Online school for 6th, 7th & 8th graders

This is about home schooling or online schooling for 6th, 7th and 8th graders, the pros and the cons. Worth reading.

The Q:

The state department of education has provided funding for an experimental online school. All of the classes will take place on the internet using email,online chat, and the world wide wed. The students taking classes at this new online school will never meet each other face-to-face . Do you think that 6th,7th,and 8th grade students should or shouldn't attend school online.

The As:

1) I did school online for my 8th grade year and even though you're at home and able to listen to music or whatever while doing school, I wouldn't recommend it. It was easy for me to get into a website and forget about it and hard for me to concentrate on a computer screen for so long. I didn't understand the material, especially math, that well and actually had to redo that year of math because I was so lost and confused. Overall I say, stick to the books.

2) Which curriculum will this school use - I assume K12 (virtual academies) or Calvert (Connections Academy)? I've used K12 as an independent HS'er for my son for over 4 years and it is an *awesome* curriculum - especially in the middle school years.Most virtual schools do have some "meet and greet" opportunities for students. They can also meet via virtual whiteboards. In addition, you can meet other HS students from local groups.This is a great option for many. So if it fits the family and student dynamic, it can be a *wonderful* experience.

So, you choose...

Responses about Online Schools (online schools)

Online Schools

While browsing the internet, i tried typing in this question at one of the Q&A websites :- DO ONLINE SCHOOLS REALLY WORK?

And here are a few of the best answers that I get:-

1) I am now attending an online school. I enjoy it so much. I have learned alot and am still learning. I have to say that that taking courses on line is a challenge because you have to figure things out on your own with basically no help. My classmates and I help each other a great deal. If time is a problem I would recommend on line classes.

2)I'd be really careful about online schools. If you want to get a degree online, you should definitely register with a college or university in your area. That way you know they are legitimate. Of course, taking that route, it's very unlikely that all the courses you need for a specific degree will be offered online, and since the courses you'll be taking would be online you'll probably be looking forward to a lot of report writing. In other words, it isn't neccessarily easier, especially when three classes want 5-10 page reports and they're all due at the same time! That said, I would consider where my priorities really lie. If you really want to go to school, if you're really looking for a better job, and a better future, either way you go, you may want to consider dropping that full time job, getting a part-time one, and doing without and sacrificing for those few years it will take to give you something greater in the end.

3)THE BEST ANSWER:-
I can most definitely answer this question. I've completed my Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies via online school through Kaplan University. They are an online school as well as have a campus in Davenport, Iowa. You can also apply for FAFSA and PELL GRANTS through the Department of Education -- this online school takes federal funds so they are 100% legitimate. You don't have to put on your resume that you obtained your college degree via online schools. Online schools are the way to go and work full-time. However, I don't advise taking more than 2 classes a term. For undergrad, the cost of books is included in the tuition -- a cool feature. The terms are 10 weeks and you have almost a two week break in between terms. The class week starts on Wednesday and ends midnight Tuesday night (all assignments are due at midnight -- 5 points are deducted the first week the assignment is late and 10 pts for each additional week). If you know you're going to be late delivering an assignment, notify the instructor ahead of time and you might not lose any points. The online instructors are professionals who not only teach online, they also teach on land and some are practicing the profession. Yes there can be a lot of reading and writing --espeically within my degree, however, if you have good time management skills, you will do well. Some Kaplan courses are going to online text and you will receive numerous websites with so much information you don't have to read the text. You have message board questions that you have to answer and respond to at least 2 postings that have been left by your classmates. This number depends on the instructor, however, the more indepth your posts, the better points you will receive. Don't be afraid of the 5-10 page papers -- they are double spaced and the only papers that will be that long are mid-term and finals. Those exams will either be multiple choice and/or essay. The instructors have limits because they teach more than one class.

You will have a weekly seminar which you meet with the instructor and your classmates from your online school in real-time -- not a recorded video. Right after the seminar, you can download and save a copy of the transcript. The instructors do check their emails and will respond to any inquiries you may have.It is my belief that online school is great for anyone that works 40 hours a week. You can come home, relax, have dinner, do homework, be with your family and obtain a degree from your online school. Kaplan also offers credit for any work or certifications you've received. A computer class was in my curriculum, however, since I'm a CompTIA Certified PC Repair Tech, Kaplan gave me credit.

I hope that these answers from those who have first hand experience with online school could give us some picture about what to expect from online school. I will try to find more information about online schools, the pros and the cons etc. So stay tuned!!

Online schools

Online Bachelor Degree Programs Go Mainstream

The Internet has seen an explosion in online bachelor degree programs in the last five to ten years and this trend should continue to expand rapidly in the future. In large part the increasing popularity of online bachelor degree programs is due to the now common acceptance of a bachelor degree from on online university as equivalent to what can be obtained at any bricks and mortar school.

