IBD Newsletter

Tag: online class

  • Online classes for IBD Patients

    Online classes for IBD Patients

    Online classes can reduce stress

    For families struggling with the pressures of a rigid high school system that does not accommodate their child’s IBD, online schools can be an excellent alternative. Compared to just 10 years ago, there are many more quality choices out there. If taking classes at your convenience from the comfort of your own home is going to reduce stress, do read on.

    Reasons to consider

    You may want to consider online education for your child with IBD, if:

    • School is not supporting your child or is delaying accommodations despite having a 504 or IEP
    • School quality is not good enough for your high standards
    • Going to school every day while managing a chronic IBD is too hard
    • You need a program that is flexible, that works at your and your student’s convenience
    • You are tired of fighting battles with the schools and just need a low-stress environment to study
    • You need more one-on-one time with the class teacher

    Full-time or temporary

    Online schools tend to offer both:

    • full K-12 curriculum, in which you drop out of your school and do all your classes at the online school and
    • one-course-at-time, where you are still taking classes at your traditional school but do only a few specific classes at the online school.

    Scheduled or on-demand

    Many online classes are scheduled, and you have to attend the class with the online teacher at pre-scheduled times. These classes have a set class plan – i.e., they move at the speed the teacher has determined appropriate and will have a final exam at a specified date and time. You may not like this rigidity, which may increase stress.

    But some online schools, like UCScout.org, offer “on-demand” classes. They will likely still have a “semester” format, i.e., a beginning and an end date for the class. But the student can progress at their own speed. They can make rapid progress while they are better and not do anything for a few weeks when they are not well. They can take exams at their own convenience before the semester end date.

    Note that on-demand classes still have teachers, and they may conduct weekly classes and would be available for office hours and email-based Q&A. So your child is not entirely on their own – they have support and guidance, should they need it.

    Accreditation

    You may rightfully be concerned about the quality of online schools and wonder if colleges will accept classes taken online. The good news is that if you use one of the more reputed and accredited online school, like the ones listed at the end of this article, colleges will accept them. Colleges, more so than traditional high schools, understand the need for flexibility when you have a chronic illness.

    In the USA, public and private education institutions are investigated/audited by accreditation agencies and then certified, or “accredited,” if they meet their education standards.

    Similarly, all online classes with “AP” prefix, as well as their teachers, have to be certified by The College Board as capable of teaching AP-level classes.

    Colleges naturally have a preference for accredited schools. So, look for certification from a recognized agency. If the school’s website does not clearly state the accreditation status, check with the school. Also, check with the top accreditation agencies listed below.

    They all have a search tool in the top navigation toolbar of their website to help you find accredited schools.

    Accreditation Agencies

    Before you commit to a specific online school, I would recommend calling a few colleges’ admissions offices and asking them if they accept coursework from your target online school. This way, when you are applying to colleges, you can ask your online school, as well as your traditional high school, to send transcripts directly to your choice of colleges.

    Curriculum Rigor and Quality

    Sometimes, colleges may take a closer look at the quality and rigor of your online classes.

    But before you opt for high academic standards, think about and make a conscious decision about your priorities:

    • If your child is not doing well with IBD, maybe you want them to get through a couple of low-rigor classes at lower stress levels.
    • On the other hand, maybe they are doing well with IBD and feel that they can handle higher rigor because the classes are online and taken from the comfortable environment of your home.

    One more point: even if you take a harder class online and are not doing well, some schools will let you repeat that class without putting the low-scoring class on the transcript.

    In general, I would recommend a hybrid and flexible approach. If your child is well and wants to do a rigorous class, and if the class is critical for their intended major, then choose a rigorous online school/class for that. Otherwise, choose a low-stress, low-rigor class. Not every class you take needs to be top-notch to impress colleges.

    More time with the teacher

    Most online schools offer regular times with the class teachers. Even “on-demand” classes offer this one-on-one time. In addition, online teachers are much more responsive to questions by email than regular high school teachers.

