While traditional schooling has always been considered the most effective form of learning for students aged 8 to 19, there has been a recent shift in the structure of modern education.
After being struck by a global pandemic, the education system suffered massive cracks. Students were forced to switch from traditional learning to online learning. The uncertainty and stress triggered by the pandemic further exacerbated academic anxiety amongst children.
As students were thrust into a new form of learning, they initially struggled to navigate the ebbs and flows of online education. However, it didn’t take long for most students to acclimatise to virtual learning.
According to a recent study, students reported high levels of satisfaction with online learning. In fact, digital learning is expected to rapidly popularise following the COVID-19 pandemic. 85% of students who have experienced both online learning and traditional learning prefer the latter.
With virtual learning rapidly popularising across the globe, students and parents are increasingly looking into long-term online schooling. Digital learning is expected to continue for years and decades down the road.
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While the benefits of switching to online learning are evident for many, some people are still struggling to jump on the bandwagon. Among the overwhelming support for virtual schooling, there’s also a fair share of scepticism.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through some of the most pronounced reasons why online schooling is gaining traction in light of the pandemic. By the end of it, you’ll have a good grasp of why millions of parents and children are eagerly switching to online schooling.
1. Enhanced Flexibility
Compared to mainstream learning, online learning offers a lot of flexibility. Students who attend traditional school often feel drained, overwhelmed, and fatigued. This is commonly caused by the fast-paced, high-pressure, unhealthily competitive, and stressful learning environment that they’re placed in.
By switching to online school, students can benefit from a structured—albeit flexible—schedule. As they balance their academics and social life, they feel more content, and are able to focus on their self-enrichment journey. This delicate balance goes a long way in improving children’s mental health.
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Parents who have younger children can create a healthy schedule that balances study time and playtime. As children grow academically, they’re also able to develop a wide range of skills by engaging in new activities and exploring their interests outside of school.
More importantly, there’s little to no risk of students feeling exhausted after a long day at school. As they retain their energy levels, they’re able to navigate the day more diligently.
In most cases, traditional schooling tires out children within a matter of hours. Instead of consistently and evenly consuming their energy throughout the day, children deplete it quickly. This causes them to lose interest in afterschool activities. The high levels of pressure and stress also take a toll on their academic growth, which requires utmost focus and present-mindedness.
By regulating the pace, online school allows children to absorb and retain knowledge more effectively. The flexibility enables them to focus on multiple aspects of their life, and become well-rounded individuals.
2. Health and Well-Being
As traditional schools gradually reopen, it’s important to note that the risk of the pandemic hasn’t been entirely eliminated. In fact, it’s still prevalent. Amidst hopes of reaching herd immunity in the near future, there’s a lot of skepticism, and for good reason.
The anti-vaccination movement has been rapidly growing across the UK. As millions of people refuse to get vaccinated, they’re inadvertently putting others at risk.
Parents are increasingly fearful of the repercussions of sending their children to school. If your child interacts with an unvaccinated child, they could potentially contract the virus—even if they’re wearing a mask. Ultimately, parents cannot confidently guarantee their children’s safety until we reach herd immunity.
Online learning helps parents heave a big sigh of relief. Children who attend online school benefit from a healthy, safe, and interactive learning environment. Parents can protect their children’s health and well-being without compromising on the quality of education they receive.
This added benefit is compelling millions of parents to switch to online schooling. In the near future, online learning is expected to become the go-to form of learning for parents who wish to protect their children’s safety.
In addition to keeping children safe from the COVID-19 virus, online schooling also protects them from other detrimental obstacles like school bullying, harassment, and peer pressure, to name a few.
As a parent, there’s little to no way you can confidently protect your child from these vices. Once you send your child to school, you can only hope that the teachers will play an active role in protecting each student’s mental health. Since traditional schools mostly have large classroom sizes, ultimately, there’s only so much intervention a teacher can do.
In contrast, online schooling offers a much smaller classroom size. At Cambridge Home School, we limit each group to 8 to 10 pupils. This helps our teachers regulate the classes exceptionally well, and give each student one-on-one attention.
By creating a safe space, they’re able to eliminate the risk of offhand bullying, discreet comments, hurtful teasing, or any other form of verbal harm. With greater regulation, children can benefit from a healthy, protected, and enriching online learning environment.
Parents are encouraged to take these measures during the formative years of their child’s development. By making the switch to online school, they can protect their child from developing common school-related mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
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3. High Quality of Education
During the initial stages of the pandemic, many parents were hesitant about making the switch to online learning for their children. Older students were also concerned that their academic performance would be impacted. However, these fears were quickly dispelled.
Contrary to popular belief, online schooling is extremely effective. Owing to the high quality of online education, many parents are making the switch from conventional learning to online learning.
However, there’s a caveat. Today, there are thousands of online schools to choose from. Unfortunately, they don’t uphold the same quality of education.
As a parent, making an informed decision is crucial for your child’s academic growth. We recommend taking time and shortlisting the most esteemed online schools.
As one of the leading institutions for online school UK year 8, we provide a quality British education to motivated English-speaking students in the UK, Europe (including Western Russia), Africa, and the Middle East.
We have a team of MA/Ph.D. qualified subject specialist teachers on board to ensure your child performs exceptionally well.
