What is Cyber School?

In the world of education, there are numerous choices to consider, including cyber school. With so many options, though, you may be confused by just what falls under the realm of cyber education. Therefore, let’s take a look at what the term means, what kinds of opportunities fall under it and what students can expect from such an alternative to traditional public education.

About Cyber Education

Cyber education offers students of all ages and academic backgrounds the opportunity to learn at their own pace. People from Kindergarten through college can take advantage of learning virtually. Cyber school is different from home school, though. While students can learn on their own in any place, cyber options are overseen through a school district or charter organization. This is not home school in which the parent is responsible for purchasing a curriculum or resources and administering them on their own. Cyber students receive instruction from a certified teacher, return assignments to their educator and must meet the curriculum standards of the school in which they are enrolled.

How It Works

When it comes to cyber educational options, students typically attend classes in real-time. This can occur through visual, audio or even text. Online video options tend to be most popular, with texting or messaging formats often being used for class group work and assignments. Students can participate in class immediately and ask questions as they have them. This makes the format very much like that of a traditional classroom. It’s important to know that the same level of services available in public school for students in need are also there for cyber students. This means that those who have special needs or an IEP plan can still work with individual support personnel as needed. Even certain types of services like occupational therapy, counseling and speech therapy can be delivered online.

Additional Notes of Interest

There are lots of interesting things you may not know about the potentials of cyber academics. Some parents worry that their children won’t have the opportunity to make friends in an online educational setting. In actuality, most cyber schools allow for some downtime during the school day in which students can chat online in a supervised environment. This gives them a chance to explore interpersonal skills and to make meaningful connections with peers. In addition, most cyber education programs have activities such as prom, field trips and other outings for students to meet in person and to celebrate milestones. Students also usually receive a laptop as part of their educational experience since this piece of equipment is essential to this learning style. Parents must provide the WiFi services, though.

Now that you know what this type of educational experience entails, you can make a more informed decision regarding whether it is right for you. It’s good to have options when it comes to academics. Cyber school is a comprehensive option for students who struggle with a traditional learning environment, and it offers much the same educational opportunities that traditional public school gives to students.