Four Tips for Homeschoolers to Succeed in Online Classes

Taking their first online classes can seem daunting to students. There are so many things to learn: new tools, new setup, new ways to submit assignments. I’ve had a lot of experience with online classes, both as a student and as a teaching assistant. I’m here to provide you with four tips to help your student succeed in their online classes and to help them realize that these classes are not as scary as they may seem. Let’s get to it!

Tip #1: Be Curious

The whole reason that people take a class is to learn something they didn’t already know. Sometimes, though, a student’s biggest takeaway isn’t what they originally set out to learn. When taking an online class, students learn about much more than just their topic of study. They will learn how to interact with others in a digital environment, how to use a myriad of websites and online tools, and how to navigate a digital classroom. These skills will benefit them for the rest of their lives, but they will only learn them if they are able to keep an open mind.

One of the most useful online classes I have ever taken was FundaFunda Academy’s Computer Applications class. Sure, I learned how to use a lot of online programs, but mostly I learned not to be afraid to try new things. There were so many assignments and so many programs to learn that I didn’t have time to be afraid. Now I am confident with computer programs and websites, even new ones that weren’t covered in the class. This has been a huge help to me in the years since I took that class and I still learn new programs every year.

So encourage your student to ask questions and be curious about how to do things, and then help them learn to do those things well. Their future self will thank you for it!

Tip #2: Be Communicative

In online classes, as with in-person classes, it is easy to get stuck on an assignment. The difference with an online class is that there is no teacher standing in the room with your student, ready to help them figure things out. Just because they can’t see a teacher, though, doesn’t mean they’re not there.

Even in online classes, there are ways for your student to contact their teachers, either through a messaging system in the learning platform, by email, or by phone. Don’t forget that their teachers want them to succee and are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Don’t be afraid to have them reach out and get help!

Tip #3: Be Willing to Make Mistakes

This is probably the hardest part, but as with anything new, your student needs to realize that they won’t get everything right. Sometimes they will make mistakes.

I remember taking my first online class. It was FundaFunda Academy’s Scratch Programming class. I’m the type of person who always has things turned in early, but I accidentally turned in a week’s worth of assignments late. Something just didn’t quite work out right when I was planning my school schedule and I accidentally took two weeks off as a break instead of one. Naturally, I wasn’t too happy with myself, but I pulled it together and managed to submit two weeks’ worth of assignments in one week and got myself back on track.

We are all human, and we all make mistakes. It’s important to learn from those mistakes and not beat ourselves up about them. Acknowledge the mistake and then move on. Don’t let your student allow mistakes to destroy their experience in an online class. One small failure does not mean students can’t still succeed in their online classes.

Tip #4: Be Flexible

Not every week will have the same amount of work, which can sometimes be frustrating. In FundaFunda Academy’s American History class, the Civil Rights module is much longer than the other modules. When I took the class, I did what I could to get ahead and prepare for that module, but it was still a lot of work. This is where the advantage of homeschooling comes in. As a homeschooler, your student’s schedule is a whole lot more flexible than that of someone in public school. As a result, they can shift their other subjects around to make room in the weeks when an online course takes up more of their time. Flexibility with time and school subjects will be a huge help to your student in an online class.

I hope these four tips help you feel more prepared to walk your students through their first online class, and that the tips help them succeed in online classes. While they aren’t always easy, they are definitely worthwhile. By being curious your student will ensure that they learn as much as possible during the class. Being communicative will keep your student from getting stuck for too long. A willingness to make mistakes will make your student’s experience much more pleasant, and flexibility will keep your student on track to finish strong. Good luck with your online class. Happy studies!