School, family, a job, college applications, a social life- it can be hard managing it all in high school. Optima Academy Online (OAO) makes balance easier.
When I went to a performance arts charter school in high school, I was advancing my acting career simultaneously with my academic career. Unfortunately, while I was able to keep my grades up, I missed a lot of class every time I was taking part in “outside of school endeavors,” such as performing in movies and advertisements (which were amazing career and educational opportunities). I desperately wished at the time for something that would allow me to flourish in both school and through my art form without feeling “stretched thin.”
That is where OAO would have been the ideal option for me. While OAO has an intensive learning model through their synchronous, Live courses, they also offer an asynchronous, On-Demand course model. This allows for optimal scheduling to fit your needs as either a busy school student or a parent desiring a structured-yet independent learning style for your child that offers more autonomy and a self-paced approach.
Here is how this style of course work was utilized through my own experiences: once I went to college, I had the opportunity to experience On-Demand learning (the type I had only dreamt of in high school!) I was able to manage my schedule to do school whenever I wanted and at my own pace. On-Demand learning led me to mature in my time-management skills, take on an internship, run a clothing company, and have a part-time job simultaneously all while I was still a teen! If I had been able to take advantage of this type of learning in middle or high-school, I would have been able to achieve so many of those things at an even younger age.
All I wanted was freedom during my middle and high-school years. Being able to take on that freedom and responsibility allowed me to soar. I would be remiss not to share my experience with On-Demand learning because it truly had such an impact on why I am such a hard worker today. I will say, I am not the only successful patron of asynchronous learning, nor am I the only supporter of it.
A study through in Behavior Analysis in Practice showed that students who participated in asynchronous discussion scored higher on quizzes than students who did not participate. Another study published in Academic Emergency Medicine examined the effectiveness of asynchronous e-learning for medicine education based on pediatric emergencies. The study proved that students who utilized the asynchronous learning opportunities had thorough improvement in post test scores, compared to those who did not use their asynchronous resources.
Asynchronous learning could be the ideal next step for you whether you are a supportive parent or confident student. Working on-demand, students are given assignments to complete based on their schedule. Real instructors offer office hours every weekday from 7:30 am – 4pm EST. AI tutors are also available 24/7, making help always accessible. If you need more structure, Optima Academy Online offers incredible synchronous classes that will satisfy your needs as a learner or a parent of a learner.
If your needs extend to wanting a more-flexible schedule to factor in that incredible trip you’re taking in the fall, a once in a lifetime internship opportunity, work, mental health, or anything else, we get it and that’s why we at Optima are excited to be flexible with you!