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Benefits of Virtual Classrooms To High School Students
Online classrooms have many benefits, one of them being the flexibility they afford.
Virtual learning is the heart of online high school diploma programs – a convenient, central place where career-oriented courses unfold.
Even though there are many similarities between traditional high schools and the modern online approach, learning virtually provides many benefits that traditional classes don’t.
Below are some of the things you’ll love about enrolling in an accredited online high school.
Access Study Material and Coursework Anywhere, Any Time
With online classrooms, you can choose to study and complete your studies 24/7 from anywhere at the time that suits your busy schedule best. If you’re out on business or any other errands, you can do your coursework back at the hotel as you wait for a connecting flight or even in-between meetings. All you need is your tablet, phone, laptop, or any other digital device.
Once you log in to your student portal on the High School of America website, you’re already at school. You can access course material, assignments, submit homework, watch course presentations, join fellow students’ discussions, do research, contact your tutor and classmates, seek assistance from student support services, get feedback, and access your exam grades.
Structure and Freedom
Online high school diploma programs are built on a weekly structure of assignments and due dates that students have met. This could be by taking online tests, submitting assignments, attending a faculty presentation, or joining a discussion with other students.
Within the program’s structure, you can choose the most suitable times to participate in all this and sync it with your schedule.
Good Time Management
An online high school program offers a welcome environment for working students and adults who need to balance work and family with schooling demands. Right away, you save hours by not having to commute to and from physical classes. Going to an online school boosts your time-management skills since you have to be disciplined and plan for the time to study.
An Expanded View of the World
International online high school programs attract students from all over the United States and across the world. This means different perspectives from varying cultures. You may get opportunities to work in groups and collaborate with international classmates.
Insights into diverse business cultures, problem-solving approaches, and attitudes can inform your personal approaches to challenges and opportunities.
Asynchronous Conversations With classmates
2008 Montana Teacher of the Year, Steve Gardiner, first experienced online learning as a doctoral student in Walden University’s Doctor of Education (EdD) program. He appreciates how the virtual learning platform works. “I attend class from anywhere. I’m participating in discussions, adding my posts, submitting my lessons, and it’s working perfectly,” Gardiner said.
This is exactly what you’ll get in an online high school program.
Comparing his online schooling experience with his previous on-campus master’s program, Gardiner recalled the hassles of having a real-time discussion with classmates. By the time he had his mind formulated and was ready to add to the conversation, the topic had changed. In an online classroom, that’s never a problem. Since most classwork is asynchronous, online discussions aren’t cut off once a bell rings. “I can formulate my idea while I’m out for my run and post it when I return,” Gardiner said.
Fast Feedback on Tests
When participating in online diploma programs, you don’t have to worry and wait for days for test results. You handle tests online, and they are normally scored upon completion. You can see where you performed well quickly and where you need to improve. Once you submit a paper, you’ll use a private “dropbox” where your tutor will access your tests confidentially and give you a written or video feedback.
Better Digital Skills
As you enhance your knowledge and skills, you’ll also be improving your digital skills on the most advanced online learning technology. As you keep learning and studying online, you’ll become highly productive and confident using interactive online tools like drop boxes for homework, online tests, e-mail communications, and collaboration tools, to video presentations by faculty and fellow classmates.
Studying online, you’ll start enjoying the above listed top benefits and many more as you experience the special world of virtual learning.
Choosing The Right Virtual School
Wondering how you can find the right online high school diploma program for you? It might be trickier than finding a traditional high school with campus and physical classes.
While there are typically more to choose from in your local area, you’ll have less time on your hands for commuting and attending other activities. However, this doesn’t mean selecting an online high school is impossible. In fact, it’s easier once you know what to look for in an online education provider through features like these.
Accreditation
The first thing to look at when searching for top online schools is accreditation. When investigating potential education providers, see whether they have an Accreditation Recognized by the US Department of Education like AdvancED.
