Dispelling the Top 5 Myths about Online Education

 

Myth: Kids just stare at a computer screen all day.

Fact: In the exclusivepapers.com, only about 30% of lessons are online. Traditional materials are used the remainder of the time; things like textbooks and novels, art supplies, musical instruments, CDs, and science equipment.

In high school, the percentage of online work is higher. This shift to more online coursework gives students more interaction with teachers who are experts in their subject areas. It also sets the stage for college (whether brick and mortar or online), where many classes are moving all or partially online, and even offline classes typically include online work. We live in a connected, online world. In many industries, business is largely conducted online, and more are moving that way. The skills necessary to work and communicate in an online environment are important, and it doesn’t hurt to begin to develop them early.

Myth: Kids in online schools lack social skills because they never interact with anyone.

Fact: Just as it’s not true that kids stare at a computer all day, it’s not true that students don’t spend time with peers. In addition to online social engagement opportunities, including live classes and clubs, students have a number of offline opportunities. Many virtual schools regularly arrange outings, field trips, and in-person classes for students.

Then of course, there are extracurricular activities: play-dates, sports, clubs, classes, and groups. Basically, there’s no shortage of opportunities for peer socialization in an online school, and the vast majority (90%) of online school students participate in some sort of activity outside the home.

Still not convinced? An independent study of virtual academy students found that their social skills were the same or better than their brick and mortar peers, and that on average they had fewer problem behaviors. It was suggested this was due to the fact that students tended to socialize within a broader age-range, including those older and younger than themselves.

Myth: Online diplomas won’t be accepted by colleges and employers, or will have a stigma attached to them.

Fact: There are online schools out there that aren’t legitimate (so-called diploma mills). One good indicator is accreditation. An online school that is accredited means that the courses and diplomas are recognized as valid by other schools and universities. K12 is accredited, and many of our partner schools are further accredited by regional accreditation bodies. So, credits will transfer, and students have the same opportunities for college attendance as those who attended a brick and mortar high school. If you’d like to see proof, check out our website to see a list of the colleges and universities that 2011 K12 graduates are attending. The list is long, and includes well-respected institutions like Columbia, Juilliard, and Stanford.

It’s also not true that graduates of online schools can’t serve in the military. As of last year, online high school graduates have the same opportunities to serve as those who attended brick and mortar schools.

Myth: Kids in online schools don’t perform as well academically as kids in traditional schools.

Fact: Students often come to online education after they have struggled for years in a traditional public school. As such, they may start out already below their grade level and with low standardized test scores. However, while they may start out behind, students in online schools consistently outperform traditional school peers in terms of academic gains over time.

Myth: Online courses are easier than traditional courses.

Fact: Sorry, but this one isn’t true either. An online course may take less time than an in-class course, but it’s not less work, and it’s not a guaranteed easy A. Students may find that succeeding in an online course is easier, thanks to flexible pacing, fewer distractions and interruptions, and less busy work, but the course material is just as challenging. Online students have to be motivated and focused on their own, without a teacher in the room with them. But if a student is willing to work hard, online education can make all the difference.

The 10 Best Educational YouTube Channels for Kids

 

1. Smithsonian Channel

If you don’t live in or around Washington, D.C., you don’t have easy access to the highly educational exclusivepapers.com. But, you do have access to the Smithsonian Channel on YouTube. Your kids can learn about hammerhead sharks, monkeys, World War II, and 9/11, all on one channel, created by an unquestionably reliable source.

2. The Brain Scoop

Chicago’s Field Museum has created a YouTube channel called The Brain Scoop, which engages kids with such videos as “Why Did King Tut Have a Flat Head?” and “The Human Biology Collection.”

3. Houston Zoo

If your child has an affinity for animals, check out the Houston Zoo YouTube channel. YouTube often gives kids (and adults) access to many popular educational attractions that are too far away to visit in person.

