The rise of the Internet and related technologies over the last 20+ years have had a significant impact on education. One of the most far-reaching changes is the availability of online courses and distance learning. Academic opportunities used to be limited to what was offered at the local school or community college. Now, a tremendous range of courses is available through online providers. At my school, Contra Costa Christian, our students take online courses for a variety of reasons, whether it’s for a specialty course we don’t offer, a class that doesn’t fit their schedule or to improve a grade. If you have students in school, it is very likely that they at least be given the opportunity to take online courses before they are done with high school. When choosing whether to take online classes, there are a few questions for parents to ask:
Is my student’s learning style, maturity and motivation a good match for the online learning environment? Online classes do not have the regular, face-to-face interaction that helps students learn, stay organized and be accountable. Students may need extra parent support to help them stay on track.
Does the course structure meet your needs? Online courses may be synchronous, with scheduled meeting times, much like the in-person classes taken at a traditional school. Other classes are asynchronous, where the student is free to work at his or her convenience. Some classes are a hybrid.
Is the provider accredited and by whom? Accreditation is the indicator that the course provider has allowed outside evaluators to certify that the course and its teachers meet normal educational standards.
Will the credits be accepted by my student’s high school and/or meet college admission requirements? Even if the course is accredited, many high schools have policies for courses taken online. Check with your student’s counselor for details. Additionally, if the course is part of a college or university’s admissions requirement, check to make sure it will be accepted. The UC/CSU system has an online database (hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist) that can be searched to see if the courses have been approved to satisfy UC/CSU admissions requirements.
By Grant Padmos, Academic Dean, Contra Costa Christian School