Category: Education

Classroom learning refers to the traditional way of teaching within the physical confines of a classroom within a structured learning environment. This setup requires students and teachers to be physically present in the school during in-classroom education.

It’s about the teacher taking center stage and doing all the talking while the students are glued to their chairs, listening. The focus is solely on giving pieces of information without regard to teacher-student engagement.

Alternative Activities for Learning

Student-centered learning refers to a vast variety of educational programs, learning experiences, instructional methods, and academic-support activities that help meet the unique learning needs, interests, aspirations, or cultural backgrounds of individuals and groups of students.

Because of this, there have been several fun alternatives to classroom learning that schools and educators use today to help improve students’ learning engagement and performance.

To date, there are multiple options of alternative activities for learning; it’s no longer just confined to a four-cornered room. Some are doable whether a child is enrolled in a traditional, online, or homeschool setup.

1. Learning Through Play

A term used in psychology and education to describe how kids might learn to understand their environment is learning through play. The act of playing can help a child grow emotionally, improve their social and cognitive skills, and increase their self-confidence as they explore new situations.

Children learn through play. The skills they learn include problem-solving, strategic thinking, relating to others, and managing life’s ups and downs.

2. Learning Through Field Trips

Field trips help strengthen a child’s education. It’s an activity where a student or group goes out of the classroom and visits a specific place to learn and explore. Field visits are frequently seen as an essential aspect of the educational process in a school setting. Students often remember them as some of their favorite and most memorable school days.

While field trips can enhance a history lesson about the Civil Rights movement or a textbook chapter on marine life, they also have other educational benefits. They provide teachers and students with an opportunity to interact outside of the classroom. The sharing of experiences strengthens the relationship between teachers and students, as well as the friendships between classmates.

When kids have a shared connection with their classmates, they are more comfortable sharing knowledge and assisting each other in their learning as the school year progresses. In addition, they can develop long-lasting friendships throughout their academic careers.

3. Learning Through Road Schooling

Road schooling may be a unique form of homeschooling, but this can also be a great alternative experience for students enrolled in a traditional school. It is similar to field trips because road schooling combines travel and education.

Going on road trips is a fun and exciting way to explore different regions throughout the country and around the world. Making road schooling easy will be a breeze if you plan it as a family. It’s flexible, as you can plan trips based on your needs and interests. Thus, you’ll have the opportunity to strengthen family ties and make priceless memories.

4. Learning Through Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is an activity where the hosts create a list of specified items that the participants must collect or accomplish, usually without spending any money. Scavenger hunts are generally participated in by people in small groups, but you can always modify them to make it an individual hunt.

Scavenger hunts offer kids a practical platform for problem-solving and computational thinking. Students can apply techniques they learned from their parents or teachers, resulting in a more successful learning experience. It is easy to adapt a scavenger hunt to the interests and abilities of your child.

5. Learning Through Role-Playing

Role-playing allows students to directly apply the material by placing them in the position of a decision maker. Using this method keeps students engaged and allows them to communicate with one another while working on the task set for them. Students may work in groups on this activity or act out their roles for the entire class period.

Through this process, students become more engaged with the content as they attempt to respond to it from their character’s perspective. Moreover, it inspires students and improves existing teaching methods by providing real-world examples. As a result, they can develop and use practical skills (negotiation, debate, teamwork, cooperation, persuasion).

Final Thoughts

Alternative activities may be a preferred method for most educators and parents, the foundation upon which we all stand is the traditional classroom. It’s important to note, as contemporary educators, to add and incorporate new, successful teaching methods to adapt to the changing times. Changing little things here and there is never a bad thing if it means students will learn better and love learning more.

So, your little ones are almost two now, which means you have to start thinking about their schooling now.  Yes, the thought is jarring, and the sole fact of parting with your baby for the first time induces all kinds of separation anxiety. Therefore, it is very important that you select the right school for your little one.

Whether it is just a preschool or a school which will suffice their entire education till high school graduation, the right school will shape their characteristics and future. If you are looking for ways to look for one, then you have reached the right place.

In this excerpt below, we will be discussing some of the common tips for choosing the right school for your child before you start searching for a school near me.

Read back, and take notes!

Why A Good School Is Important

When we talk about strong stepping stones which essentially shape a child’s future, their school is one of the pioneer stepping stones. So, why is it so important?

– School is the first step to getting rid of something called separation anxiety, which every kid feels. This is why many kids who have started their education through homeschooling or online education face difficulties in going back to school. Their parents are all they are accustomed to.

