Many people choose to homeschool their child because of the flexibility it affords their family. Through homeschooling, you have the ability to choose the content taught (i.e. secular or Christian), you can choose the curriculum, and go at the pace that best suits your child. One often overlooked option to choose is the delivery method of the course.
Did you know that your child can take an online course with a live instructor? There are many benefits of this delivery method, including the flexibility and personalization it provides. According to an article published by Liberty University, the number of homeschooling families in the United States has doubled since the year 2020, and with that increase in homeschoolers, there is also an increase of options for how to homeschool. One of the most prevalent options is live online instruction, as it has many benefits for both students and parents.
Flexible Learning
When your child takes an online course, they have the flexibility to travel while taking the classes. They don’t have to be in one specific location to attend class. They can be anywhere in the world and still interact with their instructor and fellow students. An article published by the Babson Survey Research Group, “The percent of academic leaders rating the learning outcomes in online education as the same or superior to those in face-to-face instruction grew from 57.2% in 2003 to 77.0% in 2012”, and it continues to grow as the years go on.
With a live online course, they will receive interaction with their classmates as well as the instructor, which can help students form connections. There are many tools available for online live courses including chats, break-out rooms for discussion and microphone and camera options for presenting projects to the class. If you are not available at the specific class time, your child can always watch the recorded class. This option will grant you even further flexibility when it is needed.
Valuable Feedback
Another benefit of online live courses is that the live instructor will perform many of the duties of a traditional instructor. In addition to providing lectures and instruction to the class, they will issue homework as needed. They will also grade assignments in a timely manner and provide valuable feedback for the students to apply in future assignments. Whether the assignment is a paper, written questions, a test, or a project, the students will receive specific feedback that will aid them in bettering the weak points of their work.
Getting feedback on assignment from people other than their parents is very beneficial for students, as it is coming from someone that they see as professional instead of parental. Application of this feedback has helped several students improve the quality of their writing.
Personalized Instruction
Live instruction makes learning more personal than textbook learning or watching pre-recorded videos. Students will be engaged in the course material and have the opportunity to ask questions and have discussions about the material just as they would in a traditional classroom. The benefit of this interaction is immeasurable as your child grows and matures. Good discussion skills and the proper phrasing of questions are important communication skills that are usually overlooked, but live online course teach them to students in a very natural way.
The Aurora Institute states that, “Advances in technology and personalized learning environments have created a historic opportunity to expand access and boost achievement and completion for learners across the globe”. Through live online classes, students can receive instruction and feedback that is specific to them and where they are in their educational journey, which is an invaluable tool that is difficult to find elsewhere.
Less Work for Parents
As a parent, you may be looking for online courses that don’t require any planning on your part. Live instruction gives you just that. Since the live instructor is responsible for planning the course, teaching the material, and providing the assignments, you will have much more free time to focus on the other aspects of homeschooling. Online courses can reduce the stress of homeschooling for parents and give them more time to do other things, making these classes well worth the investment.
A study published by Liberty University on the experiences of homeschool parents who use online courses found that “If properly used, online courses offer a way to improve both student technology skills and technological self-efficacy, attributes which have been linked to increased academic performance and success in college or career later in life”. The independence students gain through taking online courses leads to the parents having more free time as they are no longer needed for every aspect of schoolwork.
Summary
Live online courses are a great way to supplement traditional homeschooling methods while maintaining the flexibility and personalization that homeschooling provides. It also includes the added benefits of more socialization, professional feedback on assignments, and more free time and less stress for parents.
Stimulating discussions with classmates, personalized feedback, and valuable technological skills are a short list of many of the important life skills students learn through live online courses. Overall, live online courses are one of the best options available for homeschoolers who want to keep the flexibility of homeschooling while also getting the benefits that come with structured classes.
