Online Learning Provides Numerous Benefits For Students Who Are New To The Experience
By Olivia Castillon, Stride Student Advisor
Starting high school can be scary. It's a significant step from tween to teen, and students are growing both mentally and physically. It's the coming of age, so to speak. You have new surroundings, teachers, friends, relationships, and courses. And, this is also the time when every test you take can be worth its weight in gold. Then, you add online school into the mix. If you are a new online high school student, you probably feel like you’ve been thrown into a pack of hungry wolves. This is nothing like the high school movies you've seen, where they all dance and sing on top of lunch tables. So, as an online high school student, I am here to show you the ropes.
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First, let me just say that you don’t want to dismiss studying as a no-need task. It's important. Take notes and try to keep them as organized as you can, and not covered in doodles. You do not want to REALLY need a math formula, and then rediscover that you can’t even make out your own handwriting. That's not the way to go. Instead, try taking clear and concise notes from the very beginning. You can also utilize recordings. So, if listening and writing things down in one session is not for you, you can opt for recordings to help you with diligent notetaking. You can attend the live class, participate, then rewatch the recording and take notes. You can also pause, when needed.
Also, be sure to attend the live classes as often as possible. This allows you to ask questions when they come to mind, while also allowing you to gain a one-on-one connection with your teachers. And, attending live classes as an online high school student creates an opportunity for you to meet your classmates… and possibly make some new friends.
If you are having a problem understanding something, re-read, re-watch, and attend any help sessions that are available. Make sure you do this the first time you find yourself getting stuck in the material. Don’t wait until the last minute. Address the problem head-on and just get it over with. Pushing it off until later is not going to make it go away.
Also, make sure you keep all of your class subjects and projects organized. For example, downloading a school assignment and then naming it, “History Project/Harriot Tubman,” it certainly preferrable to a quick download with a random file name like, “jhjhjhjhjhj123.” This makes things easier to find when needed, and it allows you to go back and see how you have improved in your education. Completed assignments also make great study sheets before tests.
This is likely one of the key things new online high school students don’t think about soon enough. Make sure to take care of yourself. Eat nutritious food, make sure you are getting enough sleep each night, go outside and do daily exercise, and monitor your stress levels. Just because you are in an online school, and people won’t be seeing you as much, it's still important to look and feel comfortable and presentable. It’s important to invest in your mental and physical wellbeing.
One of the biggest benefits that online schooling gives is the bonus of time with friends and family. It gives you time for hobbies, extracurricular activities, and even employment. But, as with any school, you will still have responsibilities. So, don’t let the excitement of flexibility distract you from finishing your work.
Lastly, be confident in yourself. It takes time to learn the proverbial ropes, as a new online high school student. You might be a natural in science, but math might take you some time to understand… and online class formats can also come with a learning curve. And, that's fine! If you are trying your best and putting in an effort, you will succeed. I know you are going to do great. I hope you enjoy the journey in the pursuit of your best education!
To read more about attending an online school, be sure to check out What I Learned From Doing Online School For 10 Years.
Stride also has an article to help students new to online high school, so make sure you read 5 Tips For New Online High School Students, too!
And, be sure to check out the 2022 Graduates Speak About Their Online Education podcast.
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