The Benefits of a Cyber Education for Your Child
Is a cyber-charter school the right educational environment for your child? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, during the early days of the pandemic, nearly 93 percent of American households with school-aged children engaged in some form of on-line learning.
Even though most schools have gone back to an in-person format, your family has choices. If you are considering a cyber school, take a look at the benefits of this type of program.
The Total Educational Experience
You want your child to have the best education possible, which requires you to search for a school that provides top-notch instruction and a variety of courses that meet your child’s needs and learning level.
Like in-person, public, and private schools, cyber schools also offer the total educational experience. This includes an array of engaging courses to choose from, with content in areas such as math, English, science, history, physical education, and the arts.
Not only will your child get the chance to learn through an innovative curriculum that is filled with crucial course content, but they can also personalize lessons (with the assistance of the educational staff) to create an educational plan that is individualized, dynamic, and engaging.
The Social Experience
Some parents mistakenly believe that cyber learning equals isolation and an education that revolves solely around independent academics. While cyber schools do offer children the chance to learn at home, they are not alone.
An online education is much more than children sitting by themselves in front of computers all day without any social interaction. Instead of this type of educational experience, cyber charter schools provide young students with the chance to become part of a supportive community.
From other students to the teachers who work closely with them, your child will meet new people, make new friends, and develop vital social skills through a variety of academic and extracurricular experiences.
Talk to the school’s administration, admissions staff, or educational staff about the extracurricular activities they offer. Most cyber charter schools have extra-curricular opportunities with 40+ clubs for grades Kindergarten through 12. These types of activities (either online or in-person) can help your child develop new skills, pursue existing interests, and build a supportive social circle.
The Independent Experience
Social skill building is important for your child, but they will not always engage in group activities or act as part of a group. Along with social basics, your child also needs to develop independence.
The format of a cyber school encourages young students to create their own educational path and learn at their own pace. This can help your child to build independence. Beyond acting independently, cyber education also provides the perfect vehicle for children to find a sense of self-motivation and accountability.
While children will have help from professional educators, they will also need to account for their own presence in class, complete assignments, and remain on schedule. These actions or activities breed accountability and give children the chance to motivate themselves as learners.
The independence, self-motivation, and accountability your child can build in a cyber charter school program will do more than just help them to succeed in school right now. They can take these skills with them to college and beyond.
While other students may struggle to stay on course with their college assignments or get used to a more independent approach to education, your child will already have the skills necessary to excel in the post-secondary environment.
The Technological Experience
Today’s students need to learn more than the basic “three R’s.” While the academic basics are still important, your child also needs to know how to use and interact with technology.
The mode of learning (online-based instruction) sets cyber schools apart from in-person educational institutions. Even though most schools (including brick and mortar) do use technology to some degree, cyber programs rely on computers and the Internet.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), information technology and computer-focused jobs are projected to grow 13 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is much faster than average. But this does not necessarily mean your child can only use a cyber-based education to go into the tech field.
Whether your child chooses to work in healthcare, law, manufacturing, retail, or almost any other sector, they will need a solid set of digital skills.
The computer skills and comfort level your child will develop working in a digital educational environment can translate into the abilities they will need eventually to work in the real world. As a cyber student, these skills include everything from accessing information online to interacting with others (such as their teachers) via a digital format.
Do you want to learn about a cyber education for your child? Contact Agora Cyber Charter School for more information, or sign up for one of our Virtual Open Houses.