High school is a time when students are first exposed to a wide range of new academic opportunities. From computer science to engineering, many high schools offer electives in a wide range of subjects that are not offered in middle schools. There are often countless extracurricular activities which are not found in middle schools, either, allowing students to explore topics from aviation to knitting. Within their high schools, many students can find activities to occupy them before and after school, five days a week.
However, some students may find that they have interests which are not reflected by activities in high school. Some students may also not find activities or classes in high school which match their interests. Luckily, there are numerous resources available online which students can use to supplement their learning. Here are some of the activities which high school students can pursue virtually from their homes.
Online Coursework
Although high schools may offer a greater variety of courses than middle schools, there are still subjects which students may not be able to find at their high schools. For example, subjects such as philosophy are often not found until the university level. In addition, some students may exhaust their high schools’ curriculums in core subjects before they graduate, such as mathematics.
They, too, can turn to online learning platforms for courses in linear algebra, multivariable calculus, or real analysis. Online learning platforms such as Coursera and EdX offer students learning opportunities in almost any subject. Many of these platforms allow students to take courses for free, but there is usually an option for a paid version of courses.
By upgrading to the paid version, students can earn a certificate to demonstrate completion of the course, which they can put on their LinkedIn profiles or resume. Completing online coursework is a strong way to build knowledge, show passion in a subject, and explore new areas. By showing expertise and curiosity, students can develop stronger applications to college when their senior year of high school rolls around.
Research Programs
Some students already have expertise in a particular area, or they may be looking to go beyond coursework and contribute something to the academic community. There are plenty of opportunities for research for high school students through online platforms. These platforms connect students with research advisors who will guide them through the creation of an independent research project.
Students can usually choose to explore any subject that they wish. By creating a research project, high school students show universities that they have true passion for a subject, and they can also build specific expertise within a subject. For example, a student passionate about biology may choose to write a research paper specifically related to genetics or microorganisms.
Having specific interests such as these can differentiate students from others who are applying to the same universities. Research can also allow students to earn letters of recommendation from their mentors, which are essential to building strong college applications. Research is one of the best online learning opportunities for high school students.
Language Learning
While learning to be fluent in a language requires a lot of practice and some experience talking to native speakers, one can make a lot of progress towards fluency from home. This is especially true if you are trying to learn to read or write a language since these are skills that you can gain primarily by absorbing news sources as opposed to conversing with others.
For those looking to learn a language, a good place to start is by browsing textbooks online. In addition, apps such as Duolingo are very helpful for learning basic vocabulary terms and grammar. Knowing many languages can be beneficial for a college application by showing a wide range of interests and curiosity about the world.
The most accessible languages to learn for native English speakers tend to be European languages, and Spanish and French are the most common. However, there are a lot of career opportunities for people who are able to learn commonly spoken and difficult languages to learn. These languages include Mandarin and Arabic.
The most accessible languages to learn for native English speakers tend to be European languages, and Spanish and French are the most common. However, there are a lot of career opportunities for people who are able to learn commonly spoken and difficult languages to learn. These languages include Mandarin and Arabic.
Coding
Learning to code is another important skill that high school students can learn from their homes. There are many online tutorials available in computer science from which students can choose. When learning to code, it is important to research the language which would be best to learn.
Ultimately, this depends on your goals in knowing to code. Creating a web app requires a different language from data science, for example. Once one knows how to code, there are so many more possibilities for what can be created or explored.