When online classes first began springing up on the Internet in the 1980s, they were primarily focused on certificate programs or technical degrees. Some of the schools were started virtually overnight and did not have proper accreditation and the reputation of online schooling became tarnished as a result.

However, in the last decade there has been a significant turn-around. There are several reasons for this new attitude, due largely to the increasingly exceptional education that can be had through an online university.

Today's online bachelor degree programs rival traditional university classes. Colleges and universities that had already established reputations as traditional schools long before hitting the Internet now offer these online programs. Employers know that the curriculum is identical whether the course is online or in a classroom, so the education is top-notch in either case. In fact, there is often more one-on-one attention with an online bachelor degree program because each student can regularly communicate directly with the professor by email to get feedback and direction.Good online bachelor degree programs are now accredited by the same agencies that accredit more traditional colleges and universities.

Three accreditation organizations that are recognized by the Federal Government as high quality indicators are the U.S. Department of Education, Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Any online universities accredited by one of these councils offers a program recognized as at least equal to a bachelor's degree program at a traditional post-secondary school. In fact, if you graduate from an online bachelor degree program today you will receive a diploma that is no different from the one that students attending the residential college will receive. You will have completed the same curriculum, including taking core requirement classes, and will graduate with the same knowledge.

When applying for jobs, employers will not know whether you attended traditional classes or online classes because it is no longer acknowledged on official transcripts or diplomas.Employers favor online bachelor degree programs for their employees. Employers have always known the value of allowing employees to pursue a college education. In the past, this was usually done through night and weekend classes and the employer sometimes reimbursed costs. Unfortunately many class schedules aren't flexible and employers began to realize the expense of university classes in both money and time.

An online bachelor degree program has become the ideal solution for employers who encourage an education for employees. They can set their own pace and work schooling around their work schedule. The cost of online classes is generally less than the classroom setting as well, making it attractive for company reimbursement programs. Finally, employers appreciate the additional opportunities that an online bachelor degree program can offer. Because individuals do all of the work online, location is not an issue. If a computer salesman with an associate's degree would like to focus on a Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems, for instance, he can look for an online university anywhere in the United States that offers this specialized degree. With everyone from accrediting agencies to employers giving them high marks, online bachelor degree programs have firmly arrived in the educational mainstream.

4 Important Steps in Choosing an Online Bachelor Degree

There are many types of online bachelor degree programs offered by online universities. The same programs offered by different universities may different in term the courses and total credits to complete the bachelor program. If you are deciding to pursue your degree online, it is best for you to take some research and consideration. Here are 4 important steps that you need to go through in selecting an online bachelor degree that best fit your needs.

Step 1: Choose the Type of Degree to Earn

Before you go and search for bachelor degree programs offered by various online schools, you must first understand yourself what type of degree that you intend to earn. What are the purposes of earning the degree? Are you going to use this degree for your career advancement, job promotion or just for your own knowledge improvement? Outlining your subjects of interest will help you narrow down your choices.

Step 2: Ensure The Online School Is Fully Accredited

Once you have chosen the type of degree to earn, the second step is to find an online bachelor degree of your choice. There should have many online schools offering the same program. While short listed out the schools that offer the degree of your choice, it is important to confirm that the schools are fully accredited by the accrediting agency approved by Department of Education. This is to ensure any future employers or schools will know that you have completed a quality education. Once you have the accreditation information confirmed for your listed schools, then you can request these schools to send you the detail information your selected degree.

Step 3: Consider The Tuition Cost

Each degree program that you are interested in will have different requirements for credits, and each school has it fee structure that price the credit accordingly. While choosing the online bachelor degree program that contains the courses which match your requirements, you may want to check the fee charged for each credit to save costs on your tuition bill.Beside the tuition cost, if you are looking for financial aids to support your study, then you need to check with the schools on their financial aids packages which you are qualified for.

Step 4: Learn About the Admission Requirement

The final step of finding the appropriate online bachelor degree program is to understand the admission requirements. You may need to submit the SAT or ACT score and prepare an essay for admission application. Most online schools have online chat available where you can directly chat with the admission officer if you have any question. You can also send your inquiry via email or directly contact the admission officer through the phone. Once you have all the information in hand, then you can prepare the application of the program offered by your selected school.

Summary

You need to take some research and consideration of the online bachelor degree program you are interested in. The 4 important steps will guide you to look into every aspects of consideration during the process of selecting your degree of choice.

What Is School Accreditation?

In general terms, accreditation is the means by which a school is officially recognized as a provider of a satisfactory education that public institutions (i.e. employers) can trust. It is a voluntary process that requires the school to meet minimum requirements that are established by various regional accrediting agencies.

