Cyberschool: Education for the Computer Age

"What will I do when they get to high school?" This is a question commonly asked by homeschooling parents. One option is to homeschool your children straight through high school, but then they won't have a diploma and will have to write SAT's. A second option is to do distance learning, but the delay caused by "turnaround time" can make completion of the program difficult. Before you start filling out registration forms for public school, what about considering a third option: cyberschooling, or education via the Internet? This article will explain what cyberschooling is, how it works, and why it may be an option for your child.

Cyberschooling is a phenomenon that's been around for several years now, but is probably less well-known than homeschooling. It's almost a combination of "homeschooling" and public schooling because students still work at home, but they attend a publicly-funded school, complete a government curriculum, and receive a government diploma when they graduate. As the name suggests, work is completed over the computer and handed in online; the entire school exists solely in cyberspace on a server. You don't actually need to know much about computers to begin cyberschooling. Cyberschools have technology support staff who are available via email and phone to help you get set up, and you may be able to attend an information session in advance where they will show you the basics of how the school works. Once you start cyberschooling, you may be required to complete a "technology orientation" course before regular classes start. This course will help you to understand how the school works and what your responsibilities will be as a cyberstudent (and the parent of a cyberstudent-there is usually a course for parents as well).

Getting started with cyberschool is actually easier than it sounds. The first thing you'll need to do is find a school to register with. Note that it doesn't necessarily have to be a school based in your province or state because some schools will accept international students (though the cost is usually higher). Depending on the school you go with, you may be able to rent a computer from them or you may have to use your own. If the latter is the case they will send you the software that you'll need to install. The textbooks your child will need will either be couriered to you or, if you live close to the school office, you may be able to pick them up directly. Then, all you need to do is start doing your work and handing in assignments!

Typically, education occurs directly through the school server. Lessons may be sent either directly to a folder specific to the subject, or else posted on a website that can be accessed through the school server. Work to be handed in may need to be sent to a hand-in folder (where only the teacher can read messages) or else to a discussion folder, where students can read and respond to each other's messages as if they were having an in-class discussion. The teacher will indicate where to send each assignment. Your child can also email a teacher privately for extra help, and some teachers will organize help sessions at specific times using an online whiteboard. This is particularly helpful for subjects such as math and science, where it can be hard to describe something and answer specific questions using email alone.

Once you begin cyberschooling, you will become familiar with one of its greatest benefits: flexible scheduling. Some teachers may send work to be completed every day, but in most cases, an assignment will be given on Monday to be handed in by the end of the week (Friday or Sunday deadlines are typical). It's up to your child how he/she will organize the week so all the work is done. If your child becomes ill or has a particularly busy week due to other commitments, most teachers are willing to extend deadlines given advance notice.

Social interaction is important to children and is certainly possible in cyberschool. As a cyberstudent, your child can email other students on the server, engage cyberfriends in private real-time text chats, and post messages in public forums. Typically, privileges are set up so that elementary students can only interact online with elementary students, junior high students can only interact with junior high students, and high school students can only interact with high school students. Parents can only interact with other parents, and of course everyone can interact with teachers. This way, you won't need to worry that your Grade 5 student is emailing someone who graduated three years ago and is upgrading. You should be aware that a "code of conduct" exists and will be outlined by the school. If your child posts something inappropriate, his/her privileges to access public forums will be taken away temporarily or permanently depending on the circumstances. In addition to communicating online, some cyberschools have face-to-face conferences and activities during the year to allow students to meet. This may include a year-end celebration and high-school graduation. Face-to-face conferences typically consist of fun activities set up by staff and students, parent-teacher-student interviews, and sometimes opportunities to take school and grad photos. Time is also set aside for students and parents to interact with people they know only as a screen name. Meeting someone in person for the first time can be great fun; plus there is the added benefit that you've already built a relationship based on personality, not on physical appearance.

If you're concerned about not having a role in your child's education anymore, you'll be pleased to learn that parents play an important part in the cyberschool experience. You or your spouse will need to act as a "key parent" for your child. You'll receive your own password and your own account on the school server, where you can email and chat with other parents, discuss concerns in the parents' forum, supervise your child's schoolwork, and download tests and answer keys for your child. It's a good idea to check the school at least twice a week to stay abreast of assignments and ensure your child has handed in completed work.

Now, some answers to common questions. Option courses such as work experience, food and fashion studies, and shop classes are available on cyberschool. Work experience hours are completed independently and your child's supervisor sends a written report to the school. Likewise, fashion and shop project evaluations will need to be submitted by someone you know who is knowledgeable in these areas. (For these reports, you'll need to send them by snail mail or else scan them and email them.) Your kitchen will become the school foods lab, and your family will become the official taste-testers. Foods reports are completed by your child directly and submitted by email. Depending on where you live, you might also have the option of enrolling your child in public school for certain option classes such as drama and band, while keeping him/her in cyberschool for other subjects. Phys ed works a bit differently. Your child will complete fitness tests at home a few times a year and receive some assignments, as well as a certain number of physical activity hours to complete. Hours are logged online and you'll have to validate them for your child. It's important to note that some of these hours must be group activities, so you'll want to sign your child up for local programs. They don't necessarily need to be sports activities-even dance classes or (for individual activities) walking the family dog can be used as phys ed hours.

Another important note concerns when you should start your child in cyberschool. Currently, Grade 4 is about the lowest level available. If your child is an elementary school student, he/she may be required to take keyboarding classes. Just because Grade 4 is available, though, doesn't mean your child must start at that level. Cyberschool requires a great deal of self-discipline and your child may not be prepared to assume so much responsibility yet. High school is also not too late to start. Some cyberstudents are people who have already graduated but are taking extra classes to upgrade. Others are public-school students who have opted to take one or two courses through the school. If you don't think you'd be able to do cyberschool full-time, part-time studies may be an alternative for high school students. You'll need to decide what's best for your child.

Cyberschool is considered an alternative option to traditional schooling, but it is rapidly becoming more popular. Cyberstudents can be and are just as successful as their public-schooled peers, and have the added benefit of familiarity with technology. My family is one such success story. I attended cyberschool full-time from Grade 9 until I graduated valedictorian. I went on to earn a bachelor of nursing (with distinction) and am currently employed as a registered nurse. I intend to begin a master's of nursing next fall. My younger brother and sister also graduated from cyberschool; he is working on a bachelor of music and she has a certificate in early childhood education. My three youngest brothers are enrolled in cyberschool full-time and doing very well with their program. We are living proof that cyberschool works and that it may be an option for your family. You want the best for your child-consider cyber education!