Debunking Myths About Online High School Education
Written By: BOSS Editorial
Reading Time: 3 minutes
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Online education used to be a niche alternative to conventional brick-and-mortar schools. Now, it’s a bona fide juggernaut in the education industry.
Still, despite its growing popularity and legitimacy, a number of prevailing myths exist – especially for parents who didn’t grow up around online learning. To help clear the air, this article lists a few common myths and explores the reality of online high school education.
The Myth: Online High Schools Aren’t Accredited the Same Way Conventional Schools Are
Some parents and students worry (perhaps rightly) that online schools aren’t accredited to dispense credits toward a diploma. And if they are, that those credits won’t hold much water with colleges or universities when it comes time to apply.
The Reality: The Best Online Schools Are Ministry-Inspected and Accredited
That might have been the case two decades ago, but now, the best online schools are ministry-inspected and accredited. They offer the same kinds of credits as brick-and-mortar institutions and are recognized by the same high-caliber post-secondary institutions.
Just make sure that you follow up with the school about their accreditation before enrolling. (Serious schools will display their accreditation prominently on the website).
The Myth: Students Receive Limited Teacher Interaction
Because classes are digital and remote, how will students interact with their teachers? How will they ask questions, voice concerns, and push for clarification on challenging topics? These are understandable questions since the teacher-student relationship is a fundamental linchpin of education.
The Reality: Online Students Enjoy Plenty of Time with Teachers, Guidance Experts and Tutors
Just because they aren’t in the same physical room doesn’t mean online teachers and students don’t have meaningful interactions. The best online schools ensure that students have direct one-on-one lines to their teachers during traditional school hours. They even take support a step further, offering guidance experts to help strategize educational goals and 24/7 tutors to aid students during off-hours.
Just read through the testimonials on the Ontario eSecondary School website for examples of how these robust support layers benefit students.
The Myth: It’s Challenging for Online High School Students to Socialize
Parents and students often worry that, by shifting education online, teens will miss out on a social life. One’s high school years are as much about building relationships and social skills as academics, after all.
The Reality: With Flexible Schedules and Online Communities, There’s Ample Opportunity to Socialize
Online schools are flexible and self-paced, meaning that students can complete their courses on their own schedule. This frees up students to socialize with friends, join relationship-nurturing extracurricular activities, and even travel to new places to socialize. Plus, online schools keep students in contact digitally through enriching online communities and group projects.
To summarize, it’s natural for teachers and parents to have concerns when making a big life change. That’s especially true in the case of online learning, which is a relatively new phenomenon in education. Still, as the sections above show, online schools have matured to become highly supportive, social, and academically rigorous atmospheres for learning. Learn more about digital high school education to see if it’s right for you.
