Are Georgia’s Joshua's Law Online Courses Preparing Teens for the Realities of the Road?

July 5, 2011 - PRLog -- ATLANTA, Ga. – While many online courses approved for local teens by the Georgia Department of Driver Services offer convenience, affordability and the same insurance discounts and tax credits as traditional classroom courses, are they really preparing local teens for the road ahead? The lack of engagement and accountability and likelihood of distractions lead some to question whether self-directed virtual driver’s education courses are ideal for teens in the state of Georgia, which recently scored only 67 percent on the U.S. News and World Report Best States for Teen Drivers study.

“Very few 16 year olds have the discipline to avoid distractions in their home environment and focus solely on the curriculum in the absence of an instructor and other students, so engagement in the online learning process is extremely important, especially when we’re preparing new drivers for Georgia’s roads,” said Gil Bryan, founder and owner of Instructor Led Driver’s Ed. “Our instructor-led classes combine the interactivity of traditional classrooms with the flexibility and convenience of online formats to help students fully grasp the curriculum and retain the information."

Instructor Led Driver’s Ed’s robust online platform, and classes facilitated by a state licensed instructor is a unique addition to Georgia’s roster of virtual driver’s education courses. The company’s format is ideal for teens that require social interaction, outside encouragement and motivation, and a supervised classroom setting. Additionally, according to Bryan, these factors increase the probability that students will recall information learned from the courses long after taking required driving tests.  

Unlike other online driver’s education courses, students in Instructor Led Drivers’ Ed classes can interact with the instructor and other students, and ask questions and receive answers in real time. Instructors use videos, animated presentations, quizzes, interactive polls and student breakout sessions to keep students engaged and focused on the curriculum. Classes are structured to combat distractions in the home environment, boost retention and learning, and effectively prepare young drivers for both licensing tests and tests and challenges on the road.

“Not all online driver’s education courses are created equal, and not all teens learn the same way,” said Bryan. “When registering your teen for an online driver’s education course, make sure the class is designed for optimum engagement and offers a format that’s conducive to your child’s learning style. Your child’s safety and the safety of other drivers they will share the road with depend on it.”

Instructor Led Drivers’ Ed is approved by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. For more information or to register for an upcoming session, visit http://www.instructorleddriversed.com. Classes run daily Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students who register by July 31 pay only $99, a savings of $20.  

According to Joshua’s Law requirements, in addition to the online driver’s education course, Georgia 16 year olds must complete six hours of behind-the-wheel training and 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian, or the Parent Teen Driving Guide.

About Instructor Led Driver’s Ed

Launched in Spring 2010, Instructor Led Drivers’ Ed offers interactive online driver’s education courses with a keen focus on student engagement and information retention. Courses are taught by state licensed instructors and fulfill the requirements of Joshua’s Law. Instructor Led Drivers’ Ed virtually prepares Georgia’s teens for the realities of the road. Visit http://www.instructorleddriversed.com for more information.

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Georgia's only, Live, online instructor taught teen drivers ed course that meets the new Joshua's Law requirements.