by Brendan Cassidy | Aug 21, 2018 | Resources
How do you study a textbook effectively that isn’t a book at all? The prevalence of online school has also meant the widespread use of digital textbooks. Studying an online textbook is much different than studying a physical one. If you’re going to go high school online, then you better believe that most of your books will be digital, learning to effectively study these kinds of books is a necessity.
Here we’ll explain why textbooks have gone digital and give you some tips on how to better use them to power up your learning. If you’re an experienced student who is used to physical textbooks then you most likely already have the skills necessary to study a digital textbook successfully.
The rise of the digital texts
If you’re going back to school for the first time in a while, then you might be surprised by the use of digital textbooks. While it’s true that some online programs still will require the use of physical textbooks, the vast majority see digital texts as the future.
Digital textbooks are much more affordable and than physical ones and fit better into the online school model. Many times textbooks are available for free online where they would not be if you ordered a physical copy. The cost savings, as well as the positive environmental impact of digital textbooks, has led to their increased use and popularity.
If you’re not used to studying from a textbook that is on your computer instead of on your desk, then we have some tips to help. Below we have included some things you can be doing right now to improve what you can get out of digital textbooks.
How to study a digital textbook
Use an e-reader: Reading long pieces of text on a computer is not ideal. Most e-readers can be used to read pdf documents as well as e-books. If your e-reader doesn’t support pdf, then you can use a converter, like this one, to change it to an EPUB or MOBI file. The sooner you can start using an e-reader the better.
Make annotations: If you have an e-reader or tablet that you’re using with the ability to annotate text, you should use that feature. The iPad has a very usable annotation feature for documents and this can help you when you revisit the text for study later.
Manage your screen brightness: Too bright of a screen will strain your eyes. We suggest using an e-reader with a dpi display like a Kindle. The more you can protect your eyes while studying the better.
Take physical notes: You literally cannot take enough notes when you’re using a digital textbook. Handwriting your notes has the added benefit of helping to commit the information to memory. You can also mark page numbers for quick reference later.
Read out loud: This might seem a little strange at first, but multiple sensory activation is important when you’re trying to learn something. Reading out loud ensures that you’re not misreading anything and helps you remember the information more easily.
Final thoughts
The best part about digital textbooks is the price. Digital resources are almost always cheaper than traditional ones, and they save paper too. While using a digital textbook might seem strange at first, with a little practice, you will be able to use them more efficiently than a normal textbook.
by Brendan Cassidy | Aug 17, 2018 | Career, Diploma, Resources
You’ll have many more career options after you finish high school, but choosing the right career can be challenging. Knowing which direction you want to take your life can be a difficult decision right after high school and choosing a career takes careful planning.
A high school diploma is the most basic way to show an employer that you have an understanding of the fundamental concepts related to living and working, in this country. Many companies these days require at least a high school diploma for entry-level positions.
The skills taught in high school are universally applicable to almost any profession and serve as a base for higher learning. Once you get your diploma, it can be challenging to select a career field if you’re not currently working in one. In this post, we’re going to explore some of the most popular career paths you can take after high school.
Finding a career after high school to match your goals
You’re a unique person with a unique set of goals and desires. Picking a career after high school that you not only love, but that will support your life goals is very important. The more experience in a field that you have the better, so the sooner you know what you want to do the greater your opportunity will be. If you’re going to go to college, then choosing a career after high school that supports that dream, and will possibly fund it, is critical.
It’s okay not to know what you want to do after you get your high school diploma. Remember that there are many different paths available to the same goal and you can get creative if you need to. There are four popular career paths out of high school that you can take advantage of. Some of these options can eventually lead to college, and they will all allow you to start making money immediately.
Four career paths out of high school:
The Military:
Serving your country is an extremely rewarding and exciting career choice. The US military takes care of its own and is designed to develop personnel into ever more valuable assets. This means that the military will actually pay to send you to college.
An Apprenticeship:
If college is not something that’s extremely important to you, then you can still have a path to a great career through an apprenticeship. The on the job training you’ll receive is paid and is designed to teach you highly specialized skills that are in demand.
Vocational School:
If you’re willing to invest a little more time and money into your education, then a vocational school might be right for you. These are primarily centered around teaching people how to be a specialized laborer like a welder or a mechanic. The availability of work for graduates is usually pretty good, and it’s not a bad idea if your primary concern is earning money as soon as possible. Most of these programs will require at least a high school diploma to qualify for admission.
Entry Level Jobs:
This path is a tried and true method of getting yourself a good career at a company. Step one is to find a large company that has room for advancement and then getting an entry level position there. From that point, you work your way up the latter until eventually, you find yourself in upper management. Many larger companies might even have programs to help their longtime employees with going back to college.
A high school diploma is your first step
Of course, all these career paths require you to have at least a high school diploma. If you have been putting off getting your diploma, then now is the time to act. The sooner you get your high school diploma then, the faster you’ll be able to start a career path of your own.
by Brendan Cassidy | Aug 14, 2018 | Online Options, Resources
Block scheduling is a type of scheduling used by schools that increase the time students spend in a class. The framework allows students to learn more efficiently because they have more exposure to the material per learning session. It’s been proven that when students spend more time on a single subject they retain the information better than if the time is broken up into smaller pieces. You can think of block scheduling as a combination of an entire week of material into one or two much longer sessions. This technique is just as effective for online classes as it is for in-person ones.