In addition, our comprehensive online library is replete with academic resources, including high-quality videos and presentations. Each resource has been carefully put together to help students revise. They can reach out to their teachers for swift support and access the resources to clarify complex concepts in a timely manner.
Our faculty is our first line of defense; our online library is the second.
By maintaining a high quality of education, we help our students get accepted to some of the leading universities across the globe, including the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Stanford University, Harvard University, Columbia University, Yale University, and Princeton University, among others.
By offering an independent curriculum, we equip your child with the knowledge, resources, insight, tools, and guidance they need to secure top grades.
Recommended Read: Simple Ways to Help Your Child Become a Better Learner
4. Faster Learning and Enhanced Retention
According to research, online learning increases retention rates by an astounding 25–60%. Compared to a conventional school, online school enhances one-on-one interaction between teachers and students. With enhanced engagement, students are able to absorb and retain knowledge more effectively.
Alternatively, traditional school leaves a lot of room for students to lose interest, zone out, or shift their attention to something else. This is largely because of the high pupil-teacher ratio (PTR). In some schools, the PTR is as high as 40:1. At the lowest, it’s 30:1.
As engagement drops, students become less involved in the lessons. Consequently, they retain less knowledge, and require external help (afterschool tuition, parental assistance, etc.) to do well on their exams.
By enabling students to interact with their teachers as frequently and as comprehensively as they’d like to, online schooling makes the learning process more efficient. Students don’t have to get an afterschool tutor or enter panic mode because of insufficient preparation prior to their exams. Instead, they can confidently sit their exams and secure top grades.
5. Accessibility and Convenience
In 2021, technology has taken centre stage. According to research, the average British household comprises approximately nine connected devices, including smartphones, computers, tablets, etc. In fact, a whopping 96% of British households have a stable Wi-Fi connection.
As the internet continues to become the epicentre of our lives, our reliance on technology has skyrocketed. Today, it’s easier for people to order something online as opposed to driving to their local grocery store.
This convenience has also seeped into the realm of education.
Online learning is extremely accessible. By setting up a computer with a stable Wi-Fi connection, parents can provide their children with a quality education.
Compared to traditional schooling, online schooling is also a lot more affordable and disability-friendly. Students who have trouble accessing and navigating traditional schools can conveniently receive a quality education from home.
Online learning eliminates a lot of common barriers that are found in traditional schooling.
Recommended Read: Scholarships and Bursaries at Cambridge Home School
6. Personal Development
When schools first started shutting down in March 2020, parents were concerned about their children’s personal growth and development.
Would online schooling help children build on their skills? Would they get a chance to develop essential soft skills? Or would their self-enrichment journey be nipped in the bud?
These concerns were—and still are—extremely valid. By switching to online learning for their kids, parents worried about how the lack of in-person interaction would affect them.
At Cambridge Home School, we understand that traditional schooling plays a big role in a child’s personal development. We’ve carefully created a curriculum that focuses on instilling moral values and ethical responsibilities in children, especially those between the ages of 8 and 14.
By helping children explore their interests and develop key soft skills, we’re committed to ensuring each student becomes a responsible, compassionate, and well-rounded individual.
Recommended Read: How to Maintain Your Child’s Social Life When Homeschooling
Our focus on children’s personal development has helped a lot of parents make the switch to online learning. By dispelling their doubts and fears, we’ve made the transition a lot easier and stress-free.
We utilise a lot of unique strategies and tools to promote a child’s personal growth. From setting up activities that promote critical thinking to facilitating interactions that inculcate integrity and empathy in children, we play an active role in helping them self-improve.
As high school online learning school continues to popularise across the UK, it could potentially replace traditional schooling in the long run. Parents are increasingly familiarising themselves with the benefits of providing an online education to their children. As the benefits become more pronounced with time, this transition is expected to burgeon on an international scale.
If you’re considering switching to online school for your children, we can help you get started. At Cambridge Home School, we provide a quality British education across four schools: Primary Prep School (ages 8 to 10), Lower School (ages 11 to 13), Upper School/IGCSEs (ages 14 to 16), and Sixth Form/A Levels (ages 17 to 19).
Motivated English-speaking students in the UK, Europe (including Western Russia), Africa, and the Middle East are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our international school online, check out our reviews page and admissions page.
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FAQ
Why is Online Schooling Gaining Popularity?
Online schooling has gained significant traction due to the flexibility it offers and the heightened health and safety measures it provides, especially during the pandemic. It’s a long-term educational solution that is increasingly attracting students and parents.
How Does Online Learning Affect Student Wellness?
Online learning offers a structured yet flexible schedule, which has proven to improve children’s mental health. The virtual environment also protects students from hazards like school bullying, peer pressure, and health risks such as COVID-19.
What is the Quality of Education Like in Online Schooling?
Online schools often provide high-quality education, comparable to or even exceeding traditional schools. They feature lower pupil-teacher ratios and offer more individualised attention. However, the quality can vary, so it’s crucial to select a reputable online school.
Is Online Schooling More Effective for Learning and Retention?
Research shows that online learning can increase retention rates by 25–60% compared to traditional schooling. The one-on-one interaction and higher engagement levels contribute to this effectiveness.
What About Personal Development in Online Schools?
Many online schools, including Cambridge Home School, focus on the personal development of their students. They incorporate activities that promote critical thinking and instil moral values, aiming to create well-rounded individuals.