Flexibility helps those students who are involved in activities like sports or arts to keep their schedule balanced. Study “Could flexibility improve engagement and performance for students and teachers?” proves flexible schedules improve performance for students, allowing them to have better results.
Enhanced Parental Involvement
Online homeschooling strengthens parents and children relationships. Parents invest in guiding and monitoring at home the academic progress of their child. Parents are involved with the lessons to ensure the understanding of their child from the concepts being delivered. The lessons, assessments, and instructor feedback are directly accessible to the parents. Parents have the opportunity to identify and solve the academic difficulties of their child. Parents act as facilitators and keep their child organized and accomplish the learning objectives. Parents and children have more communication and time together during the homeschooling process.
Disadvantages of Online Homeschooling
Online homeschooling comes with several disadvantages families need to consider.
Limited Social Interaction
Traditional school settings allow students to develop social skills in daily interactions. Interactions at homeschooling are provided in a digital environment, reducing their frequency. Limited socialization opportunities impact a student’s ability to build friendships and engage in group activities. Social interaction is essential for student’s healthy emotional and cognitive development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Online homeschooling students miss the opportunity to participate in group sports, clubs, or other extracurricular activities at school.
Heavy Reliance on Technology
Online homeschooling is dependent on technology use. Students must have devices and a good internet connection. Technical glitches disrupt the homeschooling learning process by frustrating any efforts and wasting time. Older devices experience issues with videos and interactive programs, affecting student’s performance. Financial problems for some families make it difficult to invest in or update technology. Online learning increases screen time, creating concerns over eye strain and physical health. Students risk tech fatigue with multiple platforms and tools used each day. Some schools request software installation, which further increases the cost and technical requirement of the families.
Self-Discipline and Motivation Challenges
Students need to have self-discipline and motivation in online homeschooling. Online learning often doesn’t give direct supervision. Students need to be organized or focused on what they are doing. This independence sometimes is very challenging, especially for young students who may have problems in managing time. Lack of frequent face-to-face teacher interaction requires students to find help by researching on their own. Parents need to monitor progress closely, which is a demanding process. Students without motivation often face problems in completing their assignments regularly. Online homeschooling requires students to stay on schedule and efficiently do the tasks.
Technical Requirements for Online Classes
Certain technical requirements are essential to provide smooth and quality experience with online classes.
Internet Connection
Stable internet connection is very important for every online class. Slow or unstable connections cause breaks during live classes, negatively impacting learning processes. Students need high-speed internet access for video lessons, submitting assignments, and participating in group discussions. Online students are better to have at least 25 Mbps download speed, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Most service providers have specific packages for students or households with specific needs for education.
Suitable Device
Appropriate devices are important in online homeschooling. Laptops or desktop computers are recommended by most online classes. Tabletops are usually acceptable, but some software require the use of a full computer. Many virtual schools publish minimum specifications for devices with the amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) or storage. Older devices often have problems with video streaming or virtual labs. Devices need upgrading from time to time.
Necessary Software and Learning Platforms
Online homeschooling requires specific software and access to learning platforms. Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas, Google Classroom, or Blackboard provide a structured way for students to access lessons and assignments. These platforms allow teachers to communicate with students and provide real-time feedback on assignments.
Platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams are usually used for live classes, allowing students to have real-time discussions. Security software is important to protect students’ personal data. Some online homeschooling programs offer specialized software for subjects like math or science, which include interactive simulations or lab work.
Access to Online Resources
Online homeschooling offers some enrichment online resources. These resources include e-books, videos, academic journals, and interactive modules. Some online schools partner with educational databases to offer their students access to research materials at no cost. Other resources, like Khan Academy, Coursera, and TED-Ed, offer supplementary content to students. Many of these resources are updated on a regular basis to keep learning materials current and relevant. Online resources allow independent learning by the students.
Exploring Parental Support in E-Homeschooling
Parental support plays a critical role in online homeschooling. Let’s investigate some of the key features of parental support.
Collaborating with Online Tutors
Parents need to work with tutors to ensure students receive personalized support and focused attention on the subject. Parents usually collaborate with tutors to help students stay on track and progress. The additional support helps students understand their complicated topics and removes frustration.Tutors provide constructive feedback for parents and students to improve their results. Most parents work with the tutors to create a personalized learning plan. Tutors provide insight into strengths and weaknesses of a student, giving parents an idea of where to focus their attention.
Creating a Supportive Learning Environment
Quiet, organized environment helps a student to focus without distractions. Parents need to equip the learning space with resources such as notebooks, a computer, and other school requirements. Parents are capable of creating learning routines and maintaining schedules. Creating a dedicated study space gives a difference between learning and relaxation for students. Study room requires good lighting and ergonomic furniture. Parents need to modify the learning space whenever the needs of their child change.
Participating in Homeschool Communities
Homeschooling communities provide resources, shared experiences, and interactions with other homeschoolers. Online communities and local groups allow students the chance to interact with peers, extending their circle of friends. Homeschool co-ops organize activities, group classes, and field trips to enhance student learning. Community provides homeschool families with support and help to improve their experience.
How to Choose the Best Curriculum for Homeschooling?
“We empower, inspire, and equip students to navigate the future with confidence and compassion”
The best homeschooling curriculum depends on the student’s education goals and needs. Parents need to know their child’s learning style and areas of interest. Accreditation is very important to have recognized by colleges and employers curriculum to understand student’s future academic and career paths.
Some homeschooling programs offer comprehensive packages, including core subjects and additional topics, such as foreign languages or coding.
Legacy Online School offers an accredited curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school. This curriculum includes live teaching in small groups for personalized attention. Legacy Online School’s curriculum covers core subjects. These subjects include Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Students choose electives like Spanish and Art. Students follow a structured schedule or work more independently. This flexibility allows students to choose what works best for their needs and family circumstances.
Legacy Online School’s curriculum won “The Best Homeschool Curriculum, Products & Resources!” award. This win shows the school’s strong focus on quality, innovation, and helping students succeed.
Enroll with us and enrich your child homeschooling in five easy steps!
