Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners: The Flexibility of Online High School Courses

Posted by Laura Amendola on March 6, 2025

What are diverse learners?

 

Diverse learners are students with different learning styles, abilities, and paces. There have always been different learning styles, including

• Visual Learners, who prefer images, charts, graphs, and diagrams.
• Auditory Learners, who learn best through listening to lectures, discussions, and audio materials.
• Read/Write Learners, who prefer written words, such as reading textbooks and taking notes.
• Kinesthetic Learners, who learn by doing, through hands-on experiences and movement.

 

Online schools like Penn Foster incorporate content that tries its best to cater to each of these learning styles. Online educator Adelaide Fordjour shares, "As a visual learner, I always say, 'Why didn’t I have this when I was in school?' Online education allows for different learning styles—whether you prefer reading, watching videos, participating in discussions, or listening to audio lectures, there’s something for everyone." For neurodiverse students, a multitude of learning methods could aid in their engagement, according to Faculty Focus. Traditional teaching methods may not cut it for these students.

 

In traditional classrooms, students with different learning styles may face challenges like rigid class schedules, overcrowded class sizes, and one-size-fits-all teaching methods. Those who need extra time or attention may get lost in the shuffle. Online high school is often self-paced and, in many instances, offers one-on-one time with instructors or academic support, so those students can do their work in a way that suits them best.

 

Read more: The Pros and Cons of Online High School (A Guidance Counselor’s Guide)

 

When partnering with an online education partner, you’ll be able to customize the learning experience for both fast and slow learners. Since schools like Penn Foster are self-paced, students who need more flexibility can have their needs met. Students also have the ability to access materials in different formats like text, video, and interactive exercises in many online curriculums.

 

When learners have so many different needs, being able to create personalized learning paths can be crucial to see these students succeed. Technology also plays a big part in current learners lives and increasingly in their education, so using online programs that use adaptive technology can benefit your students.

 

Read more: How Educators Can Reach Gen Alpha

 

Self-paced learning can be beneficial for students for many reasons. Instead of hard and fast due dates that can create stress, students learning through self-paced programs can take their time and take exams when they feel they’ve fully absorbed the material and are ready. With the online model, students who get anxious when they’re unexpectedly called on in class or feel judged by their peers when they supply the wrong answer can study in an environment away from these potential triggers.

 

The benefits don’t stop there. Students heavily involved in sports or other extra-curricular activities may thrive more in a less structured schooling environment. This is because it enables them to travel but take school with them, eliminating the need for in-person attendance. This can also take some of the pressure off these students who may be struggling with all of their responsibilities.

 

Read more: What is Blended Learning in High School? (Key components, impact on academic success, and implementation)

 

Online learning is not going anywhere. Some trends and predictions to be aware of that could benefit diverse learners include:

• Online learning will continue to grow
• Personalized education will be more common
• AI will be key to an education revolution
• Virtual and augmented reality will change the education system
• Microlearning will be incorporated into the day to day
• Learning Management Systems (LMS) will replace school libraries
• There will be an increase in blended learning

 

Of all of these, the most high impact is arguably the continued inclusion of AI in school. According to recent statistics, around 44% of children are already using AI in some capacity, with more than half of that percent using it for school. With online learning platforms, revolutions in grading, and generators like ChatGPT, AI is changing the game for education. Online schools like Penn Foster are embracing AI, making it a great partner for schools and organizations looking to optimize this trend for its learners.

 

Read more: AI in Education: How Technology is Shaping the Future of Learning

 

When considering partnering with an online learning institution, it’s important to do your research to ensure the program is legitimate. Accreditation is very important, especially for high school programs. While there’s never a 100% guarantee that colleges or employers will accept your students with an online high school diploma, choosing to partner with a school that has both regional and national accreditation shows anyone inquiring that the program meets the education standard set by these accrediting bodies.

 

Dr. Andy Shean, PhD. explains, “Today, people really recognize online degrees as comparable to a traditional campus-based program." Students should not have many problems after completing an online program as a result of this shift.

 

Read more: How Colleges View Online High School: A Guide for Guidance Counselors

 

With benefits like flexibility, self-paced curriculum, and personalized learning, online learning can be exactly what your diverse learners need to excel, which in turn can increase graduation rates and help your students achieve their goals. Consider partnering with an online program to start reaping these benefits and seeing the results your students deserve. You can request more info or reach out to our training experts to see if Penn Foster is the right partnership for your org.