Debunking Myths and Misconceptions About Online School

You may be surprised to learn that many common concerns about online schooling are actually misconceptions. While many find it hard to imagine what virtual learning is really like, online schools can be one of the best ways for students to get a high-quality, flexible education anywhere in the world.  Here’s the truth behind some of the biggest online school myths. 

Myth 1: Online school students have to teach themselves 

One of the biggest misconceptions around online schooling is that students have to teach themselves, with little more than textbooks and online resources for support. However, the top online schools are a world away from this scenario — students attend live, interactive classes with qualified teachers every day, just as they would in a traditional school.  

Online teachers also provide help and guidance throughout the year to ensure students master each topic and get the best possible grades, just as they would in a physical setting. At the best virtual schools, these teachers are also experts in virtual learning as well as their chosen subjects. As such, they know exactly how to use digital classrooms to their full potential, bringing in innovative technologies to engage students. 

Myth 2: Online school students get no socialisation 

In traditional schools, children can chat and bond with each other in classes, in the cafeteria, and in the playground. When students are learning from the comfort of their own homes, how can they socialise with each other?  In reality, online school students get many opportunities to socialise, similarly to how they would communicate in a traditional school.  

In virtual lessons, students can talk with teachers, work in groups with their classmates, and interact through their webcams, microphones, and keyboards. Outside the classroom, great online schools can also run virtual clubs, organise extra-curricular activities, and provide safe social media platforms where students can form lifelong friendships, no matter where they are in the world. 

Myth 3: Online school students spend all day in front of a screen 

From computers to phones, modern parents often worry about screen time. While a from the University of Colorado-Boulder found that screen time is “likely not inherently harmful to our youth,” it can be hard to shake the feeling that children should spend more time enjoying life away from their devices. As such, the idea of going to school through a screen still leaves some parents feeling wary. 

Yet, the truth is that online school students don’t spend nearly as much time on a computer as you may think. For starters, while students do use their computers to watch lessons, not all learning at online schools happens on a screen. Instead, students often step away from their devices to read textbooks, create art, take part in PE, and more.   

In addition, virtual classes typically eliminate the distractions and disruptions often found in traditional lessons, making them shorter in length without compromising on learning time. In turn, online school students get a shorter school day, giving them plenty of time to spend away from gadgets.  

The best online schools also record every lesson — a perk many learners use to fit schooling around their dreams in the wider world. When students can catch up with their learning at a time that suits them, they’re never bound to their computers. 

Bringing the British curriculum to children aged seven to 18 around the world, online school King’s InterHigh ensures every student gets expert teaching, global socialisation, and much more. For an online education that nurtures and fulfils your child’s unique potential, check out the King’s InterHigh website to discover study options or discuss admissions.