If you’re on Facebook or Instagram and you’re a parent, chances are your news feed is inundated with ads from Outschool. Like me, you probably scrolled by, glancing at it, but not giving it much thought. But a few weeks ago, as I thought about the summer break, the potential for lockdowns to continue, and my jam-packed work-from-home schedule, the concept started to sound more and more intriguing. So as the April school break approached and Toronto’s weather was forecast to be cold and rainy that week, I decided to pull the trigger and see what Outschool is all about.
What exactly is Outschool anyway"
Founded in 2015, Outschool was designed to offer supplemental learning for homeschooled children. But with the pandemic in full swing, the educational platform has become a source of learning and social interaction for kids of all ages, in all types of schools. The diverse selection of courses, classes, and groups are designed for kids from 3-17 and are managed by experienced and independent educators (or companies) via an interactive, live video platform. Those who wish to teach don’t necessarily have to possess a teaching degree, but they must undergo a background check and be approved to teach via the platform based on their credentials and experience. Parents and kids leave reviews, providing valuable feedback and a level of accountability to do well. At present, there are more than 100,000 live online classes serving 174 countries.
What kind o...