– Schools give everyone a great opportunity to socialize and increase their social skills. Yes, education is a part of it, but do not forget this is a place where your little one will meet fellow schoolmates from every social and cultural background. This is where the concept of friendship begins.

– CBSE Schools believe that education is not just about learning calculus and mathematics. It is also about understanding how the world outside their home works and how to get habituated to it.

– Good manners and a good grasp of social skills is what a school should be giving your child.

Tips On How To Choose

Now to the point which you have been waiting for. Here are some of the common tips which can help you to choose the right skill. We have collected these from parents who have already got their best picks.

1. Talk To The Administrators

There is no way you can understand the inner workings of a particular school if you do not ask questions. Some of the common ways are to talk to the admission board or the query department of the school. Ask them about every question which could be bothering you.

Suppose you are still not sure, then how about making a special appointment and speaking to the principal? It is not just about what they say but how they say it. The body language and behavioral traits of the person heading the school have to do a lot with impression.

This is why communication is so important before you choose a school, do not choose one without testing it yourself.

2. Observe The Classes

Talking about testing, don’t you always wish to see how your little ones are taught? Some schools offer the parents an exclusive opportunity to observe a few classes. This will give you a distinct idea of the way of teaching the school is pursuing.

Whether it is the pattern that you are looking for in your child. So, the next time you search for schools near me, check whether your list of schools offers this facility. This is also an excellent antimonial of their credibility and the confidence they possess in their teachings.

3. Get First Hand Feedback

First-hand feedback is from the parents. They are a good source if you wish to understand every hidden detail of the school. After all, they are not an advocate of the school. They just want the good for their children, just like you.

Plus, they themselves get a first-hand account of the school from their kids. So, try to get in contact with some of the parents and ask them questions. Especially queries like-

– What about the teacher’s behavior towards the children?

– What are some of their anti-bullying policies?

– Safety measures in school.

Things which can protect your children and save them from any traumatic experience.

4. Check Their Websites

A well-presented online platform is proof of a good school. Since most of the lesson plans are getting online, parents are able to get enough information from the online platform.

However, if you are someone who is planning to get your little one into a school, first try to check the website. Not only will you get ample amounts of information on the website, but how this information is presented can also speak volumes about the school.

5. Check Their Extracurricular Activities

A school is not just about education; it is more about learning something beyond the bookish knowledge. A good skill which is interested in the overall development and growth of the children will be focusing heavily on extracurricular activities as well.

Yes, you would want your child to get high scores, but not every child’s expertise will lie in academia. Thus, through a good school, they will be able to get the exposure to test their potential to test and understand their gifted abilities.

6. Check Their Scores

A good scoreboard for the tenth and twelve boards is an important detail which you shouldn’t miss out on. Do not just go for the highest marks but the overall average score that the school is about to achieve.

This gives a good account of the school’s contribution to such serious examination preparations.

What Your Child Needs

The school’s quality is important, no doubt, but your child’s needs are what you should make a priority. If your child is agile and great with their sports, then why not look for a school which has sports scholarships for colleges?

If your child is still facing difficulties with their verbal communication, then look for a school which gives excellent preschool safety measures and facilities before the child goes to the actual classes.

They should be able to take care of your child holistically.

There’s no doubt that the field of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is among the most important areas of study. This isn’t just due to the promising career paths this field affords. STEM education helps people navigate the tech tools needed in everyday life. Unfortunately, there is still a gender imbalance in STEM that needs to be addressed.

One potential tool to encourage more girls toward STEM is coding. We’re going to take a closer look at the gender gap and how to utilize coding effectively as a gateway to a rich and rewarding experience for girls interested in STEM education.

Why the Gender Gap in STEM Exists

There is still a significant gender gap in STEM. Only 28% of STEM workers are women.

However, the statistics on girls in STEM also show us that female learners have no less biological aptitude for math and science than their male counterparts. Indeed, in higher education, we can see female students tend to gravitate toward biological sciences.

However, there’s still work to be done in balancing other STEM subjects. While coding can be great to get girls more enthusiastic about the field, it’s still just a tool. To utilize it effectively, it’s important to understand what is influencing the gender gap.

Lack of Mentors

Mentors play a significant role in guiding students through the challenging academic elements of STEM and toward meaningful careers. Unfortunately, there is too often a fewer number of female mentors available to help girls thrive. This can be discouraging. Part of effectively utilizing coding to get girls involved in STEM has to include establishing inspiring and practical female mentors in the field.

