Virtual Classes: What Every Parent and Student Should Know

Education is actively participating in the explosion of web-based technology. Classes once taught in a traditional classroom are now available online at both high school and college levels. The new technology provides a variety of new options and issues, along with benefits and concerns. Web based classes can be a big boon to students, but student and parents must fully understand what is needed for the student to succeed.

ADVANTAGES

• Flexibility and freedom. No physical attendance is required. Can schedule around jobs or other activities.


• Can catch up more easily than traditional classes.


• Can keep up with class work even when circumstances take the student away from campus.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS

• Self motivation. Students must be able to complete work on their own.


• Good organizational skills. Able to understand all course requirements and schedule course work. Must thoroughly understand all requirements.


• Good reading ability. Most online courses require reading online and creating assignments from the readings.


• Good time management skills. Leaving virtual classes until last is tempting when other classes demand immediate attention.

HAZARDS TO WATCH FOR

• "Out of sight, out of mind." Virtual classes can be easy to "forget".


• Students who don't like reading may fare poorly.


• Lack of student/teacher interaction can reduce student motivation to achieve.


• Students who are not self-motivated or not well organized tend to struggle to complete work on time.

Web based courses do offer many advantages by allowing students to meet academic requirements in a nontraditional and flexible setting. However, not every student is well-prepared for the demands of these courses. Students who have been schooled only in traditional classroom settings will find that they are much more in charge of their academic progress in a virtual class and may not always understand how to succeed. In these classes, management of time is totally the student's responsibility. They must include all online coursework in their time management plans for the semester. There are few prep classes (if any) that teach students how to succeed in this new environment. This information comes mostly from the online class itself, and may be a little mysterious to a newcomer. Being aware of requirements allows students to take advantage of freedoms allowed by technology, but it is very important that they have some guidelines for success.

STRATEGIES FOR ONLINE SUCCESS

• Create a notebook for the online class, just like a traditional class.


• Print the syllabus.


• Put all quiz, test, and assignment dates on the same calendar as other classes.


• Keep a printed copy in the notebook of all assignments. When submitting a quiz or test, print whatever page shows that the work was submitted. (This can be of great value in the case of technological issues.)


• Make contact with the instructor, even if it is not a requirement of the class. Send an email stating that assignments have been submitted, and request a reply in the event that they were not received. (Even if you do not get a reply, this provides some amount of documentation that the assignment was submitted.)


• Request a progress report from the instructor. These are often included as part of the online course. It is important to know where you stand at all times, just like any other class.

Take advantage of all the options. High school students can accelerate their graduation date or earn grade forgiveness through programs like the Florida Virtual School. This is a wonderful opportunity for many students. Online college courses allow students to be enrolled while they are away for internships or other reasons. While the courses are online, the amount of work and motivation required does not diminish. In fact, self-motivation becomes the main ingredient in success.