Online learning across all levels of education has become routine over the last couple of years; however, it is not just for Covid times. Even in normal times, online learning for high school students has its place. Before deciding whether it is the right way to access education for your tween and teen, it pays to look at the pros and cons. Doing so will give you an informed basis for deciding to send a child to school or have them learn from home online.

Pros

Distance

The countryside is a vast place, and sometimes families live far from the nearest schools. Boarding can be an option, but it does mean children are away from their families for long periods, and it's expensive. Online learning allows these families to stay together while providing academically for their teens. Sometimes it’s not about being close to a school geographically, but close to one that provides academically for a child. Online learning is a valid option rather than taking two buses and a train to reach a better school.

Health Issues

Unfortunately, sometimes children succumb to an illness that takes them out of school for extended periods. Sporadically attending school means they are dipping in and out of classes that move on without them. Access to online learning allows them to keep up with their education as and when they can while keeping continuity of learning. While the social aspect is beneficial, it is disheartening not being able to see a topic through.

Health issues aren’t always about illness either. Children who are not NT often struggle with mainstream schooling as they reach high school. Usually either while they wait for diagnosis (which allows access to appropriate supports) or fight for a place in a specialist provision. During this process, online schooling in Utah will enable students to step back from the physical high school environment and find the headspace to re-engage with education.

Pandemic

The world is tired of the Covid-19 pandemic, but it’s still here and can still cause havoc by closing schools and workplaces. The teenage years are difficult at the best of times; during times of unrest, easing anxiety sets them up to thrive as they enter adulthood. Moving a high school student to a dedicated online school will allow them to see out these problematic few years without disrupting their education. It takes away the element of panic that they will have exams disrupted and college applications compromised. 

Tailored learning

Some people find learning at a prescribed pace challenging for various reasons. For a teenager struggling with subjects taught in the traditional classroom, online learning allows their learning to be tailored to their needs. Online education can also be blended with classroom learning, where a student is only behind or ahead in some curriculum areas. Whatever the mix, such a tailored approach will only benefit a child, boosting morale and self-esteem.

Cons

No In-Person Support

While there is plenty of one-on-one support offered via online learning schools, nothing beats in-person interaction. It can be harder to express yourself via video, especially for children and teens who haven’t fully learned to communicate yet. Teachers who are used to picking up the subtle body language cues of a child trying to express themselves won't see this on a screen.

Miss Out On The Social Aspects Of School

For most teenagers, school is their primary place of social interaction and learning to function in society. Undertaking full-time education online from a younger age means that children miss out on this social interaction. There are social cues that can't be learned via online interactions and thus may leave teens less prepared when they move beyond high school if they aren’t socializing elsewhere. 

Requires A Higher Level Of Motivation

As with adults working from home, studying from home requires a higher level of motivation to complete work. The flexible nature of online learning does help in that regard, but that flexibility only extends so far. Especially as online learning with a school is different from homeschooling, where a parent is the teacher. Instead the learning is teacher assigned, and the student works at their own pace. Therefore, parents need to oversee their child and understand where their studies are at, and the student needs to learn early on how to manage their time.

Distractions, Distractions

Working and studying from home means there are plenty of distractions right there. It's easy to start an assigned task, only to leave it half-finished because something more fun has caught your eye. As most teenagers won't have a dedicated study from which to work, this scenario will be more likely. Especially as the rooms they are likely to be in are bedrooms and family rooms that are very stimulating environments.

Access To Appropriate Technology

Without access to the appropriate technology, a high school student will struggle with full-time online school. It requires more than a cheap smartphone with spotty internet access, which can be an issue for lower socio-economic and rural students. At the high school level, you can expect children to watch videos, take part in video conference calls, and submit assignments digitally. Working in this way only works with a reasonable standard of a computer device and internet connection, which can be hard to achieve for some.

Fewer Subject Options

While online learning supports a vast selection of subject teaching, it cannot support practical hands-on learning. For example, chemistry requires a lot of lab time using various chemicals, some of which are restricted. And many elements of Art requires supplies not available at home. As such, choosing to undertake high school via online learning will reduce the subjects on offer. 

There are various reasons to choose an online high school education for a teen, and there are many reasons it may not be the right fit. Careful consideration of all the pros and cons will help you make the right choice for your teen student.