With the ease of connectivity for many, the world has changed. Shopping, working, doctor visits, and more all have a multitude of options for us. These modifications have expanded into the realm of education. No longer do students all have to board buses and bounce along the road on their way to school. Students can now pop open a device from almost anywhere and join their classmates.
Read more to gather additional information about K12 online education.
What Is K12?
Educational systems in the United States are structured as a K-12 progression. Kindergarten in most states starts for children around the age of five. Twelfth grade is the last or senior year of high school. Each state can legislate at what age a person can stop taking high school classes; in some states, at the age of sixteen, one can choose to stop their education.
Often towns separate their traditional brick-and-mortar educational facilities as elementary, middle school, and high school. Online schools do not need to create the same distinctions since they are not bound by building constraints. However, many online educational facilities will tailor screen time with an awareness of children’s fine motor skills development.
Continue to read more for details about online education.
What Does Online Mean?
When we hear the term online schooling, there are many differing images that emerge. Online, virtual learning, distance learning, and/or cyber schools are terms used interchangeably. Each of the terms denotes situations in which students are accessing their classes via the internet and a device.
The formation of classes can vary depending on the school, age group, content area, and style of the teacher. Classes can be live, which means all students and instructor(s) are logged on at the same time or synchronistic learning. Other classes are pre-recorded. Students can access the lessons by their own schedule or asynchronistic classes.
Read more about teachers and instructors in online schools.
Are there any Teachers?
Yes, there are trained teachers and instructors that teach in K12 online classrooms. If it is a synchronistic classroom, the teacher will log into the class with the students. They will share the lesson, just as in a brick-and-mortar classroom. Often students will then work in groups or independently to practice what they were just taught, or there will be a full-class discussion on the topic. Again, a similar format to a traditional classroom.
If the lesson is asynchronistic and pre-recorded, usually there will be times available to meet with the teacher as a group or independently.
Continue to read more for thoughts about the role of parents and guardians in online learning.
Do Parents/Guardians Need to Be Involved?
Parents and guardians supporting their child or children is important. What it looks like for K12 online schooling will vary with the age and needs of the students. Online education is much more robust than placing a learner in front of a screen and walking away. The younger the learner, the more support the child will need to access their schooling.
Some online schools will detail how parents can most effectively support their child/children while they are online students.
