More parents are opting for full online courses for elementary pupils

A growing number of alert parents are opting for full online courses starting at the elementary school level.  No statistics are available to confirm the number of students or the rate of growth, but observations show activity.

My neighbors are gladly participating in this program. Likely, you know of other participants.

Greenville County Schools (GCS) serves approximately 77,500 students across its various schools. They do have a virtual school option.

Consider the pros and cons to determine if that option makes sense for you.

Pros and cons

No busing, Ubers, or soccer moms are required.  Just look at the financial advantages and the reduced risks to the children.

No hassle with lunches.

Flexibility is a plus.  Pupils learn in the comforts of their home, at their own pace.

This requires strong self-discipline and lacks social interaction, an essential skill for making it in the real world.

Online courses provide a wider range of learning resources and tools than a fixed, offline classroom. There is no bullying at home. Thus, pupils avoid a growing problem in public schools.

Security is also a plus.  There is a total absence of active shooters invading your home and spraying bullets everywhere.

There is no risk of children contracting communicable diseases or learning bad habits from promiscuous children.

How do you measure the early exposure to learning in a digital world that offers pupils entering the educational system?

Greater parental involvement is also a huge plus. There are no cultural and ethnic gaps, no bias, and no misunderstanding.

If there are technical issues, they should be identified early and solved in creative ways without handicapping pupils. That’s where school resources can play a major role in evaluating, monitoring, and adapting to the ongoing and individual needs of each pupil.

This requires good communication between parents and school administrators.

In full online classes, student activity and progress are monitored through a combination of methods, including: teacher observation, learning management systems (LMS), and specialized monitoring software. Teachers use video conferencing tools to observe student participation and engagement during synchronous sessions. Learning management systems track student activity, such as time spent on the platform, assignment submissions, and quiz scores. Additionally, some schools utilize software that monitors student screen activity, internet searches, and communication for safety and academic integrity. 

For elementary school pupils in Greenville, SC, there are options for remote learning, including full-time virtual programs and supplemental online learning opportunities. Greenville County Schools offers a full-time virtual program (GCSVP) for students in grades K-12, and Cyber Academy of South Carolina (CASC) is a tuition-free, full-time online public school for K-12 students. Additionally, there are resources for supplemental online learning and technology integration within the traditional school setting.