Celebrating the Next Generation of Difference Makers

This time of year is special for school districts as it marks the end of a hard-working school year and the beginning of a long-awaited summer break. For some students, it’s not only the end of the school year, it’s a time to celebrate the successful completion of their 13-year educational journey, as they graduate and get ready for the next chapter in their lives.

As educators, especially with our online setting at Michigan Connections Academy, it’s an awe-inspiring event to witness such bright young adults surpass expectations and take off like rockets into the next step on their journey, and it’s easy to spot the impact that virtual education has had on student success.

A vital skill that online learners naturally develop is self-discipline. While our dedicated educators are trained to keep order in their online classrooms, a significant amount of balance is required by our students, with the help of their family, to manage their home-classroom experience. Keeping track of schedules, logging on at the appropriate time and staying motivated without being physically present helps students build productive self-discipline habits that overall lead them to success in the classroom and will benefit them as they move forward.

Similar to developed discipline, students are also given the opportunity to work on time management skills through the virtual platform. A key benefit of our format at Michigan Connections Academy is that students have the option to work on their own time, which provides flexibility for students and families who need it while also posing the challenge of time management for students to learn and understand before continuing to college or entering the workforce.

As an online school, another benefit for students comes from using, learning and mastering the format itself, helping students develop skills in technology and working in online environments. As remote employment continues to grow, having the adaptability skills to navigate the ever-changing online landscape will not only be essential for many workplaces but also in day-to-day life.

While our teachers, classrooms and online resources provide many forms of assistance, online students are still expected to take responsibility for their education by seeking help when needed, remaining motivated with less direct oversight and completing tasks on their own. This helps construct independent learning skills that can be applied far beyond their academic career.

Lastly, online learning gives students the opportunity to connect with peers from various locations with different backgrounds, cultures and perspectives. This creates a more diverse learning environment and helps students understand the variety of different histories and interests of the world around them.

Online learning has the power to lift up our graduates, guide them through their academic journey and help them develop the skills they need to not only be successful in the classroom, but in the workplace and community. As superintendent, I’m extremely proud of the hard work our graduating seniors have put forward and am thrilled to see how they apply their digital learning skills in the real world.

Bryan Klochack is the Superintendent of Michigan Connections Academy, a tuition-free, public online school serving students in grades K-12 across Michigan.