While Zoom meetings, online classes and time management skills may sound like an experience from the past, but many students still work with these daily.
According to California Miramar University, in 2024 there were approximately 73.8 million online learners globally, nearly a 900% increase since the year 2000. Upper Arlington High School happens to have its very own online schooling, the Upper Arlington Online Academy, offering an online learning opportunity for students in grades six through 12. Upper Arlington Hub principal Matthew Jordan noted the history of the program.
“It officially started during COVID,” Jordan said. “It kinda evolved from COVID, it looks a little different now.”
Most point to the pandemic when thinking about the start of online learning, but in reality it had been going on for decades before. According to the National Institutes of Health, the first K-12 online learning program was developed by the privateLaurel Springs School around 1991. UA Online Academy student, junior Aubrey Richardson, shared her beliefs about switching to online school.
“In my personal experience, switching from traditional to online learning has been beneficial for learning and retaining information. More so than I was in traditional school,” Richardson said.
She also explained aspects of online learning that she reckons help the high school journey greatly.
“The most important feature to me has been the flexibility it gives me day to day,” Richardson said.
According to the American Psychological Association, the top benefits of online learning are: prioritizing mental health, autonomy becoming a key to motivation, better understanding of a child’s need and decreased bullying.
Online Academy English teacher, Amy Byard, shared her opinion on why students enjoy online learning.
“I think it gives you an opportunity to pursue your passions,” Byard said. “I think it offers you a chance to focus on those passions while taking some of your required courses online, so you can spend your in person time doing the things that you love.”
Despite the benefits, Richardson shared that online education can have some potential drawbacks. She acknowledged these, noting that it may take some time to adjust.
“You have to be responsible for keeping yourself on track,” Richardson said. “It’s very different, but once you find a system that works for you it becomes much easier.”
Byard added how she feels she can interact with her students more intimately than she could in person.
“I think ironically, I kind of know my students a little bit better in online [schooling]. I just feel like we have some opportunities to meet one on one and in small groups and in our weekly previews that give me a chance to kind of get to know them a little bit better than in the fast paced environment of high school,” Byard said.
As education becomes more intertwined with technology, programs like the UA Online Academy reflect a growing shift in the paths of student learning. For many this option provides not only convenience, but an environment where students can thrive academically.