Gender Stereotyping

A common issue with STEM is there’s an unhealthy and incorrect stereotype of science being a male field. This is often bolstered by the tendency for schools to teach men’s historical achievements in the field. Yet, there are incredible female STEM leaders, like Katherine Johnson and Tu Youyou, that students should also learn about. When using coding to encourage girls into STEM, there needs to be clarity that it is a field as much for female contributors as males.

Jessica Wade, a London-based physicist, has worked to draw attention to the thousands of women in STEM history who have been left out of the history books.  She did this by writing Wikipedia biographies about women and minority scientists who did not get recognition and credit for the work they did.

Where To Find Coding Programs for Girls

There are growing resources specifically aimed at getting girls into coding. Among the most prevalent and active is Girls Who Code. They are dedicated to closing the gender gap in programming and run more than 8,500 coding clubs and camps around the world. Black Girls Code is also instrumental in helping young women of color overcome the hurdles contributing to the gender and race gap in STEM. They have 15 chapters around the country running code camps, hackathons, and enrichment programs.

There are certainly some schools offering coding clubs to highlight the value of STEM education. However, it is often the community-operated programs that are most dedicated to helping girls explore the career potential and personal enrichment coding has to offer.

Making Learning To Code Fun

Part of the hurdle with getting kids in general into coding is that it can be seen as a dry subject. Students tend to be put off by the idea that they need technical proficiency to engage with it. This illustrates one of the causes of gender disparity in STEM. Girls, in particular, already have lower self-confidence in their STEM abilities than boys. One way around this is to emphasize the fun of coding.

There are some fun platforms to introduce younger students to coding through making simple games and animations. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed the Scratch and ScratchJr applications that teach the foundations of coding in a practical and fun way. This is also something girls can engage in, both by utilizing guided courses and working independently.

For teens, it’s worth getting them involved with fun events. Hackathons can be particularly exciting with many accessible to beginner coders. Part of the fun here is that these coding events involve various disciplines, including coding, bug testing, and graphic design.

Finding the Time To Code

As with any STEM subject, learning to code certainly takes some time and commitment. It’s important to find ways to help young girls include coding in their schedule without adding to the stress of juggling other activities.

One effective approach is to make their daily schedule more visible. Young students may find keeping mental track of their tasks overwhelming. Making a digital planner she can access on her smartphone or laptop via a PDF-annotation app can be a practical way to keep her day organized and manageable. This allows her to see all her responsibilities, prioritize them, and establish spaces for coding sessions, clubs, and hackathons.

Creating a Supportive Home Environment

One of the most important ways to encourage girls to code is by making sure their home life is designed to support them. As parents, you must make certain they have the resources they need to focus on their coding. This might be extra time allocation on family computers or making arrangements to take them to events.

One of the most simple yet impactful ways of making your home environment supportive is to be demonstratively encouraging about their efforts. Praise young female coders, listen to their ideas about the subject, and even get involved as a volunteer with their coding organizations. Regardless of your parenting style or guardianship situation, there are ways to support young girls looking to get into STEM.

If your family is one in which you’re coparenting in different households, there needs to be consistency. While it’s not always easy, divorced parents need to communicate regularly and openly to provide the most effective support for their kids. Cooperate in providing your daughter with the coding resources and education she needs to thrive. Ensure you’re both actively involved in her clubs and in helping her overcome hurdles.

Conclusion

It remains the case that there aren’t nearly enough women in STEM. Coding is one of the most important skills to possess in the modern world and can act as a route to other STEM subjects. There is a growing number of dynamic and community-driven coding organizations young girls can join to learn to code and find mentors. It’s also important to take steps that keep learning fun and practical. When more parents, teachers, and communities commit to encouraging girls in STEM, there is more opportunity to close the gender gap.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

Are you thinking about placing your child in cyberschool? Determining which model of education works best for your child is crucial. Some students perform well in a traditional classroom, while others excel in a learning environment at home.

Cyberschool offers numerous benefits, especially for children where outside forces often disrupt them in a brick-and-mortar class. However, you must consider many factors before enrolling your child in school.

Here’s an exploration to help you decide whether cyberschool is a safe choice for your child.

Factors to Consider When Making Your Decision

Understandably, many families looking into cyberschools may have concerns about the effectiveness of their education. Parents consider the cyber model for various reasons.

