Here are a few reasons why choosing the right education can be challenging for parents:
- The abundance of options: There are numerous types of educational institutions to choose from, including public schools, private schools, charter schools, homeschooling, and more. Sifting through all of these options and determining which one is best for their child can be challenging for parents.
- Cost: The cost of education is a significant concern for many families. Private schools can be expensive, and homeschooling often requires a significant investment in resources and materials.
- Academic standards: Parents want their children to receive a quality education that will prepare them for the future. Evaluating the academic standards and curriculum of each educational institution can be difficult and time-consuming.
- Learning environment: Different children thrive in different learning environments. Some may do well in a structured, traditional classroom setting, while others may benefit from a more hands-on, experiential approach. Parents must determine what type of learning environment is best for their child.
- Teacher quality: The quality of a school's teachers can greatly impact a child's education and overall experience. Parents may struggle to assess the quality of teachers and determine if they are a good fit for their children.
- Personal values and beliefs: Each family has their own values and beliefs, and they want its children's education to align with those values. Choosing an educational institution that reflects these values can be a challenge.
Making the right choice for their child's education is important for parents, and it can be a difficult decision to make. It requires careful consideration of many factors and a willingness to invest time and effort into the research process. This has all been made more complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the way it’s changed online education options, for better and worse.
In this guide, we’re helping you better understand the similarities and differences between public and private online education, and how your family can benefit from the options.
Your Guide to How Online Private School Differs from Online Public School
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the landscape of education, with the widespread closure of schools leading to the emergence of remote learning. Remote learning refers to education that takes place outside of a traditional classroom setting, using technology such as computers, smartphones, and the internet to deliver course content and facilitate communication between teachers and students.
Here are a few key points about the emergence of remote learning during the pandemic that are important to this discussion.
Four Observations About the Emergence of Remote Learning
- Rapid adoption: With schools closed due to the pandemic, remote learning became a necessity, leading to a rapid increase in its adoption. Teachers, students, and parents had to quickly adapt to this new mode of learning, and many schools and districts had to scramble to provide technology and support for remote learning.
- Challenges and limitations: Remote learning has presented many challenges and limitations, including unequal access to technology and internet connectivity, difficulties with engagement and motivation, and the need for additional support for students with special needs.
- New opportunities: Despite its challenges, remote learning has also opened up new opportunities for education, such as increased flexibility and the ability to reach a wider audience. Additionally, remote learning has shown the potential for innovative approaches to education, such as blended learning and online classes.
- Uncertain future: While remote learning has become an essential part of education during the pandemic, it is unclear what its future will look like. Some experts predict that remote learning will continue to play a significant role in education, even after the pandemic has subsided, while others believe that traditional in-person education will make a full return.
The emergence of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major turning point in education, and its impact will continue to be felt for years to come. The pandemic has accelerated the development and adoption of remote learning, and it has opened up new opportunities for education and innovation.
The Downside of Remote Learning at Public Schools
While remote learning offers increased flexibility and the ability to reach a wider audience, it has also presented difficulties, including:
- Technology and connectivity issues: Access to technology and reliable internet connectivity is essential for remote learning, but not all students have equal access. This can lead to disparities in the quality of education and opportunities for students.
- Difficulty with engagement and motivation: Maintaining student engagement and motivation can be a challenge in remote learning, as students may feel isolated and disconnected from their teachers and classmates.
- Lack of social interaction: Social interaction and relationships with peers and teachers play an important role in a student's education, but remote learning can make it difficult for students to build and maintain these relationships.
- Need for additional support: Students with special needs, such as those with learning disabilities or limited English proficiency, may require additional support that is more difficult to provide in a remote learning environment.
- Teacher workload and burnout: The shift to remote learning has placed additional demands on teachers, who may struggle to provide quality instruction and support for their students, leading to an increased workload and the risk of burnout.
- Disruption of traditional learning and assessment methods: Remote learning often requires a different approach to teaching and assessment, to which it can be challenging for both students and teachers to adapt.
- Inequities in access to resources: In many cases, remote learning requires students to have access to a computer, internet connection, and other resources, which can create inequities between students.
While remote learning became a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, it also presented several difficulties that impacted students, teachers, and the quality of education. Addressing these difficulties was critical to ensuring that remote learning was effective and equitable for all students. In some cases, these challenges were not addressed adequately.
Can private online education improve upon what has happened with remote learning at the public school level?
How Private School Online School Works
One of the problems with a public online school is that it emerged as an adaptation born out of necessity. Public education was not designed with remote learning in mind. Educators did the best they could with what they had, even exceeding expectations; however, an online private school can meet the needs of students and families because it’s designed to be online.
Ignite Learning Academy is a private online school that takes the best aspects of remote learning and improves upon them. The school combines the flexibility and convenience of remote learning with the structure and support of traditional in-person education. Here are a few ways in which Ignite Learning Academy stands out from other remote learning programs:
- Personalized curriculum: Ignite Learning Academy offers a personalized curriculum that is tailored to each student's individual needs, interests, and learning styles. This allows students to progress at their own pace and receive the support they need to succeed.
- Highly qualified teachers: The school's faculty is made up of highly qualified teachers who are experienced in online teaching and dedicated to providing students with a supportive and engaging learning environment.
- Interactive and collaborative learning: Ignite Learning Academy uses interactive and collaborative learning tools, such as video conferencing, online forums, and group projects, to foster student engagement and build a sense of community among students and teachers.
- Access to resources: Students at Ignite Learning Academy have access to a wide range of resources, including online textbooks, multimedia materials, and technology tools, to support their learning.
- Regular assessments and feedback: Regular assessments and feedback from teachers help students to track their progress and identify areas for improvement. Teachers are available via phone, email, and Zoom. Zoom is our preferred method when teaching students as it allows students to view the teacher’s screen in order to better understand the material being taught.
- Flexibility and convenience: Ignite Learning Academy provides students with the flexibility to attend classes from anywhere, at any time, making it an ideal option for families who may have demanding schedules or who live in remote areas.
Ignite Learning Academy Online School
Ignite Learning Academy is a mastery-based school, which means your child will never find themselves in a circumstance where they move forward in the curriculum without a solid grasp on the preceding skills.
In conclusion, Ignite Learning Academy offers a unique approach to remote learning that combines the best aspects of traditional education with the convenience and flexibility of remote learning.
By providing students with a personalized curriculum, highly qualified teachers, and access to resources, the school helps students to achieve their full potential and succeed in their academic and personal goals.
If you would like to know more about how your child can thrive in our private online school, reach out to the team at Ignite Learning Academy!