So, how many online classes have you used with your kids? In our last post, we discussed curriculum shopping, [link to last post].

But at some point, you should consider some online classes for your kids, for these three reasons:

1. You can seek and find fantastic instructors outside your local community.

2. Kids with very busy schedules can work on their online courses from home, on their own time, at their convenience.

3. You, the parent, are spinning too many plates in the air already, what with all the course work you’re organizing for each kid in your family.

You could do with an online class that takes some of that pressure off you.

Right? Right!

Sure, there’s a drawback to online classes. You miss the spontaneity of live human-to-human interaction. I certainly miss it as a teacher! I don’t advocate doing all of your child’s schooling online, but it’s interesting to experience a variety of course types.

If a one-on-one tutor is too expensive, then an online class is a good way to go. There are a lot of high-quality online classes with great teachers out there.

Your homeschooling community surely has a lot of recommendations for you. But you need to pick online classes that are going to work for your kids. It’s up to you to sort out whats’ right for them.

So let’s get started!

Here’s a primer for online course shopping, based on my experience as both a parent, a teacher, and the creator of Writing Rockstars.

1. Kids need to interact with a human being in an online class.

Online classes need to set up a positive learning environment. The must be led by professional instructors and teach your kids useful skills and knowledge they’ll apply elsewhere. That’s a given.

There has to be a human on the other end of it. Kids need to work with a human teacher, not an automated program. They need someone to guide them and to hold them accountable. It needs to be the same teacher through the entire course. This applies to online classes for any age.

2. Every online program has a different content delivery system. Don’t let that spook you.

A content delivery system is the way an online program presents the curriculum to your kids. It could include written text, audio recordings, pre-recorded videos, live video chats, live group video chats, or some or all the above.

As long as there is a clearly marked path for kids to follow when they log into their online class, they should be fine.

And now for a little vocabulary you may encounter on your search....

3. Synchronous [ sing-kruh-nuhs ], adjective..

Synchronous means that the teacher and students meet in real time online only.

This works well if your kids prefer to meet live with their teacher. If your kids aren’t doing this all day long with many online classes, that’s great. But sitting in a program where they have to be present for Zoom or Google Hangout meetings all day long is exhausting.

4. Asynchronous [ ey-sing-kruh-nuhs ], adjective.

Asynchronous means that the teacher and student doesn’t meet in real time online.

Writing Rockstars programs, for example, are asynchronous. The content delivery system includes videos and audios, but it doesn’t have live meetings.

Kids work on lessons that are already uploaded to the content delivery system. They send in their work to their student drop-box. I review their work daily, send feedback, and discuss their questions with them through a messaging system. This gives kids more flexibility in their daily routine.

This type of online course works particularly well for kids who already have a busy, structured schedule and need some flexibility to work on their course on their own time.

5. Flipped classroom, noun.

A flipped classroom is where kids study some content or work on an assignment, then have a live online meeting with their teacher to discuss it.

In the flipped classroom, kids do a reading or complete some sort of work before the live meeting. During the meeting, teacher and students discuss the reading and answer questions.

The drawback is that kids are expected to be well prepared and have done their work when it’s time for the live meeting. Face time with the teacher is limited, so it’s important that students use it wisely.

The flipped classroom style is considered a very efficient use of time for both students and teachers.

6. Blended learning, noun.

Blended learning uses online programs in the traditional classroom with a human teacher.

In a traditional classroom, students might use a program like Khan Academy, a popular online program. Khan Academy is automated. That means no human teachers are online. The classroom teacher still manages the course, answers questions and works with kids, more as a support or aide to administer the program. That’s an example of blended learning.

Got a question about online classes? Is there something I’ve missed? Tell me all about it! Email me at [email protected].

Thanks,

Lily