What do you think about Virtual education?

Question

I have been getting information on the K12 Virtual Academies. One specifically is Arizona Virtual Academy. What kind of differences are there between homeschooling and this virtual academy?

Answer 1

It is a great program with a very strong curriculum.  We just joined OHVA this year....Ohio Virtual Academy.  There is alot of support when and if you need it.  They plan some nice get-togethers throughout the year.  The parents also have the opportunity to plan some field trips and post them to the school calendar.  Also, don't think that because it says "virtual" school that your children will spend all of their time in front of the computer.  In high school, they do a lot of work online, but in the elementary years, most of the work is still done with a workbook or textbook.

Answer 2

It honestly sounds dull to me. Also it is a bit too restrictive and ...well..virtual. I prefer traditional homeschool. But, for your needs and expectations, it may fit the bill perfectly.

Answer 3

While I've used K12 for five years, I've never used it as part of a virtual school.  However, I did help two K12 virtual schools get started when I lived in my former state.

Here are the main differences:

* a VA is a public school, so you technically aren't HS'ing

* in a VA like AZVA, the curriculum is provided at no cost, or at least the "normal" public school fee

* VA's provide computers, printers, and sometimes Internet reimbursement

* VA's provide certified teacher oversight - so they are a great resource as you teach your child at home

* since you are part of a public school, you still have to do standardized testing per the public school rules

* the VA sets up get-togethers and other field trips

* the VA typically has a parent 'net board and/or "PTA" type communities

* you have to abide by the school's goal for completion each year (i.e. 90% of the Math and/or LA curriculum for a grade)

* you have to abide by the school's calendar

Now, on the other side, as an independent HS'er using K12 this is what the above is like:

* we are technically a non-accredited private school

* we have to purchase the K12 curriculum on our own (~$1200-1600/year)

* we have to provide our own computer(s) and Internet service

* we have no teacher oversight (I've never needed it - I just participate in the K12 user groups online)

* we choose which standardized tests to give, and when (and many HS'ers don't do them if their state doesn't require them)

* we do our own field trips w/in the HS'ing and K12 community

* we participate in online K12 groups and other HS'ing boards

* we decide what completion percentage to obtain (we always do 100% of a course anyway)

* we choose what lessons we wish to skip or use alternate curriculum (like we no longer use K12's math for Algebra)

* we decide our own calendar & schedule for the work (which is year-round, four days a week, with a long holiday break)

That is pretty much "it" in a nutshell.  I have no VA choice in my current state.  I did in the former one and we never enrolled, although I was thinking of it at some point.

I recommend you join some K12 Yahoo Groups, and the AZVA group to learn more about it.

Have you been HS'ing in the past, or would your child(ren) be new to schooling at home?

*** EDITED after reading your other question.

I see you'd be pulling your kids from PS.  If you can join AZVA midway into a year, then you could do that.  Instead I recommend pulling them from PS at the end of the school year (unless things are really bad there).  Then take some time over summer to "deschool" and just have fun learning.  Then you could jump into the VA in the fall.  Your kids will need some time to adjust to working at home w/ Mom.

I forgot to add the link to the K12 users group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K12Users/

And the AZVA group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K12-AZVA/

Answer 4

I've never heard of virtual education but I reckon it's heaps like cyber school which, btw, isn't conventional homeschooling;it's much more likely to be a form of distance education.

Answer 5

I don't know if this will help, but I'm a college student at DeVry University Online. In virtual education, the student is required to put forth more effort to learn the material. There is no teacher present to "force" you to read in class, you have to do it on your own time. The Internet becomes your best study companion. It is a little more difficult, but if the student has the initiative to study then there should not be a problem.