Screen Time

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, younger children should limit their screen time to an hour, while older children benefit from limiting screen time to a healthy habit.

However, a cyber environment provides children with quality screen time. It gives students a chance to reflect on their learning. They also enjoy engaging with teachers and find it incredibly interactive since students can participate using a chatbox, a whiteboard and other online tools.

Additionally, students get scheduled breaks throughout the day. Therefore, they have a chance to break away from the screen and stretch their legs when needed.

Socialization

Many parents consider whether their children receive enough socialization in an online setting. They can rest assured that socialization does still occur between students while remote.

In a virtual classroom environment, peers from various backgrounds — possibly living in different regions — get the opportunity to break the social barriers, connecting with classmates from other communities.

Additionally, students get to make friends with other peers by attending field trips, learning opportunities and outings.

Testing Results

Another major factor that parents consider is the student’s performance in testing. Would they be able to succeed on state-mandated assessments?

The teachers’ experience, support staff, parent dedication and diagnostic tools contribute to a student’s overall success. Diagnostic tools help determine students’ academic needs and support throughout their education.

These points allow cyber students to receive enough support for academic success throughout their schooling career.

Why Should Your Child Attend Online Schooling?

As you consider enrolling your child into cyberschool, you should know how this alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar education offers plenty of advantages.

Firstly, not all pupils have the ability to succeed in a traditional classroom. A cyber class is within a smaller setting. Therefore, teachers can individualize curriculum and instructions for students, making it flexible overall.

Flexible scheduling is one of the many appealing aspects of cyberschool. Students learn at their own pace, which is especially beneficial for families with busy schedules. For instance, parents find remote schooling an excellent fit for their children because they tend to other obligations like sports or family.

Another benefit that cyberschool adds is safety. Students who’ve suffered from bullying are a major reason online schooling is the better option. In fact, some research shows that students experience less bullying when attending a virtual school.

Meanwhile, 19% of students in the U.S. experienced bullying on school property in a 2019 survey reported by the CDC. With all the roughness occurring in schools, cyberschool makes a more desirable choice for parents and children.

Plus, parents don’t have to be concerned about having their children wait for their bus to appear in freezing temperatures. They can gain some peace of mind when their child learns from the safety of their home.

What Makes Your Family a Great Fit for Cyberschool?

If you think cyberschool would make a good choice for your child, here are some essential things to consider when deciding whether it would suit your family.

Parent Commitment

A parent’s commitment is crucial if they want to see their child succeed in this model of academics. In cyberschool, parents or another responsible adult must dedicate their time at home while the student attends school.

Doing so will allow parents to provide academic support while at home. While parent involvement will vary with each grade level, meeting their learning needs is vital. For instance, if you’re a parent of a younger child, they’ll need more direction from parents throughout the school day.

Comfort Level With Technology

Cyberschool requires some familiarity with technology since most learning occurs online. Therefore, parents should ensure they’re computer literate and can set up their devices properly to succeed.

Additionally, parents use email to communicate with teachers, making them responsible for regularly checking it. If you’re uncomfortable using technology, you don’t have to let this deter you.

Virtual schools provide parents with various resources to help their students get started. Students also have orientation, which will help them and their families familiarize themselves with the educational system and technology.

Student Motivation

Before enrolling your child in cyberschool, one last thing to consider is the student’s motivation to learn. It’s critical that your child attends classes regularly and is consistent with scheduling and work.

Students spend most of their time online and attending live classes. Therefore, your child must be able to take on the responsibility of their education, especially as they become more independent. Additionally, teachers will expect your child to participate in class and be proactive in reaching out for guidance.

Some students can shine when using certain techniques to help keep them focused throughout the day. For instance, taking advantage of breaks and setting a daily schedule can benefit your child tremendously.

Cyber Education Can Be a Great Option

While there are several factors to acknowledge when looking at the cyberschool model, online schooling can make a great choice for your child’s education. The main thing is knowing you will benefit from safety and a controlled learning atmosphere.  It will also help them to prepare for future online learning opportunities when deciding where to go to college or university.

However, it’s important to remember that this education model is most suitable for families with motivated, independent children. Therefore, making a list of pros and cons should help you make an informed decision about cyber-education enrollment.

About the Author
Ava Roman (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Revivalist, a women’s lifestyle magazine that empowers women to live their most authentic life. When Ava is not writing you’ll find her in a yoga class, advocating for her children or whipping up something delicious in the kitchen!