Virtual schools use the internet to allow students to communicate with professors and earn credits towards a diploma or degree. They offer convenience and accessibility, but lack face-to-face interaction and require an internet connection and working computer.
A modern descendant of correspondence school, where a student took classes by interacting with a professor through the mail, a virtual school is an online environment where students use the Internet to communicate with professors and facilitators to earn credit towards a diploma or a degree . A virtual school uses modern technology to deliver instruction to students without requiring the student or professor to meet in a physical building, or even necessarily meet face-to-face.
The virtual school exists on different levels of educational instruction including high school courses, college level courses and undergraduate courses. A virtual school works well for students who can’t get to a school building easily, such as students in very rural or remote areas. The virtual school therefore makes education possible for students who otherwise would not have had any educational opportunities. Some detractors, however, cite lack of socialization as a distinct problem with online school, particularly for high school students who need such interaction.
Online schools also offer the student the ability to work at their convenience, not at a set time during the day. This is especially convenient for non-traditional students who may be working and need to fit the classroom into that schedule. Many virtual classrooms are self-paced, which means that the student can work on homework at their own pace, taking as much or as little time to finish the courses in many cases. Such an approach also encourages students to use digital media, which is increasingly important in the job market.
There are also several disadvantages. Since in many online classes there is no face-to-face interaction between the student and the professor, students must work in a self-guided manner, which can be challenging. Communication is by email, video conferencing, or on a pre-arranged class forum, so answers to questions may come slowly. The responsibility belongs to the student to be diligent in completing the courses and to be patient when waiting for guidance from the professors.
Another distinct disadvantage of the virtual school is the need for an Internet connection and a working computer. This may simply not be feasible for many students who cannot afford the necessary equipment, and those students may be limited to public computers. This problem can be further exacerbated by the cost of online classes, which can range from free to quite expensive, depending on the course, school and degree, if any.
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