Offline or online school: how to make the right choice and not offend the child

Proponents of online schools first of all note their convenience: distance learning saves time and provides freedom of movement, since it is possible to study from anywhere in the world. Opponents believe that such comfort is not justified because, in a certain sense, it leaves the child out of society. Together with the head of Alterra School, we talk about the pros and cons of distance education.

Source: freepik

Distance learning is no longer just a fashionable trend, but a full-fledged way of obtaining knowledge. The transition to such a system is given differently for everyone. It is popular and convenient, but not universal. Let's analyze the strengths and weaknesses of distance education and its differences from face-to-face education.

Iryna Krygina

Head of online school

Benefits of distance learning

Students study in a calm environment. They don't have to be distracted by noise from the back seats or distracted by conversations with a neighbor.

Possibility to repeat the material. Lessons are recorded, you can view the teacher's explanations at your leisure.

You can study from anywhere in the world. A student can be on vacation with his parents, but his studies will not be interrupted. All you need for quality education is a computer or smartphone and access to the Internet.

Flexible training schedule. Online education allows you to build a flexible schedule and adapt the educational process to yourself.

Strong teachers. An ordinary school cannot always boast of a brilliant teaching staff. Moreover, such educational institutions often lack subjects. Parents have to hire tutors so that the children at least fully master the material. In online schools, the situation is different. The remote format allows you to invite the best teachers from all over the country to work, regardless of the place of residence.

Individual approach and small classes. An essential plus of online schools is an individual approach to students. In an ordinary school, there are often 30 people in classes, and the teacher does not have time to pay attention to everyone. With distance learning, the number of students is many times smaller, which positively affects the quality of mastering the school curriculum.

Source: freepik

Disadvantages of distance learning

Independent work. Not every student knows how to organize himself and allocate his time. Skills for working on electronic platforms are required. If in senior classes, students quickly learn the functionality of educational platforms, then it is more difficult for a student of primary classes to adapt.

Lack of communication. The main disadvantage of studying in an online school is the lack of social experience of joint activities and building relationships with peers. However, homeschoolers can develop social skills in additional interesting classes and clubs. No one says that children do not have the right to lead an active social life outside the school. And even vice versa - communication on the background of common interests can give a child much more than forced communication.

Problems with Internet access. You cannot study without it.

Despite the fact that online learning has certain disadvantages, with the right approach it can be just as effective as learning in a traditional school.

How to choose an online school?

What should parents pay attention to when choosing an online school, except for the presence of a license? It is important to assess the level of teachers, the arrangement and convenience of the platform on which the child will learn, and the presence of "live" lessons in the school. The last point is very important. Such lessons give the child the opportunity to communicate with the teacher and classmates, being at the same time in familiar and comfortable conditions.

Source: freepik

That is, during a "live" lesson, students raise their hand and answer, receive comments from the teacher, just like in a regular school. The recorded lesson and the teacher's answers in the chat are not a "live" lesson, so be sure to clarify these points.

В Alterra Online School offers both "live" online lessons and independent format of distance learning - externship.

Advantages of studying at the Alterra online school

• Of the standard ones, there are only textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The rest are original programs and teaching methods developed by school teachers.
• The class has a maximum of 14 students. This allows you to maintain a personal approach to each child, monitor performance, progress and react to difficulties in time.
• Schedule, textbooks, progress, feedback on the child — all this is available to parents in their own application.
• The school's professional teachers are familiar with more than 10 teaching methods. They make the process interesting and exciting for all ages.

Alterra Online Externship — allows you to pass certifications and receive training materials without leaving your home.

Who is an online school for?

The audience of schoolchildren who choose online education is gradually changing. If earlier these were children in family education, now other categories of students choose the online format:

• children who are bored in regular school;
• children-athletes and artists;
• children whose parents often move for work or work in another country;
• children who are often sick or for other reasons must be at home;
• children who experience difficulties with socialization in the team.

We wish you a successful choice and success in your studies!