The lack of one official accrediting agency creates an opportunity for sub par online schools that are trying to obtain students through any means possible. In other words, just about any organization can say that they are an accrediting agency, so potential online school enrollers should do their research before signing up for classes at a particular online school.

Sadly, a number of online schools create false accrediting agencies in order to make candidates think that they are trustworthy and established. To avoid this conflict, be sure to check whether or not an online school is accredited by one of the six major regional accrediting agencies. These include the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA), Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA), Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU).

If your online school is accredited by one of the above agencies, your degree will be seen as legitimate by most employers. However, if your online school is not accredited by one of the above agencies but by a false accrediting agency, your degree may not be acceptable to most employers.

Web-Based Tools for Finding Online Schools

The first step to take while researching your educational options is to browse an online degree resource like the website World Wide Learn where you can find programs right from associate degrees to PhDs.

You will find that, because of the growing demand for online education, many of the non-traditional universities and colleges, such as the University of Phoenix, among many others, are offering quality programs that are on par with the regular campus based ones.

Another resource, such as the website Get Educated, gives you rankings for online colleges, thus enabling you to see who offers the top MBA program or a Nursing program from among hundreds of options.

Also depending on your learning skills and requirements, choose an online college than gives you the flexibility to complete your education without altering your routine. This way, you can earn your degree without having to leave your job and even enjoy the benefit of equipping yourself with a degree that will help you further your career.

Wherever you may reside in the world, an online college degree resource will help you find that right course you are looking for in a college of your choice. Simply explore the online resource sites, and you will be able to target the ideal school that suits your needs.

Advantages of Online School. Author: Barney Garcia

A child lives inside all of us, isn't it? We often secretly wish to go back to those fun filled childhood days. And as you think of childhood, the first thing that crosses your mind is those colorful school days! Can you remember the thrill of going to school on the first day of a new academic year and the excitement over the worldly possessions like new books, new shoes, new lunch boxes, pencil case and so on! And above all the curiosity about the new things that are going to unfold before us in the new class! Most of us secretly wish to regain the excitement of joining a school and learning new things, isn't it? Well, there is no need to think that you can no longer join a school and add a new chapter to your learning experiences. The online schools are there for the adult people just like you who want to continue with studies but can not give up the current profession to pursue a course by attending classes regularly. Then even if you managed to wrestle out a study leave from your employer, have you thought of the cost of the course? The cheap online courses may be the ideal solution for your thirst for knowledge.
Are you a staying at home parent longing for accumulating more knowledge? Just think about it, if you can study at your home you do not have to bother about hiring a baby sitter and you will be able to keep a vigil on your baby while you study. You can further save on the conveyance expenses as well. In most of the cases you will also not require to buy expensive text books; you get most of your study materials online.
One of the greatest advantages of the online education is that they allow you to pursue the course at your own pace. You do not have to rush to the university to attend a lecture. Instead you can receive the course-materials, complete assignments, and clear the exams as and when you feel you are completely prepared. It does not matter what your other occupations are, you are allowed to create and maintain a study routine that is suitable for you.
Online degrees have come to be recognized as valid and valuable alternative in most of the organizations.
Thus you find online courses come with a number of advantages and these are the reasons behind their growing popularity in the recent years.

Online Schooling : Can It Work For You?

Isn't it amazing how education has changed over the years? Who would have thought that online schooling would become an option? And a perfect option it is for many people.
Just imagine that you are an older person for example who needs to work to support your family but would really love to gain that degree that you have always wanted to ensure a promotion or perhaps a new job. Well now you can do that by using online schooling. I suppose in a way it is like night time study except you can do it in your own time without actually having to attend classes and lectures.
Many people for many varied reasons have not been able to fulfill their dreams by going to university or school to obtain the education that they long for. Now with this type of option the sky is the limit.
You can obtain degrees, bachelors, and masters and so on this way. In fact you can study for just about everything and anything this way. There are many universities worldwide that offer this educational option. Perhaps you are looking for that added certificate to ensure you of the job you want or perhaps you want a change in occupation all together.
You will find options for qualifications in Arts, Sciences, Medicine, Education, Trades, and much more. Just imagine studying like this and being able to free yourself from traveling time and expenses. That in itself is a bonus.
What you do need to do first is to make sure that the educational facility offering you this type of schooling is accredited to do so. There are many scams out there that offer these degrees so do your homework first. You don't want to hand over your money to obtain what you think is an accredited certificate for a degree to only find out that it is worth nothing.
Once you do sign up with an accredited university and start your course you will soon see how convenient and efficient it is to gain a high standard of education online. Just remember that there will be people who disagree with this type of education but as long as you are going through an accredited university or school then your certificate will be held in the same respect as any other.