For many children today, the classroom has transformed from a dynamic room setting into the nearest mobile device. Using laptops, tablets, or smartphones are now the norm for students using an online learning platform. Teachers greet the students in real-time, trying to emulate face-to-face situations. Children are encouraged to engage in lively discussions with their classmates, submit the usual assignments, and continue participating in recitations.
All that is to say that the virtual school, while entirely different based on location and method, is a great avenue for students to learn as long as we’re treading through this COVID-19 epidemic. Here are just some of the many benefits of attending a virtual school or online learning.
Rapid transition. Virtual schools rely on basic technology like smart devices and an internet connection, making it fairly easy to shift to virtual schools.
Enhanced flexibility. While students still need to follow the school’s traditional schedule, they are allowed some leeway and don’t need to wake up as early to go to school. If your child is involved in sports, then it’s recommended to plan to learn around the new schedule.
Similar attention to students. Since the teacher sees everyone on the screen at a glance, it makes sense that attention would be similar to a classroom setting where a wide room is a norm. Students can still receive individualized assistance on topics they need help with.
Continue education safely. This is perhaps the best advantage of continuing education at home. Due to the current pandemic, most schools where it hit are either closed or transitioned into remote learning. Virtual schools allowed students to not miss a beat in their learning so they can continue as normal as possible after the situation passes.
Quality family time. Since online learning eliminates the need to travel back and forth to school and assuming that the entire family is maximizing remote work and learning capabilities, the situation allows for more quality family time.
Improved parent involvement. Parents get a chance to get more involved in the learning since they can monitor how the child is doing in front of the screen. This helps the child get instant assistance or enable them to overcome challenges.
What schools utilize virtual school learning?
Most schools from public to international schools already transitioned to this model. Top international schools like Global Indian School (GIIS) for instance quickly transitioned to it, minimizing loss of study time. Within three days, they can offer a virtual classroom facility to more than 15,000 students worldwide.
Currently, they are receiving online enrollments through their country-specific sites like Japan, Malaysia, UAE, Singapore, and others. GIIS is one of the few international schools in Singapore to offer visual learning during the entire school duration.
Homeschooling is especially beneficial for small children as they need safety primarily and a good continuing education in their formative years. Consider enrolling your kids to PYP Campaign, which is a part of the IB program is taught in over 109 countries around the world, it is designed for Graders 1 to 5 (age 5 to 12 years) and adapts to state and national standards. The curriculum develops students to be active participants in their learning journey.
Learning doesn’t need to stop even though schools closed. With technology, good learning institutions, and dedicated teachers, students can still thrive until we get back to normal.
