In early 2020, many schools and educational institutes realized that keeping students in class was no longer viable. The COVID-19 pandemic had begun spreading rapidly, and that meant that schools quickly had to move online. However, instead of preparing specifically for a virtual classroom, most schools relied on emergency remote learning procedures. The sudden shift forced teachers to use curriculums that were designed for brick and mortar classrooms.
The Ideal School was able to tackle the pandemic thanks to its pre-existing format for online classrooms and educators that are experts at teaching online. Their classrooms proved effective and brought attention to the fact that online classes can realistically be a reliable alternative to traditional schools.
A spokesperson from the online school stated, “Online schooling brings many financial and environmental benefits. Cutting out the daily costs for transport and cutting down the bills associated with running a school benefits the administration and the students financially. It also leaves less of an impact on the environment as the daily power usage, and pollution from the transport is avoided. Without a physical building to keep up, we can provide students with a high-quality private education at a much more affordable price.”
A major criticism of online classrooms is often that in-person classrooms feel more effective. However, when the curriculum and teaching styles are adjusted for online schools, it becomes obvious that the more beneficial option is the virtual classroom.
Online classrooms also proved to be more effective for students struggling with issues like bullying or anxiety in traditional classrooms. In an online setting, students can better express themselves without feeling anxious or shy about speaking up.