School looks different for everyone. Some children are highly active and prefer to get involved in a wide variety of extracurriculars. Others prefer to keep to themselves and spend time on personal interests. When this individuality isn’t embraced by a conventional educational system, it can take a turn for the worse. A virtual high school is much like an online college, providing students of all ages a digital means of getting their degree and securing their future. Due to the relatively new availability of this resource, many parents are still unsure of what a virtual high school can offer their children.
Blended learning schools are starting to pick up speed. Education is a complex subject, just as complex as the students themselves, and one more educators and parents alike are starting to understand better. Personal interests, learning disabilities and mental illness are but a few of the details mixed into an individual’s growth throughout elementary and beyond. When dyslexia makes it difficult for a student to read or anxiety makes it near-impossible to do public speeches, a virtual high school can meet them halfway.
Multiple studies have shown the incredible progress of online high school classes in the mainstream. The Evergreen Education Group, for starters, has estimated as many as 5% of all students K-12 have taken either an online or blended course. The latest Global Shapers Survey has also seen over 75% of respondents around the world reporting having taken at least one online course. These figures are only expected to grow as digital means fast replace traditional methods and make the world ever more convenient and accessible for all.
What are the benefits of a virtual high school? According to Blackboard K-12’s “2013 Trends In Online Learning” survey, nearly 60% of teachers noticed that students were much more motivated to learn in a virtual high school than a traditional classroom environment. Another survey by Learning In The 21st Century saw 75% of respondents believing blended learning to be highly beneficial to modern students. A virtual high school boasts a more personalized experience and flexible schedule, perfect for students who have a hard time fitting into the rigid mold of traditional education.
Let’s continue to explore the benefit of an online high school diploma. The same Global Shapers Survey saw 40% of respondents saying online education is just as strong as a traditional learning environment, with similar grades and growth compared across both platforms. Since public (and even some private) schools have an average of one teacher to 25 students, instructors can find their time and attention strictly divided. This limited approach can cause some students’ personal growth to suffer, putting them at higher risk for lower grades, reduced self-esteem and even dropping out.
The future is approaching rapidly. An accredited online high school will likely become the norm. By the time 2019 arrives Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen believes over half of all classes for all grades will be online. The academic year between 2013 and 2014 saw 33 states having full-time virtual schools available, as well as 16 states that had a blended learning model in place. Your average jumpstart program and high school these days already relies heavily on technology to keep students learning at a steady pace. If you’ve considered the idea of alternate education, consider signing up your child for a virtual high school.
The difference is just a mouse click away.