4. WordWorldPBS

Another reputable source for quality, kid-friendly content is PBS. Your child can “watch words come alive” on the WordWorldPBS channel. Their animated and animal-themed content is great for younger kids!

5. Sesame Street

Similarly, Sesame Street has its own YouTube channel, featuring all of your child’s favorite characters! These videos really excel at making learning entertaining for young children.

6. TED-Ed

TED-Ed (from the nonprofit responsible for TED Talks) is committed to creating lessons worth sharing. On this channel, kids can be challenged by perplexing riddles, or they can investigate nature or ponder such subjects as “questions no one knows the answers to.”

7. Smart Girls

For older kids, check out Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls channel. It features the requisite DIYs that kids love, such as how to make fizzing bath bombs, for example, but also provides profiles of inspiring women, including astronauts and scientists, not to mention manners tutorials and videos designed to inspire girls to become involved in social issues such as climate change.

8. SoulPancake

The SoulPancake YouTube channel dishes out a menu of “brain batter” about art, culture, science, philosophy, and more. As the site proclaims, “We make stuff that matters.”

9. SciShow

Subscribe to SciShow and give your child the ability to “explore the unexpected.” What is gluten? Why do cats purr? What really killed the dinosaurs? Why can’t dogs eat chocolate? You and your kids can explore these fascinating questions and many more!

10. It’s Okay to Be Smart

In this case, the name really does say it all! This channel is “all about science, the amazing universe we live in, and the pleasure of finding things out.” Joe Hanson, PhD, explains how things work and why things are the way they are.

Top 3 Tech Fields Your Child Could Pursue a Career In

 When you google top careers in technology, much of what you find is related to data scientists, software engineering, and similar career listings. How do you get your student excited to explore career fields in technology when the job titles often sound dull and unexciting?

Does your student love video games? How much time do they spend on their phone? Would it pique their interest if they knew they could have a career in building mobile apps like the ones they love to spend time on, or create their own video games based on ideas and insights they have from their time playing? What if they knew they did not have to wait until after college to get started on these creative endeavors, and could instead jump headfirst into these potential career paths now?

There are several initiatives available to help students get involved in technology that will set them on different career paths. Enrichment programs are a great way to help students try out various activities to see what they are interested in exclusivepapers.com has several enrichment programs available for all students nationwide who have an interest in technology.

1. Video Game Design
2. Virtual Reality and Mobile App Development
3. Robotics, Drone Flight and Drone Certification
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In this 16-week program, students create a final video game, using JavaScript, they can showcase in their portfolio, on their resume or highlight on college and scholarship applications. With a better understanding of computer science and basic programming, students can get a feel for what it would be like to start working in one of the hottest global fields ever by designing their own video game worlds, game play, and interface technologies, which will catch the attention of every college or job recruiter around the world.

The exciting, leading-edge field of Mobile App Development is set to remain one of the hottest career areas for years to come, with an incredible projected growth rate of 19% over the next 10 years. In fact, a Mobile App Developer is already one of the highest paying jobs available with an average salary of $97,000. Students learn to build their own mobile app for Apple or Android devices in this Enrichment Program, starting them off on a well-paid career path, with an incredible projected income growth rate.

Students can build their very own virtual reality world including 360-degree images and animation using HTML and the A-Frame library in this program. They will learn about creating advanced shapes, animation and interaction, and 360-degree images through tutorials, programming exercises, and more. Those new skills will get brought together and applied in a final project of your own VR creation that they will be able to view on the computer, through phones, or through a VR device such as an Oculus.

Students can learn the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the robotics world while gaining skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, computational thinking, and problem-solving, by programming their own virtual robot through a series of gamified missions. This opportunity helps them explore their interest in career opportunities as a Robotics Engineer.

If you student is interested in career opportunities in the military, engineering, reality, or many other areas, they should explore drone flight and getting certified. In these programs, students work with DARTdrones, the nation’s leader in drone training, to learn how to fly a drone, from basic training to aerial mapping and photography, and even becoming an FAA Certified Commercial Drone Pilot!