Online learning benefits Lexington County students every day

As the leader of a statewide full-time online school for grades K-12 serving students in Lexington County, I saw this before the pandemic and in a digital workforce.

According to Pearson’s Global Learners Survey, more than 80% of Americans believe online learning will be a part of children’s education in the future.

To help families make the most of it they might consider se 5 tips:

1. Embrace flexibility.

Free from a bell, students can learn when and where they learn best and at a pace that supports their needs. Math only on Mondays? School starts at 10 am? These are possible at an online school.

2. Create their own learning space.

To help your child focus, create a space that is free from distractions, with materials and tools at their fingertips. This could be a living room corner or bedroom desk.

3. Set family schedules.

If you are working from home, too, plan a schedule for everyone in the house and review it daily to meet needs. Remind students that they shouldn’t try to do too much at once. Learning blocks of 30-50 minutes are recommended, and with frequent breaks so they can stay engaged.

4. Attend live lessons.

If your child’s teacher is hosting real-time classes, have them attend. Through live online lessons, students have a chance to regularly connect with their teacher and their classmates, helping them feel connected to their school while supporting their learning. It gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, ask questions or reinforce concepts they have learned.

5. Find a work/life/school balance.

Your family’s health and well-being come first. Until you find your groove with online learning, it may be challenging.

Show patience and resiliency. Draw lines between work/school time and family time. Don’t skip the things that bring your family happy routines you rely on together.

Joshua Kitchens is executive director of South Carolina Connections Academy, a tuition-free online public school for K-12. For details call 800-382-6010 or visit www.SouthCarolinaConnectionsAcademy.com

For covid-19 data followers

SC Department of Health and Environmental Control has updated its covid-19 website to make information more easily accessible and user friendly.

To avoid confusion, DHEC refers the public to the county-level dashboard for:

• Cases by ZIP code

• Percent positive in SC and each county

• Demographic data

• Chronic health conditions information

• Updates on the cases and deaths at This is available by clicking the green “SC County-Level cCovid-19 Data” button on the main covid-19 landing page.

No data is being taken away or reduced.

Laura Renwick, DHEC