    Some online schools also offer tutors, either as part of the overall fee or for an additional fee.

    So, if your child needs more academic guidance that you, as a parent, can’t provide, then online is likely a better solution.

    Once you decide on a school, do let the administration and your class teachers know that you have a chronic illness and show them your 504 or IEP plans, if you have them. Most online schools will be happy to give you accommodations like extended time to complete the course or extra time during exams, etc.

    Class bulletin boards

    Most online classes have online forums where the teacher can post class-wide announcements. But this forum can also be a good place for your child to pose questions to other students and learn from them.

    Cost

    Online high school education can cost anywhere from nothing at publicly-financed companies like the Florida Virtual School (free for Florida residents) to $300-400 per on-demand class at the University of California’s UCScout, to $20,000 + for elite private full online schools.

    Generally, our federal financial aid system through the federal Department of Education is meant for college education.

    But, even if you are out of state, public online schools may offer vouchers or other types of assistance. Private schools may offer options like sliding-scale tuition, need-based scholarships, or payment plans. Check with the online school before making your decision. You should also check with your state department of education to see if they have any programs to help with your school costs.

    Social interactions

    While socialization is not a high priority for most online schools, some schools offer group projects, virtual clubs, or meet-ups. Students may create their own socialization opportunities by participating in class forums.

    Labs

    One of the shortcomings of online classes is that it is harder to do the wet-lab portion of science classes like Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. While some colleges may be willing to let go of lab requirements, having labs done may put you at a competitive advantage.

    Hybrid Models. Some schools have hybrid programs that mix online classes with in-person labs.

    Lab Kits. Some schools may give you lab kits that allow you to do limited wet labs at home under parental supervision. Before you go this route, please make sure the kits are safe and non-toxic, and that you have a space to do the experiments in. In addition to school-supplied kits, you can try some of these independent suppliers I have listed below.

    Note I have not used any lab kits and can't vouch for their quality or safety.  Be careful around Biology experiments as your child with IBD and on immunotherapy is more susceptible to infections. And, of course, be careful with Chemistry experiments!

    You may even want to talk with your target colleges to see if they see any admission-related value in doing wet labs at home.

    • Carolina Biological Supply Company offers a wide range of lab kits and educational materials for biology, chemistry, and other sciences.
    • Home Science Tools provides lab kits and experiment supplies designed for safe, at-home science experiments.
    • Ward’s Science specializes in educational science supplies, including lab kits for classroom or home use.
    • Flinn Scientific supplies lab kits, equipment, and educational resources for various science subjects.

    Private Lab Programs

    A bunch of companies provide either in-person or virtual labs. They can supplement your online classes. Again, be careful with at-home experiments.

    • ChemCollective offers a virtual online chemistry lab.
    • Labster also has virtual experiments in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Health sciences.
    • BioBuilder is a Boston-based nonprofit that offers biology and biotech experiments and summer classes.
    • LabXchange is a Harvard University-sponsored free online learning environment for life, physical, and earth sciences. They have many animations depicting science principles.
    • iD Tech Camps are known for their STEM camps and programs. They also offer hands-on lab experiences in various science and technology subjects. These can be a great supplement during breaks or as a summer program.

    You should also ask your preferred online school if they have any recommendations for lab work. But, at the end of the day, a good lab experience will be a positive for college admissions. Even if the labs are not coordinated with your online class, your initiative to do additional lab work will be attractive to colleges.

    A few online schools

    I have listed a few well-known online schools. Some are private, others public. Public ones may have restrictions on who can enroll. There are more online schools, but this list will help you get an idea of the variety and quality available.

    Conclusion

    Online classes have an undeserved low reputation. This is partly the fault of our high school system, which, as a huge bureaucracy, discourages alternatives. But for students who are suffering from IBD and its ever-present pain, online schools can be a blessing. Do look into it, but do your due diligence before jumping in. Hope it works out for you.

    If you have experience with any online schools and know whether they give any accommodations, please let everone know with your comments below.