What Online Learning Really Looks Like at New Code Academy

When families think about online learning, they often picture a child staring quietly at a screen. But sit down with Ray Cannon, New Code Academy’s Digital Learning Specialist, and a different picture emerges — one filled with interaction, hands-on projects, and meaningful relationships.

Ray has supported New Code students and families for years, guiding onboarding, producing school news programs, and creating the connection pieces that shape the school’s culture. In conversation with Ray, one theme keeps coming up: families come to New Code because they want real people behind the screen.

Many families enroll in New Code after trying fully asynchronous online programs. Those options felt impersonal — what families call “sanitary,” almost business-like. Students weren’t getting the human connection they needed, and parents could see it. “Families want a personal touch,” Ray explains. “They want their child to feel known.”

Connection is especially important for the students who tend to thrive at New Code. Ray shares that many families who enroll in online school have looked at many options before choosing a school. “These families aren’t searching for just any option,” Ray said. “They’re carefully selecting the right environment for their family.” 

The right environment is a place where the school understands unique family needs and values; a place where students and families are welcomed and connected. “A lot of parents carry their own negative school experiences,” Ray said. “They may have had their own encounters with bullies, or feeling like a misfit. They don’t want that same experience for their own children—and these parents are searching for a place where belonging isn’t just a buzzword. At New Code, we work hard to make sure that everyone is welcomed and knows they’re valued.”

That care extends to students who have learning differences. Ray regularly works with families whose children experience dyslexia, anxiety, ADHD, or autism. These students often flourish in an online environment that reduces sensory overload while still providing structured, meaningful social interaction. “Online school has fewer distractions,” Ray says. “Less interruptions, fewer surprises, but all students still get to build friendships and community.”

And that community is surprisingly strong.

Ray shares stories of students who talk about classmates as their “best friends” despite never meeting in person. He sees kindergarteners in virtual playgroups chatting and building vocabulary as naturally as if they were sitting side-by-side. “For those who haven’t experienced a great online school, it’s hard to picture,” said Ray. “We imagine kids sitting in a room staring at a screen. But our students are learning, playing, and interacting. It’s not cold. It’s not impersonal. It’s pure joy.”

New Code is known for sending interactive materials home throughout the year — something uncommon for online programs. Students receive kits for makerspace activities, science exploration, family night projects, and more. Families never have to print materials or scramble to find supplies. “We’re sending things home constantly,” Ray notes. “It makes learning real, not just digital. You don’t need to buy a printer. You don’t need to supplement with math manipulatives or literacy workbooks. If your student needs it, we send it.”

This is especially helpful for families, because the learning at New Code is creative and active. “Technology is amazing,” Ray said. “We have so many ways to create incredible learning experiences for students.” Ray describes an upcoming fifth-grade project that spans across subjects to create truly integrated learning. “Students will be asked to design an invention that could help the world. Then they’ll be able to 3D-print a prototype in art class. They will create a jingle for their commercial and then film their advertisement.” This kind of project is the driving goal at New Code, where curriculum isn’t just slapped online — it's intentionally developed and revised often, for an online experience by certified teachers and experts in digital learning, like Ray himself.

“Our goal is simple. Learning needs to be hands-on, engaging, and centered on student interests. We have so many ways to do that, and with technology, we can really honor unique learning needs.”

Ray talks about a student on the spectrum who struggled in traditional schools because the child wasn’t able to bring any of their typical coping mechanisms to class. Now, the student participates in group projects each week with the family pet on their lap. Ray and his team found a way for an anxious student to feel safe and secure — enough so that this student could participate freely in ways that had never happened in traditional classroom settings. 

These stories anchor what Ray believes truly sets New Code apart. “We care,” he says simply. Not as a slogan — as a practice. Staff build trust, personalize lessons, integrate student interests, show personality, and foster relationships. Intentional choices help students feel at ease. “One of our paraeducators shares dad jokes in our school news every week,” said Ray. “The jokes are silly. But the humor isn’t random — it’s a tool to make support staff feel approachable instead of intimidating. Students get to know and feel comfortable with them.”

Looking ahead, Ray acknowledges that online learning, especially for elementary students, still faces misconceptions. Families worry about screen time or socialization. They’re worried the diploma isn’t “real.” But when they see how New Code blends hands-on learning, strong relationships, and active engagement, perceptions shift quickly. “Online school is not for every family,” Ray says. “But for the ones it fits, it works really well.”

In Ray’s view, the heart of New Code Academy isn’t technology — it’s people. It’s the comfort a child feels when they can learn in their own space. The confidence students build comes from teachers who notice and respond. The community that grows one project, one dad joke, one digital field trip at a time.

For families exploring online school and wondering whether it can truly feel connected, Ray’s stories offer a clear answer: at New Code Academy, it already does.

If you’re exploring options and have questions, we’d love to talk. Contact us to connect with our team and learn more.