After looking at the five different distance learning K-12 schooling options in Ohio, I would choose to send my child to Ohio Connections Academy. I chose this distance learning classroom because when I first clicked on the link to the website I felt welcomed. The site was easy to navigate and understand. I really liked how the teachers are experienced in online instruction and interaction. It is one thing to keep children involved and engaged when you are standing in front of them, but a whole completely different story when you're teaching them online. Ohio Connection Academy teachers get to know their students and their families, allowing them to personalize lessons and coursework to ensure that each student receives the right degree of challenge and support they need. Many parents worry that with distance learning classroom children will not get the social involvement aspect of a school community as they would in a normal classroom. Even in online school, Ohio Connections Academy students are connected to a school community. Students meet regularly in online LiveLesson sessions and have opportunities to share ideas, compare experiences, and have fun learning together. Ohio Connections Academy offers many ways for online students to meet and learn through field trips, online school clubs, and special school events. These socialization opportunities gibe students a chance to explore the world around them and form friendships with other students. They also help students gain social confidence, learn teamwork, and develop leadership and communication skills.
Along with the good, comes the not so good. After looking at the five different distance learning k-12 schooling options in Ohio, I would not send my child to Virtual Community School of Ohio. When I first clicked on the site it did not send a warm and friendly vibe. There was a kind of FAQs page, but it was more of a here's what we think parents will ask and not so much what actual parents asked. After looking around a bit, I came across their curriculum page. The site did not really talk about their curriculum or what they have to offer for their students. In order to learn a bit more about their curriculum you had to clink on a side link that brought up all the different subjects. Some of the subjects I clicked on were blank, while others had a small description of the subject. However I did like that each student K-5 receives a material box with a variety of learning materials (such as textbooks, lesson guides, arts and science supplies, etc.) that corresponds with the lessons taught in their grade level. As much as I like this, I wish that they supplied these material boxes throughout all their grades.
