parent power  By Dr. Jo Lynne DeMary 

Are Online Courses Effective?

Q My daughter wants to sign up for some online courses offered through her school district next year, but I’m anxious about her doing this. I am not convinced that she will learn as much as she does in a regular classroom with a teacher who can interact with her on a daily basis.

A Young people today are much more familiar and comfortable with an online delivery system than we are. Virtual courses also give them the opportunity to study content that might otherwise be unavailable to them, like Mandarin Chinese and Advanced Placement Calculus.

I recently saw a demonstration of a frog dissection over the Internet. It was fascinating. Taking classes online isn’t the same as a real classroom with a highly qualified teacher, but it is an opportunity to select from more courses and meet new students. I’d let her give it a try.

Q I have always been very involved in activities at my son’s school. But this year he’s a middle-schooler, and he has given me several hints that he would prefer I not be so involved at his school. How should I react to this?

A Unfortunately, you are not the only parent who receives this message from a child at the middle school level. As a result, one often finds that parental involvement in schools drops off as an elementary student moves on to the next level.

However, research supports the importance of your continued participation. As the difficulty of the content increases, so do the demands on your student’s time. You need to be informed so you can help with planning and time management. Also, your involvement will send the message to your son that your family values education.

Q My child’s first-grade teacher has missed a lot of days from school this year, and it isn’t even mid-year. The school gets a very fine substitute each time she is away, but some of the parents of students in the class, including myself, are worried about the impact these absences are having on our children’s learning. Should we let the school know our concerns?

A It is always better to share your concerns with the leadership of the school than to stew about it. Let someone in a position of authority know what you are thinking.

Of course, the principal cannot discuss personal and medical issues with which the teacher may be dealing, but your concerns could lead him to make some different decisions in this regard. Your child only gets one shot at first grade.

 
Jo Lynne DeMary was Superintendent of Public Instruction for Virginia. As an educator for more than 38 years, she has held positions at all levels. She lives in Chesterfield.

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