Kids do grow up fast, don’t they? One day you’re driving them to kindergarten, and the next you’re talking about driver’s ed. While it feels a little bittersweet, you need to be supportive of your child’s driver’s education course. This means being incredibly involved in helping choose the right class for them, making them the safest driver possible.
The past sixteen years or so may have flown by, so you might have missed the memo: in many states, teens can actually take their driver’s ed class online. While this wasn’t even remotely possible when you were growing up, it’s now an accepted norm and a class that many young drivers are taking. However, many young driver’s parents are hesitant and have a sort of stigma surrounding online driving courses. Traditional courses happen in a classroom and include behind-the-wheel training, but online courses are simply taken over the internet. Upon completion, a certificate is sent in the mail and they are then able to waive the written part of the DMV driver’s license test.
You and your child should sit down and have a serious discussion about which one is best for them: in-person or online. However, when you consider some of the positive aspects of online courses, you may realize that this is the best and most convenient option for your child.
It Will Require Self-Discipline
Traditional driver’s ed classes require a student to attend in order to pass. It feels like an obligation, and most students show up simply because they want their license and not because they actually want to be there. An online class, however, can be taken whenever your child is available and able to fit in a lesson. This means that they only ever log on to take the course when they feel inspired and motivated to do so.
Your child becoming an adult can feel like a rather sensitive time for you, but it’s important for them to learn the value in becoming a safe driver—and part of being a safe driver is dedicating time to a driver’s ed class. It’s one thing for someone to go to driver’s ed because they feel like they have to, and it’s a completely different thing for them to actively do the class because they want to. It will give your child more autonomy and allow them to have a choice in their future.
It Will Be More Interesting
Driver’s ed isn’t exactly the most thrilling class in the world. There is a lot of information to cover, and sadly the stereotype of a bitter, aging driver’s ed teacher is a reality for many. Don’t risk putting your child into a class that makes them want to fall asleep!
Online driver’s ed courses can be much more enjoyable and more interactive for students. Many today include video games, videos, quizzes, photos, and more to keep students engaged and learning. These are the types of things that are hard to incorporate into a classroom setting—especially with teachers who are set in their ways. Even with an incredibly passionate and talented teacher, the wonders of the internet allow an online class to truly engage students more and on a more personal level. Instead of someone teaching to twenty or thirty people at a time, your child will practically be receiving one-on-one instruction that they can digest at their own pace.
They Will Have Fewer Distractions
At first, enrolling your child in a class with all of their close friends sounds like a great idea. They’ll have people they know and won’t feel as intimidated, and they can even work and study together. But let’s face it: classrooms are hardly ever ideal learning environments. If it’s not your own child getting distracted by their friends, then it’s other people in the classroom goofing off.
While there is certainly a slew of distractions that can pop up at home, taking the class in a much more controlled environment can allow them to focus much better. They’ll have a room that they feel comfortable in, a space that is conducive to getting work done, and they can fit in lessons into their schedule as they see fit. This means that, in the end, they’ll much more successfully retain information and in turn become better drivers.
It Won’t Exhaust Them
What does your child’s schedule usually include? School, of course, and that also means homework. Don’t forget extracurricular activities, like school clubs and sports, as well as any competitions associated with this. They also make time to socialize with friends outside of school and spend time with family. Many students also find time to volunteer or work on other passion projects. Additionally, many students have jobs.
On top of all of that, a driver’s ed course is a lot to handle! Requiring a student to sit in a classroom for longer than they do already, or to even give up some of their precious weekends to take lessons, is almost cruel.
Additionally, online driver’s ed courses allow students to take the class when it suits them. Maybe they find ten minutes before it’s time to sit down for dinner. Maybe they look through the work for twenty minutes before bed each day. Maybe they have a lot of tests one week and don’t do any work at all, but use some free time the following week to do some more work. By taking an online class, your child will have more say over his or her schedule, and this will result in less exhaustion—which in turn means they’ll learn and pick up more of the information.
They’ll Get To Choose From Several Available Options
If there’s one thing I’m sure of regarding teen’s education, it’s that they learn in different ways and their ability to retain information varies, depending on their learning style.
We have those visual learners who will find watching videos and animations more informative and engaging. But some students will be more comfortable reading the materials, some even prefer the traditional textbook learning over internet-ready PDF versions. Still, some audio learners prefer hearing the text out loud as they follow along.
Since there are several online driver’s ed providers out there, your kids will have the freedom to choose the method of how they want to learn the course materials.
If they are more of the visual-learner type who wants to be entertained while learning, try MyImprov’s driver education. They have comedy skits, jokes, and memes throughout the course to entertain and keep students engaged.
If they prefer reading, then perhaps the more straightforward delivery by DriverEdToGo is the best choice for your kid.
If your teen is somewhere in the middle, I’d recommend DriversEd and iDriveSafely (schools merged in 2015) with just the right amount of text lessons and interactive features like videos, animations, and games in between.
If he/she is leaning on the more techie option, we also have Aceable. But it’s currently offered in only a few states (CA, FL, GA, IL, NV, OH, OK, PA, and TX as of May 2021). Aceable has a very easy-to-navigate learning app, so you’ll be able to find what you need with just a few clicks. Plus they have a lovely mascot called Ace who will be there to guide you throughout the course.