Jump to content

Menu
Giving You and Your Child a Road Map to the Best Possible Education
The Well-Trained Mind Community

FourOaks

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    553

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by FourOaks

    Online providers - lessons learned?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    If you don't mind, I'd like to offer some observations as an online teacher. I'm a homeschooling mom who utilizes online courses for my own kids, so I have experience from all sides.

     

    1. Realize that when you sign up for a course with an organization, you are agreeing to abide by their policies. Understand what the organization's policies are, read everything ahead of time, and don't expect the organization to change after your student begins taking classes. 

     

    2. Along those same lines, be aware that teachers must abide by the organization's policies. A teacher must do what he/she has agreed upon in his/her contract, and that can mean there isn't complete freedom on how classes run, grading, syllabi, extra credit, exceptions, and so on. 

     

    3. As someone has already stated, make sure that YOU read the course syllabus, not just once, but several times. Walk through the syllabus WITH your student. Explain to your student how it works and what is expected. Show your student how to check for updates to the syllabus, and expect them to do so. 

     

    4. Again reiterating what someone else posted -- make certain your student has ALL needed books and supplies BEFORE class begins. If you have any questions about materials, contact the teacher before the course begins and ask. If there are specific books listed, make sure that you purchase the correct editions or translations. Often ISBNs are included on booklists if it is important. Those numbers are included for a reason. Yes, you can purchase used, but you need to make certain you are getting what is going to be used in class. Again, if you are not sure, ASK before classes begin.

     

    5. Take the class seriously and make sure your student takes it seriously as well. Even if you do not plan to count the grade your student receives, you should still approach the coursework as though the grade matters. 

     

    6. As with most things in life, your student will only get out of a course what he/she puts into it. If your student is supposed to watch a lecture, complete an assignment, or read something prior to attending a live online class, make sure he/she does so. From my experience, it is much more difficult to keep a class engaged online when students are not prepared than it is in real life (and that is hard enough). Online teachers usually put a great deal of time into class planning and slides, and have expectations that students will come prepared for what will be discussed/taught. Things fall apart quickly when students aren't prepared. 

     

    7. Make absolutely certain that you have the correct technology available for your students before classes begin and check that technology regularly. If your student is expected to be on a webcam, make sure he/she has what is needed and that it works properly -- for the duration of the semester or year. If they need a microphone and you are told to use one with a USB, use a USB! Short-lived technical issues are a given with online courses, but expect that consistent issues will affect your student's grade -- especially if active participation is required.

     

    8. Know that teachers are not contracted to be available to students and parents 24/7. The usual requirement is responding within 24-48 hours. Parents need to understand AND help their students understand that if an email is sent at 10:00PM to a teacher on a Sunday night, the teacher may not be available to respond until 10:00PM Tuesday night (which falls within a 48 hour time frame). If your student happens to be in the same time zone as the teacher, that may mean your student won't see the response until Wednesday morning. Which leads to . . . 

     

    9. Make sure your student understands that waiting to complete an assignment until a teacher responds to a question is NOT acceptable. Students are expected to complete their work and turn it in on time regardless. 

     

    10. I don't know of any online teachers who do what they do because they are making money hand over fist. For the most part, they are very busy people (often home schoolers themselves -- at least within the homeschooling realm) who love their subjects and love to teach. I care about my online students just as I do students I teach live. I want them to learn and want to see them succeed. Don't look at online teachers as the enemy. Allow them to come alongside you in your endeavor to educate your child in the best way possible. 

     

    11. Life happens on BOTH sides of the computer screen. Online teachers understand that families experience difficulties. If you know of something, contact the teacher AHEAD of time. If it's something that simply could not have been avoided, let the teacher know as soon as possible. If your student is struggling, talk with the teacher immediately. It's so much easier to work with a student during a crisis or a difficult situation rather than dealing with the aftermath weeks or months later. (I hope this makes sense). Likewise, remember that your student's teachers have issues come up and can experience crisis as well. Students and parents don't know what might be going on in a teacher's life, so remember that any grace you extend will be very much appreciated by the teacher!

     

    12. Asynchronous online classes can be FABULOUS. Several asynchronous classes, year after year, can really wear on a student. If you see that your student is beginning to struggle or not enjoying classes as much after a lot of asynchronous courses, he/she might need a break. Even the most enthusiastic teacher gets boring in lectures after you've watched 150+ lectures. It's always good to find a live class to mix in with the asynchronous classes if at all possible. Burnout is definitely something to watch for if your student has been doing a lot of asynchronous classes. 

    There is much more I could add, but this is probably fine for now. I'm not trying to offend anyone. I'm just trying to help those who are considering the online route. It's a GREAT option, and one I've been especially grateful is available for my own kids as well as for me to teach. 

     

    • Like 14

    registering homeschooler for SAT

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I registered my dd for the PSAT and used the 970000 code as that is the ONLY one I could find. It did come up with NY but I figured it just had to be that way.

     

    Are you saying there actually ARE different homeschool state codes for the PSAT? My dd is a junior, so I need to make absolutely certain she has the correct information listed.

     

    Any assistance is greatly appreciated!! :)

    I have an irrational fear of...(let's share. I'll go first.)

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    We used to raise rattlesnakes for their skins when I was a child and we lived in New Mexico. Which meant hunting and catching them when they were little and keeping them alive in a pit until they got large enough. Water snakes though........I love the ocean but you can't pay me enough to swim in a lake or river.

    If you only knew what kind of feeling came over me just reading this, you would not believe it. there is NOTHING about this doesn't make me scream NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

    I have an irrational fear of...(let's share. I'll go first.)

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    You actually go INSIDE the reptile house????? :svengo: Not me! I stand outside and contemplate ways to end the life of the residents of the building. You remember that nasty snake that got loose a few years ago from the Zoo in NYC??? Somebody even tweeted on behalf of the darn thing. Nah....give the residents 24 hrs. to get out of town, and then level the place. Have some standards for pities sake! :D

    My thoughts EXACTLY!!! Never step foot into a reptile house. Snakes ARE evil---even tiny little garden snakes. If there were any way to rid the world of snakes, I would be 100% on board to do so. My kids are required to go through all of our books and place a post it note over any photo or drawing of a snake. If there is a photo or drawing of a snake while I am reading something! I FREAK OUT as though I was actually bitten. Just sitting here writing this while laying on my own couch makes me start breathing quickly and looking around me because I start visualizing a snake crawling around. Seriously, it's become more and more pronounced over the years to the point I often think that if I come upon a snake in real life, I may go into cardiac arrest. Even stranger, my sister is just like me.

×
×
  • Create New...