Online vs. Traditional School: Which Is the Better Choice for Your Student?
byTrey Edgington
4 min to read
When it comes to K-12 education, gone are the days of the one-size-fits-all model. Today, more and more families are adopting non-traditional methods of education to help their children succeed. And with the rise of virtual options, parents and students are asking the question: Is online school better than in-person school?
It’s not a simple answer. When debating online vs. traditional education, there are several factors to consider and explore.
An online K-12 school may be the best choice for your family if you are looking for:
Increased accommodation of your child’s learning needs and preferences
More parental involvement
Personalized programming
Scheduling flexibility
Access to an accredited public-school education from nearly anywhere
Online School vs. Traditional School: Which Is Best?
All things considered, there isn’t one right answer when it comes to online vs. brick-and-mortar school, because the right option for your family will depend on the circumstances of each student, such as learning preferences, location, personality traits, the need for accommodations, and more. So, consider your options carefully before making a decision.
How online schools can excel over traditional in-person schools
Parental Involvement
At a traditional brick-and-mortar school, parental involvement is often limited to things like reviewing homework, attending parent-teacher conferences, or chaperoning field trips. Many parents are out of the loop on their child’s academic performance until the end-of-term report card arrives home, leaving parents and students little chance to course-correct.
When asked why online school is better for their families, many parents talk about having more opportunities to be involved in their children’s education. As Learning Coaches, parents (or other trusted adults) may choose to support a student’s learning by structuring the online school routine or reviewing lessons and grades as often as they wish. They can consult with online teachers in regular meetings and, when needed, play an active role by helping monitor attendance, progress, and comprehension. Although every family does online learning a bit differently, educators agree that it’s a good idea to assist with organization and time management, encourage students, and praise them for their hard work.
Scheduling Flexibility
While parents have little to no control over a traditional school’s schedule or learning environment, online school parents can set the daily routine and have the flexibility to cultivate an effective learning atmosphere for their children.
Is online school better for students who need more flexibility? Some parents think so. Online school students still attend fixed-schedule events, such as real-time lessons in the virtual classroom, but they have a much higher degree of flexibility concerning where and when they complete their studies. This allows them to enjoy family time, medical appointments, hobbies, travel, sports, and other activities without missing school or falling behind in their studies.
Personalized Learning
Often, brick-and-mortar schools can’t offer as many opportunities for personalization as online schools can. It’s not that the educators aren’t dedicated or willing to assist students individually, but the logistics of managing a classroom full of students makes it difficult—or nearly impossible—to do so. As a result, traditional education tends to take a “one-size-fits-all” approach, with fewer opportunities for individualized instruction. These schools may offer accelerated and honors classes for eligible students, but course selection may be limited.
Some parents wonder why online school is better than traditional school for their family when it comes to personalized learning. Educators who teach online can provide extra support to bolster specific skills and can adapt instruction to each student’s specific abilities, interests, and learning styles. When needed, they can provide one-on-one support by phone, email, or in the virtual classroom. Learning from home, students can move more quickly through lessons they grasp easily or go slower in courses they find more challenging.
In addition, with a high-quality online school, students of all ages can participate in online clubs and activities. They can also choose from a wide variety of electives to enhance their academic program and pursue their interests. Parents can further personalize a child’s education by incorporating real-world, hands-on activities such as community service, scouting, 4-H, and fine or performing arts into their day.
Safe Learning Environment
Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar schools, online school offers parents the ability to control their child’s learning environment. Parents can ensure their student is learning in a safe, secure atmosphere that is free from the bullying, distractions, and peer pressure that are sometimes found in a traditional classroom setting.
In addition to all of these benefits, many satisfied online school families tell us that educating their children at home is extremely rewarding. Parents enjoy witnessing that “aha!” moment when students understand a new concept or solve a problem. They also tell us that learning together helps them grow closer as a family.
Is Online Learning Effective?
Now that we’ve looked at the benefits of online school—such as flexible scheduling and tailor-made curriculum—it’s time to answer the bigger question: Is online learning effective?
Yes! Attending online school can be very effective for a variety of students, including:
Students who need a greater degree of flexibility, like competitive athletes and caretakers. These students may fall behind academically if they have to choose between their familial responsibilities and goals and keeping a rigid school schedule.
High-achieving students often want to move beyond the standard curriculum they find at traditional schools. Online courses give them the opportunity to accelerate their learning and dive deeper into subjects that interest them.
Students in remote areas may not have access to the high-quality brick-and-mortar schools they need, but the ability to go to online school allows them to break the geographical bonds and get the education they deserve.
Online school can be very effective for students with specialized learning needs. For example, online students can take advantage of assistive technologies—like augmentative and alternative communication tools—that they may not have access to at a traditional school.
While there are pros and cons to both online schools and in-person schools, it all comes down to the needs of each unique family and student. Some families need more leeway with scheduling, and others need a structured model with a specific kind of socialization. In some cases, students have special needs better suited to an online education, and there are learners with limited access to technology who need hands-on learning.
So, consider your options and your requirements carefully before making a decision. To learn how you can be more involved in your student’s education, download our free eGuide and speak to an enrollment specialist.
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