Homeschooling vs Online Schooling

There are many parents who confuse online schooling with homeschooling. Even though both the methods feature parental involvement and have certain benefits over traditional brick and mortar schools (studying from within the safety and comfort of their own home) and their style of teaching, there are several differences between online education and homeschooling. So here are five prominent differences between homeschooling and online schooling.

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, parents in Bangalore are faced with a crucial decision: homeschooling or online schooling. While both options offer alternatives to traditional classroom learning, online teaching is versatile and practical. Let's explore the advantages of online schooling and how it surpasses homeschooling, all while ensuring a plagiarism-free approach to education.

1. Structured Curriculum: Online schooling provides a structured curriculum aligned with established educational standards. This ensures that students receive a comprehensive and well-rounded education. In contrast, homeschooling often needs standardized guidelines, making it challenging for parents to cover all necessary subjects and topics effectively.

2. Certified Teachers: Online schools in Bangalore employ certified and experienced educators who are experts in their respective fields. These teachers provide students with quality instruction and support, addressing their academic needs. Parents may possess different expertise or teaching qualifications in homeschooling.

3. Access to Resources: Online schooling offers many resources, including textbooks, multimedia materials, and interactive tools. Students can access libraries, virtual labs, and educational software, enhancing their learning experience. Homeschooling can be limited regarding available resources and access to specialized materials.

4. Social Interaction: Online schooling provides classrooms, discussion forums, and group projects in virtual form. This promotes socialization and collaboration skills, vital for a child's development. Homeschooled children may need more opportunities for regular social interactions.

5. Flexibility: Online schooling allows students to set schedules and learn independently. This flexibility accommodates individual learning styles and extracurricular activities. Homeschooling can be demanding for parents, who must manage teaching and daily routines.
6. Accreditation and Recognition: Online schools in Bangalore often have accreditation and recognition from educational authorities, ensuring that students receive a valid and recognized education. Homeschooling may face challenges in obtaining the same level of recognition.

Learning From Subject Matter Experts

When being homeschooled, parents serve as the child's only teacher, irrespective of the subject and age of the student. The parents will be the people planning the lessons, tests, and assignments. The parents are also the ones who will be grading the student's progress and work. They might not be subject matter experts on each and every subject, and therefore might not be able to give the student a full and complete learning experience.

However, the online school features periodically meeting with other students in real-time and receiving instructions from a teacher who is specialized in that particular subject. Separate subject matter experts grade the students' assignments, provide continuous feedback and evaluate their abilities. The teachers will be available to the parents as well as the students to answer questions and might even give one on one help if required.

The Role Of The Parent

If a child is provided with online education, the parents will get the opportunity to take on the role of a learning coach. Learning coaches are people who help kids stay on track by structuring their daily schedule, monitoring their day-to-day activities as well as school work, and providing them with reminders, encouragement, and motivation whenever required. When parents take on that role, it feels much more personalized and safer for the student. In the case of homeschooling, the parents are both the learning coach as well as the teacher which is a lot more stress on the parent as an individual.

Online schooling makes it easier for the parents to track how the child is learning because they can access the curriculum as well as the assignments provided to them via the school's/institution's online learning platform. The parents can hence focus on providing the students with other information such as family values, religious beliefs, etc.

Curriculum

Parents who homeschool their children will often research and come up with their own curriculum. They have to search for text and materials for each and every subject to give them the best learning experience which is not only expensive but also very time-consuming. Some homeschool parents will buy an existing curriculum for the students but still map out a running schedule for them and prepare their lesson plans on their own terms. The responsibility of getting the right materials for each and every subject can lead to anxiety about whether the student is getting everything that they need.

Online schools offer the texts, learning materials, and curriculum for the students and therefore the parents don't have to go out of their way to find all these. The curriculum will be provided free of charge by the education board which will be done by subject experts and therefore the student will receive properly aided education.

Flexibility & Freedom

Obviously children who are homeschooled will have the highest degree of freedom. The parents will be able to schedule their lessons and activities wherever and whenever they prefer. However, when it comes to online schooling, the experience is more or less the same as a brick and mortar school. There is compulsory attendance and it is important to stay on track to complete the course in time.

However, students who are accustomed to traditional schooling will find virtual school offering them a surprising amount of flexibility and freedom. A homeschooler however will find it difficult to adjust with the stricter policies of attendance and lack of flexibility.

Graduation

Children who are homeschooled might be required to take an extra exam in order to earn recognition for higher education or by a particular company. However, students graduating from online school can earn an official online diploma/degree without this extra stop. This puts virtual learners at a much greater advantage compared to homeschoolers.

Conclusion

Whether homeschooled, virtually educated or traditionally educated, what matters is that the student is prepared for the world outside. In this competitive world, the student has to be prepared for what is in store for them and it doesn't really matter what type of schooling the student has done.

In conclusion, online schooling is a solid alternative to homeschooling in Bangalore. With structured curricula, certified teachers, access to resources, social interaction, flexibility, and a commitment to plagiarism-free learning, online schooling offers a comprehensive and recognized educational experience. Parents in Bangalore can make an informed choice by considering these advantages and the evolving digital revolution in education.

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