Not too long ago, online schools were seen as being at the fringe of education, necessary only when traditional schools can’t operate such as in the Covid pandemic or for digital nomads whose lifestyle means they can’t attend a traditional school on a full time basis.
Aided by huge advances in the technology and the burgeoning success of online students, parents have begun to see online education as a viable alternative to the traditional classroom.
One of the greatest strengths of online schools is their ability to reach students regardless of geography. Whether you’re in a remote village or a bustling city, all you need is an internet connection. Schools have seen strong interest from families who travel frequently but additionally for students with health challenges or mobility issues who struggle in traditional learning environments. Additionally an online school student could be one who is:
- Seeking qualifications not offered in schools close to them
- Unable to focus in a crowded classroom with its distractions
- Previously homeschooled but who now needs extra stretch and challenge or preparation for exams
- Insufficiently challenged in the traditional system,
How Does an Online School Operate?
Each school works from a digital learning platform which is the virtual equivalent of the school building with classrooms, libraries, IT suites etc. Student textbooks and other resources, including images, videos, podcasts and more are stored electronically in folders dedicated to each student and tailored to their individual studies.
The system usually has a simple internal communication component such as a chat function so teachers and students can communicate freely and easily.
Lessons are sometimes pre-recorded and the student watches them at a time convenient for them and completes associated exercises or, in the better and more technologically advanced schools, all lessons are delivered live, like a traditional classroom and recorded for revision, catch up if a child has been absent or for quality control purposes within the school.
Lessons are set up in diarised folders and can be delivered through a variety of media including One Note, or PowerPoint.
Parents often worry about how science and other subject practicals are managed and this is where technology steps in with virtual reality animations and the use of VR. Students and teachers see the benefit of these virtual practicals in that health and safety concerns are limited or non-existent and the practicals can be repeated over and over without using up expensive resources. Given that to equip a science lab adequately in a traditional school is very costly, the online lab can be fully equipped at a fraction of the cost.
Online schools still assess students on a regular basis and the use of proctoring – shutting down all other applications until an assessment is complete now means tests can be taken online and ensure that no cheating has taken place. It’s even possible to take external examinations from the comfort of a student’s study room now.
Online schools still follow standard structured curricula aligned with national or international standards but they have more flexibility without the constraints of needing physical classrooms to house their virtual students.
The Role of Teachers
Teachers in online schools are more than content deliverers—they’re facilitators, mentors, and highly skilled in technology.
In many schools, the teachers teach their class in much the same way they would in the traditional environment with live instruction, supported by a range of materials and learning methods including collaborative work, class discussion, video clips, virtual experiments and independent work.
Through the learning platform they can set, collect, grade and return student work quickly and efficiently. The technology helps them track student progress and completion of work, allowing timely intervention where necessary.
Parent Apps allow parents to see live, the attendance and progress reports of their child.
Additionally, many online schools have academic and social coaches or advisors to help students stay on track, set goals and manage their wellbeing.
Student Experience
Students in online schools enjoy flexibility but must also develop strong time-management and self-discipline skills. A typical school day will see them logging into live lessons, listening to the teacher input, participating in group activities or discussions based on the teacher input then completing independent or group work. Completed work is submitted through the platform, graded and returned to them. Some schools offer free periods in the day for preparation or homework completion.
Support Systems
Many schools offer social clubs, virtual field trips, and extracurricular activities to foster community and connection between the student and promote wellbeing.
Another big concern of parents is that of social isolation for their child. All online schools are highly aware of this and provide a range of support services:
- Academic support including tutor groups, extra support lessons, adapted resources and more
- Counselling services including mental health support and career and university guidance.
Parents are expected to play a supportive role, especially for younger students, ensuring their child attends all lessons and helping them to manage their schedules and work that is set for them. Parent Apps help this greatly.
Online schools are redefining what it means to learn. They blend flexibility with structure, independence with support, and innovation with tradition. Their ethos is to make learning more inclusive, engaging, and effective than ever before.