Is it Worth Creating Online Courses for Kids and Teenagers?

Since the arrival of this pandemic, kids and adults alike have been compelled to use as many online resources as possible to facilitate learning.

Tech companies are hopping on this train as well and developing courses for kids and teenagers. Every major company now ensures that there is increased access to online platforms and classes.

Of course, with increased access to online learning, many questions arise.

Is this worth it? Are kids and teenagers enrolling in these classes? Are they motivated enough to engage? Are their needs met? Are they excited to immerse themselves in the online environment? Are the classes challenging enough? Is online learning rewarding at all?

Today, we’ll explore all of these topics and look closely at some of these questions. Let’s dive in.

Why creating online courses for kids is important

1. Creating open-minded children

Achieving one’s full potential can be compromised by lacking access to the right resources. Online education provides kids with an important opportunity. Not only can they open up international apps and platforms, but they can also improve their focus using the resources at hand. The more access they have to various educational tools, the more successful they could become.

Creating open-minded children should be one of our future goals. If kids are not open enough to connect with each other, they’ll have a hard time learning from each other. This limited range of communication will therefore become an impediment in creating better, more skilled individuals. Helping kids reach success from an early age is therefore a must do in any progressive society.

2. Offering an international perspective

With so many different classes and courses around the world, students will have the opportunity to interact with many cultures worldwide. This will open their international perspective and increase empathy and understanding for people living on opposite sides of the globe. Widening their horizons is an important milestone in their education.

To become whole individuals, they must learn diversity and develop compassion towards all cultures they interact with, argues custom papers coordinator, Jeff Kaleb.

Also, an international perspective shows respect for everyone on the planet, regardless of their geographical location. Discussing difficult questions becomes normal. Communication develops quicker. Empathy increases.

3. Increasing personal engagement

We might worry that kids’ learning abilities could suffer if we’re signing them up for an online class. This is true. If the professor is not involved enough, or the class is not demanding enough, the kids will suffer. But if the above elements work out smoothly, the outcome should be increased personal engagement. Consider these facts to ensure that your kid is getting the education he or she needs:

• Communication should be done in multiple formats to ensure personal engagement
• There should be enough active learning opportunities available for your kid, such as hands-on activities
• The learning process should include socializing even if activities are done remotely
• There should be a reward system put in place
• Feedback should be provided after each session to encourage engagement
• The course should be accessible to all parties, at all times

4. Learning at their pace

The traditional classroom doesn’t allow kids to develop their own learning pace. Usually, students must acquire and process the information at once. Otherwise, they’ll be left behind.

This process can be controlled in an online setting. Here, the teacher has the ability to decide everyone’s pace and work with them individually, if needed. The lecturer can even schedule tests and exams at different times, if needed. Some kids can explain relevant concepts in more detail until they understand them. This allows them to keep up with the material but also engage with their counterparts.

5. Learning new technological skills

Children learn quickly, especially when they are presented with constant, relevant information. Tech skills have become useful in today’s world, so helping kids get there from an early age is recommended. Children could benefit greatly from learning how to manage the computer and its relevant platforms, as well as smartphone apps. Not only will their imagination be stimulated, but they’ll also increase their processing abilities and problem-solving skills.

The disadvantages of considering online education

As in anything, there can be disadvantages to online education. Some of the most important reasons to consider are presented below. However, a parent or teacher should always balance out the pros and cons and only then draw a conclusion based on both sides of the picture.

1. Lacks accreditation

Online education can indeed lack accreditation. This is why you should check the credentials of the program you’re considering beforehand. Failing to do so could harm your child more than you might think. Legitimate programs are usually provided by good schools and accredited by a professional, well-known entity. Most high-schools and universities would also approve of this program.

2. No face interaction

The second disadvantage to consider is the lack of face to face interactions. While this is quite obvious, any kid could be seriously discouraged if not meeting his or her teacher. The lack of real social interaction could take away from the motivation to succeed. So, this could create monologues instead of real dialogues, which is not beneficial for your child. The lecturer must build a rapport with the student, and lacking face interaction could be an impediment in doing so.

3. Requires self-discipline

Online classes require serious self-discipline. If kids are unable to stay focused on the work, the class won’t produce any of the desired learning outcomes. To avoid this, teach your child basic management and organizational skills from an early age.

Help them understand what staying on top of your work means. Help them organize in such an efficient way that they become able to balance their course load with other important priorities. Teach them why procrastination holds us back. They should learn these concepts from a young age if we want them to succeed.

4. More work

Online classes require more work from kids. But since they’re kids, this can affect parents as well. When time is scarce, mastering online material alongside your child after work can be a burden. Slacking off is not an option, but it happens. And when it does, the kid suffers. So this is another concept to consider.

5. Requires self-direction

Traditional classes are directed by a teacher. While online courses should be dealt with the same amount of concern, some teachers slack off. Instead of directing the online program, they have trouble figuring out a scheme that works well for everyone. They get lost in detail, are disorganized, and therefore negatively impact the kids’ learning process. Instead of helping children succeed, they slow down the academic progress. In this case, taking online classes from an early age is not something a parent should consider.

Conclusion

Most people are satisfied with online education. When communication is in place and the class leader takes his or her work seriously, everything runs smoothly.

The problem starts when some of these factors are functioning properly. When that happens, kids will suffer, and online education won’t be beneficial anymore.

So, it’s up to you to choose the right classes for your children, and it’s up to the teacher to maximize kids’ potential.

Author Bio: Tiffany Harper is one of the best essay writers having begun her career very early. Now Tiffany plans to finish her book and to travel around the USA with her beloved family. Please contact her on Twitter.