What Is Outschool?

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What is Outschool, anyway? Learn all about this online course platform for kids in our complete breakdown.

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Homeschool families are often searching for resources to support their students at home to supplement curriculum and enrichment activities. Finding a resource that uses real teachers seems too good to be true, but it’s not. Outschool is one of the most popular websites in homeschool communities because it uses qualified teachers to engage with students, teach live lessons, and even run clubs and summer camps. 

Outschool was designed with homeschool families in mind. It is a user-friendly website that allows parents and kids to search topics and curriculum to find classes that meet both curriculum and interest needs. Learning about the basics and benefits of Outschool can help you decide if it is a good fit for your student. 

Outschool Basics

Outschool has been around for almost a decade. The company originally started in 2015 with the idea of supporting students both in homeschool settings and traditional education settings. All teachers who work for Outschool must complete a background check and have had experience teaching. In fact, you can even take classes as complex as AP classes with teachers who are certified to teach those courses. 

Classes that are the most popular are typically taught by teachers with engaging topics or the teachers who have the most experience. Outschool has over 140,000 courses to choose something so there is truly an option for all subject areas and interests. 

You can see all their classes here.

How Outschool Works 

Joining Outschool is a pretty simple process. Once you complete registration, you can search for classes for your student. Each class has a detailed description of what the course entails. The website will also promote up-and-coming classes as well as the more popular courses. 

Some classes are a one-time thing, but many last for weeks at a time. Parents and kids enjoy the structure of knowing they will have a class each week, allowing for a deeper connection between the students and the teacher. Classes are typically taught on Zoom so it is important to have a strong internet connection and a camera and microphone to be able to participate fully in the courses. 

You are also probably wondering about the cost. While other homeschool resources require subscriptions, Outschool allows you to pay by class. Class prices range typically from $10-$35 per student. It can get a little pricey if you are doing a 6 week-long class, but it is well worth the investment for the quality of the courses. 

Benefits of Outschool

Ask any family or student who has participated in an Outschool class, and they will likely tell you the teachers and the social interaction were the highlights of the course. Teachers who teach at Outschool have to have previous teaching experience which makes them experienced and prepared to work with students. They also go through a background check so you can rest assured your child is in a safe virtual environment. 

Many outschool classes are interactive and offer time for discussion and connection among students. As your child works to take classes independently, they will gain a sense of autonomy. While homeschooling has many advantages, participating in Outschool classes helps students feel like they are a part of something bigger and broadens both their knowledge base and interests as they connect with others. 

Courses Offered by OutSchool

OutSchool is constantly updating its courses. When you go to their website, you can search for book titles, games, math strategies and more to find the perfect course for your student.

You can sort by subject, age, price, dates, and more. This allows you to find the perfect fit for you and your family.

Some of the more popular courses that are currently being offered are this Dog Man reading comprehension group or this course for ages 6-11 on black holes. 

There are truly an endless amount of opportunities when you use Outschool. Students can take courses in different languages like this course Japanese for beginners. They can also work with a tutor or teacher in a one-on-one setting if you are needing support in a specific area or your child prefers a more individualized setting. With so many options available, we suggest taking some time to explore the website and making a list of courses that may interest your child. 

Introducing the New Online Learning Planner

Outschool recently launched their new Learning Planner feature, which allows you to plan out your online class schedule in advance. Just add your learner, select the Planner up top, then browse classes. When you find the classes you want, select “Add to Planner” and start filling out your schedule.

Try the Online Learning Planner here.

Summary of Outschool

Now that you have learned the basics of Outschool and how it works, exploring the Outschool website is the next step in helping you understand all of the different opportunities available through this amazing resource. Ask around to other homeschool families as well to hear about their experiences. You will likely hear positive reviews as most people who try Outschool are hooked after the first class. 

Whether you’re looking for something for your kids to do during the summer, or you need online classes to supplement your homeschool curriculum, give it a try!