by Bruce Friend
Millions of students across the globe participate in innovative learning opportunities through online courses, online test preparation, or online tutoring. Although students choose online learning for various reasons, certain benefits accrue to all who take advantage of this relatively new educational option.
The following may be of special interest to home school students.
Expanding Course Access
Online learning opens doors for students, enabling them to take courses they may not be able to obtain through their home school program or at a local school.
• Parents have often told me that online courses enabled their children to take courses that the parent did not feel qualified to teach. More than one parent has commented that having access to higher-level courses, especially in math and science, provided their child with access to rigorous content that simply would not have been available otherwise.
• Advanced Placement courses are another important online offering. Completion of these courses, along with a qualifying score on the national AP® exams, allows students to earn college credit while in high school.
• Online learning also expands the range electives. Children interested in marine biology, for example, need no longer be penalized for living in an area that fails to provide courses in this subject. Through online learning, your student can access courses on subjects of interest regardless of where you or the teacher reside.
Developing Job-readiness Skills
Online courses can teach skills that extend beyond mere content knowledge. These skills go by different labels: job readiness, “soft” skills, and 21st-century skills. Labels aside, today’s job market demands technological knowledge and skills. Students must be able to solve problems, think critically, manage time, motivate themselves, work independently, interact with peers in distant locations, and communicate clearly.
The online learning environment is an ideal laboratory for cultivating all of these skills.
Transferring Credit
Choosing an accredited online program helps ensure that other institutions will accept the credits your students earn. Taking courses through an accredited online organization can also help home school families acquire additional courses and satisfy other academic growth measures that a state or district may impose as part of its home education accountability measures.
Bruce Friend is a pioneer in K12 online learning. As a founding member, teacher, and chief administrator of two state-wide virtual school programs, Bruce has considerable experience in providing online learning opportunities to home school students. In 2003, Bruce was honored with the Most Outstanding Achievement by an Individual Award by the U.S. Distance Learning Association. In recent years he has consulted with online program developers and families throughout the United States. He is currently the Director of SAS® Curriculum Pathways® (www.sascurriculumpathways.com).
bruce.friend@sas.com
Millions of students across the globe participate in innovative learning opportunities through online courses, online test preparation, or online tutoring. Although students choose online learning for various reasons, certain benefits accrue to all who take advantage of this relatively new educational option.
The following may be of special interest to home school students.
Expanding Course Access
Online learning opens doors for students, enabling them to take courses they may not be able to obtain through their home school program or at a local school.
• Parents have often told me that online courses enabled their children to take courses that the parent did not feel qualified to teach. More than one parent has commented that having access to higher-level courses, especially in math and science, provided their child with access to rigorous content that simply would not have been available otherwise.
• Advanced Placement courses are another important online offering. Completion of these courses, along with a qualifying score on the national AP® exams, allows students to earn college credit while in high school.
• Online learning also expands the range electives. Children interested in marine biology, for example, need no longer be penalized for living in an area that fails to provide courses in this subject. Through online learning, your student can access courses on subjects of interest regardless of where you or the teacher reside.
Developing Job-readiness Skills
Online courses can teach skills that extend beyond mere content knowledge. These skills go by different labels: job readiness, “soft” skills, and 21st-century skills. Labels aside, today’s job market demands technological knowledge and skills. Students must be able to solve problems, think critically, manage time, motivate themselves, work independently, interact with peers in distant locations, and communicate clearly.
The online learning environment is an ideal laboratory for cultivating all of these skills.
Transferring Credit
Choosing an accredited online program helps ensure that other institutions will accept the credits your students earn. Taking courses through an accredited online organization can also help home school families acquire additional courses and satisfy other academic growth measures that a state or district may impose as part of its home education accountability measures.
Bruce Friend is a pioneer in K12 online learning. As a founding member, teacher, and chief administrator of two state-wide virtual school programs, Bruce has considerable experience in providing online learning opportunities to home school students. In 2003, Bruce was honored with the Most Outstanding Achievement by an Individual Award by the U.S. Distance Learning Association. In recent years he has consulted with online program developers and families throughout the United States. He is currently the Director of SAS® Curriculum Pathways® (www.sascurriculumpathways.com).
bruce.friend@sas.com
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