What to consider when deciding on online schooling for your child
The first and most basic check is to ensure that the school is registered and accredited by the appropriate authorities. Read more here:
Following the lockdown, parents increasingly saw online education as a viable alternative to traditional in-person education.
As a result, several new schools welcomed prospective students through their (virtual) doors.
However, parents are not always sure how to objectively assess the quality of these schools. It is now clear that many schools that appeared to be of high quality on the surface were unable to keep their promises to students over the past year.
“It should come as no surprise that choosing an online school necessitates the same level of parental diligence as choosing an in-person school,” says Colin Northmore, Principal of Evolve Online School.
“However, there is still a widespread misconception that online schools and their offerings are comparable because they use similar technology, adhere to a curriculum, require a child to have a device and some self-discipline, and everything else falls into place. The reality could not be further from the truth because good online schools must offer much more than a curriculum and some tutoring from behind a screen.”
Many young South African students who began online schooling this year are in a difficult situation right now, having signed up with online schools whose marketing did not match their delivery, and with parents now attempting to rectify the situation so that their children do not have to repeat the year.
“Online school is a great option for students who work better on their own, families who are mobile and need to ensure consistency of education while traveling, and so on. However, we implore parents to carefully weigh various schools against objective factors that can mean the difference between success and failure,” he says.
Overwhelming workloads, a lack of communication, a lack of student support, logistical incompetence on the part of the institution, and subpar materials are some of the complaints that have surfaced in the last year as online education has become more mainstream.
When researching and comparing online schools, parents should ensure that they are satisfied with the school’s offerings and competence in all of the following areas:
Registration and accreditation:
The first and most basic check is to ensure that the school is registered and accredited by the appropriate authorities. The registration is difficult to verify because the Department lacks an online school registration policy. Without this certainty, parents can determine whether the school is independent or part of a group of schools.
They can also discover whether or not the school is affiliated with an examining body, such as the Independent Exams Board of Cambridge International. Registration with an examining body should be a requirement.
Academics excellence, reputation, track records and institutional support:
Is the online school part of a school system that has a track record of academic excellence in its traditional schools? Do their students have a reputation for excelling and thriving in both online and in-person schools? These are critical questions to ask to determine whether a new school is taking advantage of the growing demand for online education or whether it has a history, track record, and the necessary institutional support to provide quality education.
Can an online school demonstrate that it has translated its in-person track record to the online environment? Given that some reputable institutions have yet to successfully transition, reputation is an important consideration. Request proof and speak with current parents and students.
Logistical competence:
Can the school deliver assessments, lectures, and materials on time while adhering to the annual calendar? Online learning necessitates a high level of discipline and independence.
The last thing a student needs is for their progress to be hampered and frustrated by an institution that is logistically incapable of consistently delivering a high-quality offering.
Rounded education; screen time VS green time:
Is the school dedicated to the whole child and providing a well-rounded education?
Simply being a delivery and testing factory will not suffice. An excellent online school will include diagnostic testing to determine a student’s exact level of proficiency before placement and throughout the educational journey; asynchronous learning so that students can move through content at their own pace and according to their own proficiency, with direct access to teachers who will facilitate extra activation classes; and synchronous learning where students will also be able to attend live interactive lessons and socialize.
“When researching an online school, parents should consider their initial experience dealing with the school. They should also continue to question all claims, because promises are easy to make but difficult to keep in the online education environment,” Northmore says.
“After dealing with the school, are you confident that they are responsive and accessible? Are you confident that your child will have easy and consistent access to additional support? Online education is much more than just curriculum delivery. An online school should be focused on assisting students in academic growth, development, and performance while also assisting them in developing into confident and competent members of society,” he concluded.
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