At the beginning of 2020–21, only 40 percent of all K–12 had access to some form of in-person instruction. Therefore, many U.S. students and across students lack the tools needed to provide good quality education to children in these grades.
These percentages changed dramatically from 40% to 98% of all K-12 students by the end of this same school year. However, the models for in-person learning varied in many school districts, including offering virtual and hybrid learning models.
That said, here is some information everyone needs to know about homeschooling vs. online school.
At first, the difference between homeschooling and online learning may be pretty similar. However, as you look a little closer, you will most likely see that the most significant difference is who is presenting and managing the content.
With homeschooling, the individual who delivers the instructions to the children is the parent or caregiver. Conversely, with online learning, a certified teacher in this educational field provides the content to the student.
Whenever a family decides, they must examine each option in advance to make the best decision possible. Therefore, for those interested in learning the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling, here are a few things you need to consider.
Table of Contents
Homeschooling advantages
Improves Family bonding
Unlike online learning, homeschooling has a much more significant advantage over online learning, particularly when it comes to the fact that there is a much greater chance for the parents and their children to bond throughout the learning process.
For instance, parents can plan fun educational trips that everyone in the family can enjoy while learning about different cultures and other parts of the world.
Better Control of the content
Another great advantage for parents and their children is controlling their study content and the information they learn.
In some cases, this may mean that a family with solid faith-based beliefs can educate their kids in a way that supports their faith.
Unlike online learning, kids are exposed to new ideologies and concepts contradicting the traditional school system’s values and morals.
More Flexibility
Unlike online schooling, homeschooling is a lot more flexible with its deadlines. This is mainly because parents and caretakers are not tied to strict schedules and set deadlines that must be kept to complete the course.
Instead, parents have much more Control over what their kids learn and when. And, the homeschoolers are not stressed out trying to complete extra homework while on vacation and weekends.
It is also great for families that enjoy holidays in the off-season versus when the entire school system takes its break.
Individualized instructions
Homeschooling is also an excellent alternative for students who struggle to learn at a different pace than other students. On the other hand, they may also grasp a subject matter much quicker than other students.
In either scenario, the coursework can be taught in an individualized manner. And in both methods, they can master their coursework before moving on to another topic.
Homeschooling often prefers individualized instructions over group instructions offered in online schooling.
Disadvantages of Homeschooling
The workload for parents
For parents, homeschooling is not always straightforward to do. In fact, for some parents, homeschooling can be very time-consuming and stressful.
For instance, parents are tasked with providing day-to-day instructions to their kids, planning their lessons, and putting together their materials.
Just like the duties of teachers in the traditional classroom, parents may also be tasked with putting in extra hours outside of their school day.
Complex Concepts Need to Be Master Before Being Taught.
Some parents may not be equipped with all the knowledge or experience needed to teach every subject matter they will be required to do.
This is especially true if the parent has to teach advanced concepts they have never been introduced to.
Therefore, this can impede their child’s progress in the long run, particularly until the parents can fill in these gaps.
Pre Covid Classrooms
Even though the traditional classroom was still the dominant resource for instructing students in school districts all over the U.S., digital learning modes grew exponentially yearly.
Also, before the pandemic, the traditional educational model was seriously challenged.
This is because there was a massive push for educators and students alike to utilize different digital delivery modes versus automatically looking to the traditional classroom setting for instruction.
So, from the onset of the pandemic, the only thing left to do was to turn the dial to massive remote learning classroom settings.
This is one of the primary reasons most students were instructed to go to online resources like Zoom and other popular platforms.
| Head | Homeschooling | Online School |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Education provided at home by parents or tutors | The parent or tutor serves as the primary teacher |
| Flexibility | Flexible schedule, curriculum, and learning pace | Flexible schedule, fixed curriculum, and structured learning pace |
| Socialization | Limited opportunities to interact with peers | Opportunities to interact with peers through online forums and virtual classrooms |
| Teacher | It can be more expensive than homeschooling, but less expensive than the traditional school | Certified teacher(s) deliver instruction |
| Cost | Success is dependent on the quality of the online school’s program and the student’s motivation. | Success is dependent on the parent or tutor’s teaching ability and the student’s motivation |
| Resources | Parents are responsible for acquiring teaching materials and resources | Online school provides most teaching materials and resources |
| Legal Requirements | Varies by state or country | Must meet state or country requirements for online learning |
| Performance | It can be more expensive than homeschooling but less expensive than the traditional school | Success depends on the parent or tutor’s teaching ability and the student’s motivation. |
However, here are some essential tools needed for a student to get started with online learning.
- Computer. Windows or Apple computer with speakers and a microphone.
- Mobile Device. iOS or Android.
- Phone. Mobile device, desk, or landline.
- Webcams
Post-Covid
Now that many students in different states have returned to the traditional classroom, the need for online platforms like Zoom is still considered a big part of the plan for the future.
In some cases, this may mean using a hybrid form of instruction (i.e., both in-person learning and online schooling) for students. And with the advances in technology and AI learning, this next generation of knowledge can completely change the game for educators and students.
Conclusion – Homeschooling vs. Online School
It is also important to note that K-12 colleges, universities, Ivy League schools, small businesses, and large corporations will use these new educational platforms. Many of these institutions are using online schooling to replace traditional classroom learning. Therefore, online education is no longer seen to accommodate students during emergencies like pandemics but as a new method of educating adults and children.