Online schooling ( also known as virtual schooling) has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. The technological advances and the fast-paced lives of today’s generation has led to this growing trend. And it’s likely here to stay. More than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in 2015, up 3.9 per cent from the previous year. At least one distant course is taken by 29.7% of all higher education students. So what exactly is a virtual classroom? What are the benefits of virtual schooling? Read on to learn more.
A virtual school is a type of school that uses technology to deliver educational content and experiences to students. Virtual classrooms involve students and teachers using a variety of digital tools to communicate, collaborate, and learn. These tools can include but are not limited to: video conference, instant messaging, online forums, digital textbooks and libraries, and more..
Earlier, we had only distant programmers available in online mode, but with the advent of COVID-19, things have extensively changed, and the concept of complete education has turned to online mode. Education is now in the online format for students right from play school to the university level.
How Does a Virtual Work?
A virtual school is an educational institution that uses electronic technologies to deliver instructional content and support student-to-student and student-to-teacher interactions. Virtual schools generally follow a set curriculum, and students are typically required to attend classes during regular school hours. Some virtual schools also offer extracurricular activities, such as clubs and sports. Virtual schools are a type of distance learning, and they can be either public or private. Most virtual schools use a Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver content and track student progress. Teachers create courses within the LMS, and students login to access their coursework. Students may be required to participate in live online sessions, or they may be able to work at their own pace.
Affordability And Cost-Effective of Virtual Schooling
Virtual schooling is a type of education where students learn online instead of attending traditional brick-and-mortar schools. This type of education has been on the rise in recent years, as technology has made it more accessible and affordable. Students who attend online schools can save on tuition and other associated costs, such as transportation and room and board. In addition, online students have the flexibility to take courses at their own pace and schedule, which can save time and money and also can be a huge benefit for working parents or those with other commitments.
Benefits Of Virtual Education
- Because the physical demands are substantially lower, personal situations or health interruptions, such as infectious diseases like COVID-19 and the common cold, or injuries, will not prevent learning.
- Absent students might also benefit from digital transcripts of lessons to catch up on missed material.
- Students and families who require flexibility will benefit from online learning. However, due to time zones, synchronous learning has limitations.
- Students quickly become skilled with online research, resources, and tools thanks to the integration of Internet resources, which gives a vast collection of knowledge.
- Independent students, such as self-learners or talented kids, might use internet resources to explore learning outside the regular curriculum, pursue specific abilities and objectives, or develop at their speed. Online timetables’ flexibility may benefit part-time students with jobs or family obligations.
- Age, appearance, and background are less evident in online schools. This leads to fewer cases of harassment, bias, and discrimination. Instead, groups are divided into categories based on personal abilities.
- Students may benefit from exposure to people from various cultures around the world, which can help them learn more about history, geography, religions, and politics while improving their social skills.
- Online education allows students to engage in or discuss universal or real-world topics in a collaborative setting, which are essential skills for a successful career.
- Increased remote education accessibility for poor or rural communities where commuting to school or lacking resources are issues.
- Increased opportunities may allow students to enrol in more courses that interest them but are not available in their area.
- For schools or districts, it is cost-effective since it lets teachers teach more students than in a traditional classroom environment.
- Since fewer resources are required, online courses may be less expensive for students than traditional classes. Furthermore, many online learning resources are free, simple to use, self-paced, and beginner-friendly.
On a traditional set up, juggling school and home life can be quite stressful for students. Virtual schools can help reduce this stress by providing a more flexible learning environment. They can be motivated and can learn in the way that is most beneficial to them. The teachers can design the curriculum according to the needs of the students and they can also provide extra support when needed.