The Ogburn Online School

There is a pre-conceived notion that a traditional school provides the proper means of socialization to the student. But socialization has no value if not done with a like-minded person or a person we admire or like or get inspired from. In fact, traditional schools these days, have very small recess periods and too much pressure of assignments and assessments. Students hardly get the time to do the big talk. Indulging in small talk, students can never make good genuine friends. In fact, certain extreme cases might lead to bullying as in most cases certain peer groups are more focused on finding a prey rather than studying. In general, introverts, nerds, or children with some kind of disability fall prey to such mindless acts. It really turns into a mental prison for them which takes ages to break out from. It affects not only their academics but also their overall personality. So, the fact that traditional schools make your child socially adept is not true for all, and may work the other way round for your child.

Many virtual schools today provide adequate means for the child to interact with others, be it via online tools or some real-time events. Here are some means through which students can socialize to their hearts’ content, and that too with people carrying the right attitude.

• Collaborative projects
  Online schools offer the chance to students to participate in collaborative online assignments so that students can form groups with their online peers. Working together on a specific project can broaden their ideas and develop team spirit. A healthy exchange of ideas always result in trust and genuine admiration for one another.
• Quiz, debates and group discussions
  Online schools also encourage students to take part in conversational as well as educational activities such as virtual debates, quiz and group discussions. Students get to know each other’s caliber via virtual platform. They can expand their limited bookish knowledge by discussing on meaningful topics and knowing each other’s perspectives. It makes them admire one another that leads to a genuine friendship eventually.
• Discussion forums
  These are yet another constructive tool to build up relations with other peers of the same online community. You can voice your opinions on various educational topics and sort out those with similar mindset from a bunch of all sorts of peers. Here you have the choice of selecting your friends.
• Field trips
  Most online high schools falsify the myth that online schools rarely provide socialization activities. An increasing number of online schools provide certain real-time events such as field trips, summer sessions etc. These are fun-filled activities to socialize with online peers in person as well as with the educational coaches.
• Cultural or sports events
  Virtual school students are encouraged to take part in sports or arts-related events by certain school districts. Certain fun group activities are also organized by museums and recreation centers. Such organizations offer programs at a little cost. These are good opportunities for online students to disclose their identities and talents.
• Study groups
  Various study groups might be created by the online community to get together and discuss their queries or important topics. This facilitates those who grasp well from group studies. In case you make good friends with online peers, you can organize your own study group with people. You can consider studying in groups with your online peers who have the same goals and mindset as you.
• Student clubs
  The online community can come up with specific clubs to appeal to the specific interests of students. It is a brilliant idea to getting to know other online peers of yours who share the same interests with you. Be it science club, sports-related club, cultural club or newspaper club, the selection of the club reflects the specific field of interest of the student.
• Effective volunteering
  You can form a group with your online peers to select a project to provide service to the community. You can volunteer on a regular basis for the social causes.