Distance Education

There are many pros and cons to virtual schools depending on the student’s needs and abilities. Only the individual student themselves can decide what the real pros and cons are. What is a pro for one person can be a con for another depending on the student’s lifestyle.

Virtual schools are not for every student and many cannot learn effectively in this environment but there are also many benefits. The first pro for virtual schools is the flexibility. Many parents decide a great portion of their child’s schedule and tailor it to the student’s needs. If the parent is the teacher they have the chance to spend a lot of quality time with their child and help create a bond. Parents can also monitor their child’s progress more closely and only teach what they find appropriate. Many skills are also learned in virtual schools such as self-motivation and becoming an independent learner.

One of the negatives of going to a virtual school is being isolated from other students. There is not the same daily interaction between classmates in a virtual school as there would be in a traditional classroom. Most of the class work is also done independently and student to student interaction in limited. There can also be a loss of social skills because of this. Virtual schools can also be missing other extracurricular activities like athletics, clubs, and organizations. It is also difficult for students to receive various forms of feedback. If there is only one teacher the feedback is limited. Students also do not get to experience various styles of teaching.

To determine the readiness of students to participate in distance delivery the student must be committed, determined, and independent. If the student does not have these qualities a virtual school would not be the right choice. To be able to teach a virtual school you would need the same qualities as a student that is ready for virtual schooling. Teachers have to be prepared for a drastic change and weigh all of the pros and cons before teaching.