Guest post by Sally Roberts, DOE Educational Policy Consultant for Virtual Education
We appreciate all the feedback we received in the blog comment section, on Facebook and on Twitter regarding last week’s online education post. This blog post will feature the issue again so we can provide even more information.
Many virtual options
With three different options – Florida Virtual School Classic, Florida Virtual School Full-time and district online programs – students and families can choose which virtual offering fits their needs the best. This chart helps explain the differences and benefits of each program.
Flexibility
Online education provides incredible flexibility for families on the go. Florida Virtual School (FLVS) students can participate in online courses at any time and have teachers available from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. for phone calls, parent-teacher-student conference calls, instant messaging and emails. (District online courses and programs also provide flexibility for accessing online courses and curriculum. Please contact your local administrator for details) for district teacher availability.
As an example, if Jane is leaving school early to attend acting classes from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. then goes to her brother’s soccer game at 4 p.m., she can take her algebra class at 6 p.m. when she gets home and still have access to her teacher.
Personal, individualized instruction
Even though the course is online, teachers can still hold live online lessons. Say the teacher is receiving a lot of questions from students about conjugating verbs in language arts. The teacher can then schedule a live lesson so she/he can respond to students’ questions as the class is going on – just like at a brick-and-mortar school.
Preparation for the future
In addition, most post-secondary schools offer online courses, and chances are your child will be enrolled in at least one. By taking online courses in high school, your child is better prepared for their future education.
Which online course choices would fit into your child’s schedule? Do you have questions about the difference between Florida Virtual School Classic, Florida Virtual School Full-time and district online options? We welcome questions in the comment section!