Distance learning programs middle school

Online middle schools students may also seek out fitness opportunities outside school in the form of sports teams, individual sports or sports and fitness lessons and classes. Some students thrive in the group environment afforded by traditional, classroom-based learning. Others require the schedule and structure of traditional schools and would find difficulty in independently led instruction.

The following quiz can help determine if an online education program is the right decision. It can be overwhelming for parents to choose from the numerous online learning options available, especially as they vary in structure and may be managed by different organizations, including the state, a university, a local school district or a charter school.

In addition, there are different types of online programs fully online, supplemental, district-level, etc. Prior to making a decision about an online middle school program, parents should first evaluate the learning needs of their child and then make a decision about what type of program will meet their needs. To do so, parents should ask questions and compare programs, reviewing a common set of factors for all schools offering online courses and programs.

Accreditation is one of the most important items to review. An accredited school is committed to meeting high quality and educational standards, and allows outside agencies to hold them to a level of accountability and academic improvement.

No single set of nationwide accreditation standards exists, so parents should check how their state handles accrediting, and which accreditation bodies are recognized there are more than private accrediting organizations in the U. Transferability of Credit. Credit transfer goes hand-in-hand with accreditation. Most educational institutions do not accept credits from unaccredited schools or institutions.

Parents should contact their local school district to ask about both the history of credit transfers from a potential school and if online credits from that school are recognized at other educational institutions.

Parents may also want to ask the school for an enrollment agreement stating that course credit is transferrable, which provides the parents with some written assurance.

Determining the quality of a potential online middle program is a major step in determining the right fit for the student. Curriculum Standards. Knowing what types of curricula are offered and how instruction is delivered is a vital component in the decision. In online learning environments, curriculum directly impacts student engagement and motivation—even more than in traditional, classroom-based settings.

Academic standards are set on a state-by-state basis, which means parents should understand the scope of those standards and ask the potential school how they adhere to and meet them. Support Services. Student support is critical to student success—especially for the online learner.

Parents should review the types and depth of student services available at a prospective school. Does the school offer academic support? Counseling and mentoring? Tutoring and technical assistance? Is there a dedicated support staff or do teachers handle a majority of these tasks? Instructional Quality. Teaching is as important in the online setting as it is in the physical classroom. The quality of instruction is a key indicator of the overall quality of the institution. Parents should review the hiring practices of the school, including the basic qualifications teachers need to be employed.

What types of degrees, training and certifications do the teachers hold? Do teachers participate in orientation programs before they are qualified to teach online? What type of professional development or continuing education is required of teachers? Socialization Opportunities. Because instruction typically occurs in the home, socialization requires alternative approaches from those used in traditional educational settings.

Parents should determine what socialization goals they have for their child. Do they want the child to learn social skills, have socialization opportunities with other students and learn in a community of students?

Parents should ask the prospective school about social activities provided by the school such as field trips , the percentage of the curriculum that focuses on student collaboration, social networking opportunities for students and parents, online clubs and other outlets.

Despite its different character, online instruction does not occur in a vacuum. Parents should take steps to be involved with their online learner, as that involvement empowers students to also assume an active role in their educational development. While active participation is key, the major question facing parents of online middle school students is: How can I be involved? Parents of online learners take slightly different roles than those of children in campus-based settings.

Parents generally assume the role of both educator and administrator, helping students with the learning process, addressing behavior, organizing student schedules, arranging extracurricular activities and corresponding with the school.

In order to support students in an online setting, parents must have regular access to and support from the school. Parents should communicate with the teachers and staff on a consistent basis.

Typically this is accomplished through email, phone calls, and in some instances, face-to-face meetings. By communicating with the school, parents have a greater understanding of how to support their child, from assisting with schoolwork to preparing for standardized testing.

Parents often have the best insight into understanding how their child learns. They can combine this with the advice and expertise of teachers to determine what type of instruction will be most effective, especially during the crucial middle school years.

For example, with a gifted student, parents may work with instructors to introduce advanced courses of study in mathematics or literature. Alternately, for a struggling student, it may be beneficial to reduce the intensity, set smaller, more achievable goals, and provide the child with additional time and resources in areas where the student is having difficulties.

The advent of online education has introduced a variety of new possibilities to learning, including personalization, flexibility and access. CPM Math Resources. Curriculum Associates Resources for extended school closures.

Davis Art Access to digital resources. Energize Schools Virtual distance learning resources. Explore Learning Access and information about all three of our online resources. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Information and resources to help continue teaching and learning during school closures. Lifeliqe Science Curricula. Lincoln Learning Videos, games, and samples. McGraw-Hill Support for remote learning. OpusYou Cinematic broadcast of musical works, lesson plans, and interactive online courses. Pearson Programs and readinessresources.

Perfection Learning Programs, e-books, teaching support. Quaver Music Online music assignments. Reading Plus Printable skill-building packages help develop reading comprehension. Renaissance Digital solutions to assist students and families learning from home.

Singapore Math Instructional lesson videos for students to access at home. In , Jones International University was the first higher education institution to launch a fully online accredited degree program. In the following years, most major colleges and universities quickly followed suit. Reputable higher education institutions such as Harvard University and Stanford now offer distance learning programs for their students entirely online. According to a survey, conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group , in distance education enrollments increased for the fourteenth straight year.

Even though for-profit universities have been the quickest to adopt and exploit Internet technology to offer online degrees to the masses, the majority of public colleges now offer their academic programs completely online as well.

Common fields of study pursued online include, but are not limited to, programs in business, psychology, criminal justice, health sciences, computer science, design and liberal arts. Distance learning has quickly been adopted as the training and education method of choice among busy working professionals.

Online distance learning programs offer the most affordable and convenient means of earning a degree, improving skills and pursuing a higher education. There are two modes of delivery for distance education technologies: synchronous learning and asynchronous learning. In synchronous learning, all learners participate in the education experience at the same time. A traditional classroom is an example of a synchronous learning experience, where students participate in learning and class lectures.

With respect to distance education, synchronous learning methods include video conferencing, web conferencing, educational television, internet radio, direct-broadcast satellite DBS , live streaming video, web-based VoIP, and even telephone.