Block scheduling can be a great way to manage your learning schedule while taking courses online. This post is going to explain why block scheduling works so well and the best way you can apply it to your online classes.
Why block scheduling is so effective
Learning is unique for everyone. There are a 100 different strategies to learn that can work great for different people in different situations. When you’re trying to learn something, overall time spent studying matters less than continuous time spent studying. By spending more time per subject, you can understand it easier than if you jump between topics.
Longer time blocks also allow you to dive deeper into concepts related to the subject material. Students have the time to absorb the material, process it, and then discuss it all in one session. The compartmentalized nature of block scheduling allows for thoughts to be completed and questions answered which can lead to a better understanding of the topic. When you stop studying and pick up another day, you have to waste time refreshing what was learned instead of simply moving on to the next set of concepts. Universities have been using a similar method to block scheduling for a long time, but it has only recently been applied to high school classes.
If you’re thinking about going to high school online, then you may be looking for good ways to handle the workload. Adopting a block scheduling method for yourself can be an extremely effective way to get through your workload faster.
How to apply block scheduling to your online classes
Online high schools were built for block scheduling. One of the biggest advantages of going to school online is that you get to choose how you want to organize your day. There are several different kinds of block scheduling strategies, and it’s a good idea to do some experimentation before you settle on a single method.
Types of block schedules:
Alternating days:
This is a schedule where you divide the classes you’re taking and take half one day and half the next. If you are taking 4 classes, then you study the first two classes one day and the other two the next day. You would then switch back to the first two on the third day. This can be a really effective strategy because it’s a good balance between time spent with a subject and time to absorb what you have learned.
One subject at a time:
This is something that is only possible online. Some students find it effective to finish an entire semester’s worth of work in a subject all at once before moving onto the next subject. This keeps your mind engaged and thinking about that subject, but it does have some downsides. Working solely on a single course until it’s complete can get tedious for some students. You will need to decide if this method will work for your specific learning style.
Conclusion
No matter which route you choose, block scheduling can make your time taking classes online much more efficient and rewarding. If you’re interested in going back to high school online, then you should consider taking your classes in a block, you’ll thank yourself later.
by Brendan Cassidy | Aug 10, 2018 | Online Options, Resources, Time Management
Online school works better now than it ever has before. If you’re thinking about going back to high school online, you couldn’t have picked a better time. Recent technological advancements have made online high school an engaging experience that everyone can access. In the past, if you didn’t complete high school for some reason, you had almost no convenient options to go back and get your diploma. Sure you could always study for and take the GED test, but if you wanted an actual diploma, then your options were limited.
Today the online education options available are almost endless especially for people who are going back to high school. Online high school is unique because much of the material taught at different schools will be the same. Going to school online used to mean that you were going to be plagued by compatibility and usability issues that would make the job almost impossible. This article will examine some of the key changes in how online school works and how to make the most of them in your high school career.
What makes online school a good option?
The idea of going back to high school can be a scary one if you have a family and a job. The development of quality online high school programs has made going back to school more accessible to people who can’t put their lives on pause. Getting your high school diploma can mean a significant improvement in the professional opportunities that are available to you. The online option means that you can still hold a full-time job and complete your diploma at your own pace.
The trick to any high school program is learning to balance your time while maximizing your investment. You need to find that happy medium of working on your classes just enough to stay ahead while still keeping your family and job on track. The real value of online school come from all the flexibility that it can bring to your life.
4 Tips to make online school work better for you.
Build your workspace: Just because you have the option to work anywhere doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to do so. It’s been proven over and over again that having a dedicated work-space allows you to focus better and keep your time on track.
Communicate with your teachers: This is a step that is missed by many people who attend school online. Just because your school is online doesn’t mean that your teachers aren’t real people who can help you. Just like in a traditional school, your teachers are your biggest resource when it comes to understanding the material and getting good marks in a class.
Plan out your time: When you’re going to school online it’s very easy to get complacent and slack on your work. You’re the only person who is going to say you need to work on something, so you should take the responsibility seriously. Take the time to make a study schedule and then stick to it.
Keep yourself organized: You should always know exactly what you have to do and when you have to do it by when you’re going to school online. The more organized you can become then the easier it will be for you to go to school online.
Become your own best ally online
You are the most qualified person to help yourself. Going to high school online presents a unique set of challenges, and hopefully, these tips have helped make overcoming them a little easier for you. Remember, you’re the one who has to commit to doing your best, but there is no reason you should make things overly hard for yourself.
by Brendan Cassidy | Aug 7, 2018 | Career, Diploma, Resources
Your career options are much greater after high school when compared to before. So many careers these days require at least a high school diploma for entry-level positions. There are some careers that you can enter after high school that will even pay for college like the military. Knowing which direction you want to take your life can be a difficult decision right after high school and choosing a career takes careful planning.
