Shirleen Ferrara Frame
“
Online classes have provided a self-directed education, challenging me to manage my time. I believe this experience has prepared me with the self-discipline necessary to succeed in college.
”
– Shirleen Ferrara Frame
I cannot imagine my education without online classes. This might sound overly dramatic, but please let me explain. I have grown up in rural, Northern California. The nearest high school is an hour and a half from my home—and that is in the summer. In the winter, the river rises, and my family and I must cross in canoe. Feet of snow accumulate on the mountain, and we must hike ten miles to reach our car. This means a high school is more than ten hours away in the winter. Moving to town has never been financially feasible for my parents. Suffice it to say attending high school was not a realistic option for me. I decided to continue homeschooling through a charter school. All went well until I began to consider college requirements.
When I realized that colleges require specific courses on transcripts, I was not sure homeschool curricula would qualify. However, online classes fixed that dilemma. As a homeschooled high school student, I have had the opportunity to enroll in rigorous online community college, AP, and high school classes. I have used platforms such as Canvas, Agilix Buzz, and Zoom while taking classes offered by UC Scout, BYU Independent Study, Outschool, and two community colleges. Although my experience on each platform has varied greatly depending on the class, each has provided robust curriculum that would have otherwise been inaccessible to me. I have had the opportunity to connect with professors and share ideas with other students, learning both collaboratively and independently. Online classes have provided a self-directed education, challenging me to manage my time. I believe this experience has prepared me with the self-discipline necessary to succeed in college.
Online classes have bridged a physical gap for me—the distance between myself and a high school. Over the years, however, I have met students with very different reasons for choosing online classes. Some of my friends take online classes because their learning style is not accommodated by on-site classes. Online curriculum allows them to learn at their own pace and without the distraction of other students. Similarly, I know students who take online classes because of physical or mental health issues. Some face chronic illness or hospitalization and cannot attend school. Online classes allow them to continue with their educations while ill. I know others who struggle with mental illnesses or trauma—such as bullying—which make online classes a healthier fit. Finally, some of my peers choose online classes because their school does not offer courses in a specific discipline. For example, my friend’s high school did not offer AP Psychology, so she chose to take it online. Online classes allowed her to broaden her course options and explore her unique interests. In a more recent example, many of my friends’ high schools have responded to the coronavirus outbreak by moving classes online. During this global pandemic, my friends can continue with their educations thanks to online learning, ensuring they graduate on time.
Some online classes are better than others. When choosing classes, I look for a common set of characteristics. First, I prefer classes that prioritize skill-building over receiving good grades. My best online classes ask me to apply ideas learned in the classroom to the real world. In Spanish 2, I wrote about the importance of my community’s Hispanic population. In English-1A, I researched and wrote about the environmental impact of pharmaceutical drugs. These projects make my education meaningful, teaching me to think critically and apply my knowledge. Second, my best classes have been led by professors who are willing to devote time and effort to ensuring my success. Through weekly emails, insightful responses to my assignments, interactive lectures, and office hours, my professors have supported me in the virtual classroom, inspiring me to work hard and think deeply about the subject matter. Finally, my favorite online curriculum creates a sense of community online, fostering collaboration among students. Through discussion board posts and responses, peer reviews, and group projects, I have experienced collaborative learning while living remotely.
I have never taken an on-site class, so I cannot compare online learning to learning in a traditional classroom. However, I can say that online classes have been vital to my education. Virtual classrooms have provided me with valuable connections to teachers, peers, and resources, encouraging my personal and intellectual growth. Although I look forward to experiencing on-site learning in college, I am grateful for the opportunities online classes have given me in high school. Throughout my career, I expect to benefit from similar learning environments, whether taking or teaching online classes. Like in high school, these opportunities will allow me to gain a worldwide network of mentors and peers.