AdvancED is the unified organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). AdvancED provides nationally recognized accreditation for school districts and individual schools and represents 27,000 public and private schools and districts across the United States and in 65 countries worldwide, educating 15 million students.
Your search results also should provide quick details about each online high school they list, such as its size, location, and student population. Also find out if your desired provider offers opportunities for extra-curricular activities, including sports programs, band, or other performing arts groups. And check to see if there are clubs and organizations connected to social causes that you care about—or even one related to the career you plan on pursuing later in life.
Tutor Support and Academic Advising
As you research online programs, look for those that offer 24/7 tutor support from instructors. Finding a community of people who care about your success can be important to maintaining motivation and working toward a diploma. Also, consider asking whether the school has academic advisors available—either by phone or in-person—who can help you set goals and design a plan to achieve them.
Anti-Cheating Security
Of course, your top considerations should be how well the online school protects you from academic dishonesty. Look for providers that offer anti-cheating security measures like learning programs that are designed to prevent copying and help you learn skills for problem-solving. These safety features can help keep you on track as a student while protecting your future employability at the same time.
Online High School Diploma Programs: Benefits
There is no doubt about it; enrolling in an online high school provides numerous benefits especially when compared to traditional high schools with physical campuses. From increased convenience to less stress, these digital programs provide superior flexibility and options for students who want their diplomas through a good education provider. Here are the top benefits to enjoy as an online high school student.
1) A Phone Call Away
One of the biggest advantages of online schools is that you can contact your professors and teachers at any time via phone calls or emails. Whether it’s after hours, on weekends, or holidays, you’ll never miss important information from your educators as long as they have a way to get in touch with you.
2) Mentors in Your Pocket
Top education providers offer convenient mobile learning apps for smartphones and tablets. Not only do these help keep track of assignments due, but they can also provide other helpful features like instant access to tutoring sessions, video lectures and additional class readings—all without needing a computer connection. At times when you’re without a computer, having this information readily available in an app is important to help you stay on top of your schoolwork.
3) Smart Strategies for Success
As the world becomes increasingly digitized and automated, more people are seeking out virtual services to support their educational needs. From instructors who can explain course materials via online videos to programs that save learners time they would spend commuting between home and campus multiple times per week, these initiatives provide plenty of perks for students who have busy schedules outside of class. Some even allow you to transfer credits from an accredited brick-and-mortar institution into your online program.
4) Keep Learning Long After High School Graduation
The most common degree programs for high school students are associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees. These associate’s degrees are of shorter duration and can be completed within two to three years as compared to bachelor’s degree which sometimes requires more than four years for completion.
With an online high school diploma program, students can continue to learn long after they have graduated from traditional high schools. These programs also give students the ability to study at their own pace while meeting strict deadlines set by educational institutions that require giving out diplomas only on specific days, months or seasons.
By enrolling in an online high school, students also have the advantage of having access to learning material for a specific duration that suits their study habits and lifestyles.
If you’re interested in getting into a highly ranked university, you may also consider asking whether your prospective institution offers credit transfer opportunities. You can get some basic information about this option by researching the college or university’s website beforehand or by contacting the administrators directly to ask questions.
Online High School Diploma Programs: The Pitfalls To Avoid As A Student
Although most education providers offer quality education services with experience-based and certified instructors who are always there to assist students whenever they need them, there are some online schools that lack academic credibility. These underfunded institutions fail to provide the quality services that students expect from a good education provider.
If you want to avoid these pitfalls, you should consider researching online high schools based on their popularity and experience in dealing with students effectively. You can also look for programs accredited by or any academic institutions that are recognized by the department of education in your state.
To help you navigate through education providers and choose one that’s perfect for your educational needs, always be sure to check out its accreditation credentials and search for reviews written about it by third-party users who have tried their services first-hand. While you’re still thinking about getting your online high school diploma, why not register now with an accredited provider like The High School of America?
Talk to us to learn how you could increase your career satisfaction and advance your career with online high school diploma programs.