A high school diploma is the most basic way to show an employer that you have an understanding of fundamental concepts related to how the world operates. The skills taught in high school are universally applicable to almost any profession and serve as a base for higher learning. Once you get your diploma it can be challenging selecting a career field to go into if you’re not currently working in one. In this post, we’re going to explore some ways you can make career selection after high school a little easier.
Finding a career after high school to match your goals
You’re a unique person with a unique set of goals and desires. Picking a career after high school not only that you love, but that will support what your goals in life are is very important. The more experience in a field that you have the better, so the sooner you know what you want to do the greater your opportunity will be. If you want to go to college then choosing a career after high school that supports that dream, and will possibly fund it, is key.
It’s okay to not know exactly what you want to do after you get your high school diploma. Remember that there are many different paths available to different careers and you can get creative if need be. There are four primary career paths out of high school that you can take. All can eventually lead to college and they will allow you to start making money immediately.
Four career paths out of high school:
The Military:
Serving your country is an extremely rewarding and exciting career choice. The US military takes care of its own and is designed to develop personnel into ever more valuable assets. This means that the military will actually pay to send you to college.
An Apprenticeship:
If college is not something that’s extremely important to you, then you can still have a path to a great career through an apprenticeship. The on the job training you’ll receive is paid and is designed to teach you highly specialized skills that are in demand.
Vocational School:
If you’re willing to invest a little more time and money into your education, then a vocational school might be right for you. These are primarily centered around teaching people how to be a specialized laborer like a welder or a mechanic. The availability of work for graduates is usually pretty good, and it’s not a bad idea if your primary concern is earning money as soon as possible. Most of these programs will require at least a high school diploma to qualify for admission.
Entry Level Jobs:
This path is a tried and true method of getting yourself a good career at a company. Step one is to find a large company that has room for advancement and then getting an entry level position there. From that point, you work your way up the latter until eventually, you find yourself in upper management. Many larger companies might even have programs to help their longtime employees with going back to college.
A high school diploma is your first step
Of course, all these career paths require you to have at least a high school diploma. At ARHS you can get your high school diploma completely online and at your own pace. The sooner you get your high school diploma then, the faster you’ll be able to start a career path of your own.
by Brendan Cassidy | Jul 31, 2018 | Home School, Resources
It’s a big decision, but you’re not alone. Every year thousands of families choose to homeschool over sending their children to a traditional high school. There are many arguments both for and against homeschooling, but at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is if it will be suitable for your specific child. The homeschooling resources that are currently available to parents today online are vast.
This article will help you weigh the pros and cons of homeschooling so that you can make the best decision possible in regards to your child. Homeschooling is not an easy thing, but if you’re up to the task, it can be a great benefit to the academic success of your child.
Weighing the pros and cons of homeschooling
Of course, that’s a question you’ll have to answer for yourself, but over 1.7 million American families seem to think it’s a pretty good idea. The popularity of the homeschooling option has increased along with the ease of access to available resources and communities.
Deciding to homeschool can be a tough choice. You want what’s best for your children, but you also want what’s best for yourself. While homeschool is very hands on in K-8th, you can utilize an online program for the 9-12th-grade portion for more freedom and less effort on your part. You could even consider mixing a fully online high school program like the one offered by ARHS into your strategy. Having a high school diploma is always a good idea, even if your child is being homeschooled.
Homeschooling pros and cons
Homeschooling Pros:
- You control daily learning: These days it can be surprising what they teach, and don’t teach, kids in school. By homeschooling, you can help curate the information that your child learns and how they learn it.
- Promote stronger family values and bonds: By spending more time with your kids you can create stronger bonds and increase the cohesiveness of your family. Family is so important and homeschooling is a great example of something you can do to engrain this in your children.
- Reduce the opportunities for bullying: Bullying is a huge problem these days. A negative social environment can affect how well your child learns while increasing anxiety about their time at school. Social ridicule is one of the primary things that can make kids not want to go to school and develop a hatred for learning.
- Practical learning prepares them for the real-world: Homeschooling allows you to provide your children with specific skills that will help them in the real world.
Homeschooling Cons:
- Being a parent and teacher is hard: Homeschooling is not a walk in the park. Having to be both parent and educator can put a significant time burden on your day. Once you have committed to this path, it is very had to change courses. There is no doubt that homeschooling will add stress to your life.
- Homeschooling will reduce the time you can work: By becoming your child’s teacher, you will not have as much time to work. The loss of income can be hard and increase tension at home.
- Your kids will lose easy access to social peer groups: This route will most certainly mean some reduction in your child’s social interactions. You will have to take an active role in the socialization of your child and seek out groups of other children for them to interact with.
- Potentially less structure when compared to public school: Of course, how structured you make your homeschooling environment is entirely up to you. That being said, public school has a level of regimen that will be difficult to recreate at home.
Conclusion
Homeschooling has its pros and its cons. The decision can be a tough one, but it’s worth looking into. You have the opportunity to provide your child with an extremely high-quality education right from home, and that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
