Student Interview: Caleb Olson
Interview conducted via email on: 8-20-13
1. Why did you choose to go to an online high school?
The high school i was going to didn't offer any of the advanced classes i wanted to take.
2. What led you to choose your High School in particular?
MU is near where i live so i could go to their offices and actually talk to some of the teachers in person. I could also take tests at their testing center instead of having to have them sent in the mail.
3. What was your favorite aspect of online learning?
I was able to schedule my time around my other activities and do my assignments when they fit my schedule.
4. What was your favorite aspect of your High School in particular?
The teachers all seemed like they actually wanted to help you learn instead of just giving you assignments each day like most at my previous school.
5. What was your least-favorite aspect of online learning?
It did not have as much interaction between teachers and students as in a normal classroom.
6. What was your least-favorite aspect of your High School in particular?
7. Was it difficult for you to get enough social interaction?
I didn't have a lot of social interaction at my old high school due to its small size so i was actually able to get more interaction with other kids because i was able to join a home school band group and make new friends.
8. How would you compare the quality of your educational experience with that you would have had if you had gone to a traditional school?
I would say it is much better than in my traditional high school i went to before. For example in AP English i would write an essay or paper every other week instead of once a year at my old school. This made me a much better writer over the course of a single year.
9. Would you recommend online learning to anyone your age? If not, what type of student might you interview online learning to, if any?
Online learning is not for everyone. You need to have the self discipline to work on your homework and turn it in on time. You also need to be able to work well on your own.
10. Would you recommend your particular school? Explain.
Yes. It has some great teachers and classes not offered at small public high schools like the one i used to attend.
11. What skills do you think online learners need to have that traditional learners do not?
Like i said in the answer to question 9 you need to have self discipline and be able to work on your own. You also need to have at least basic knowledge of computers.
12. What skills do you think you developed because of your online experience that you probably would not have developed at a traditional high school?
I have become a much better writer and i was able to learn Java. I have also gotten much better at scheduling my time and self discipline. I think this has prepared me a lot better for college than my old public school would have.
13. What are your short-term goals?
Do good in class and hopefully get an internship at a technology company next summer.
14. What are your long-term goals?
I would like to get a masters degree in computer engineering and possibly materials science. I would like to design microprocessors at a company such as Qualcomm, ARM, Intel, or IBM.
15. How did going to this school help you get closer to your goals?
It better prepared me to do good in college and
16. If you had it to do all over again, would you choose online learning, and if so, the same online school? Explain.
Yes. Despite the few drawbacks MU online was the best option i had at the time. I would certainly do it over again.
17. Did you make friends virtually? Explain.
Not really. I never really interacted with any of the students outside of class required things.
18. What would you say makes a good online instructor? What characteristics are necessary/helpful for the instructor to be effective in an online environment?
They should be able communicate easily over email.
19. What is your favorite memory of high school?
20. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
1. Why did you choose to go to an online high school?
The high school i was going to didn't offer any of the advanced classes i wanted to take.
2. What led you to choose your High School in particular?
MU is near where i live so i could go to their offices and actually talk to some of the teachers in person. I could also take tests at their testing center instead of having to have them sent in the mail.
3. What was your favorite aspect of online learning?
I was able to schedule my time around my other activities and do my assignments when they fit my schedule.
4. What was your favorite aspect of your High School in particular?
The teachers all seemed like they actually wanted to help you learn instead of just giving you assignments each day like most at my previous school.
5. What was your least-favorite aspect of online learning?
It did not have as much interaction between teachers and students as in a normal classroom.
6. What was your least-favorite aspect of your High School in particular?
7. Was it difficult for you to get enough social interaction?
I didn't have a lot of social interaction at my old high school due to its small size so i was actually able to get more interaction with other kids because i was able to join a home school band group and make new friends.
8. How would you compare the quality of your educational experience with that you would have had if you had gone to a traditional school?
I would say it is much better than in my traditional high school i went to before. For example in AP English i would write an essay or paper every other week instead of once a year at my old school. This made me a much better writer over the course of a single year.
9. Would you recommend online learning to anyone your age? If not, what type of student might you interview online learning to, if any?
Online learning is not for everyone. You need to have the self discipline to work on your homework and turn it in on time. You also need to be able to work well on your own.
10. Would you recommend your particular school? Explain.
Yes. It has some great teachers and classes not offered at small public high schools like the one i used to attend.
11. What skills do you think online learners need to have that traditional learners do not?
Like i said in the answer to question 9 you need to have self discipline and be able to work on your own. You also need to have at least basic knowledge of computers.
12. What skills do you think you developed because of your online experience that you probably would not have developed at a traditional high school?
I have become a much better writer and i was able to learn Java. I have also gotten much better at scheduling my time and self discipline. I think this has prepared me a lot better for college than my old public school would have.
13. What are your short-term goals?
Do good in class and hopefully get an internship at a technology company next summer.
14. What are your long-term goals?
I would like to get a masters degree in computer engineering and possibly materials science. I would like to design microprocessors at a company such as Qualcomm, ARM, Intel, or IBM.
15. How did going to this school help you get closer to your goals?
It better prepared me to do good in college and
16. If you had it to do all over again, would you choose online learning, and if so, the same online school? Explain.
Yes. Despite the few drawbacks MU online was the best option i had at the time. I would certainly do it over again.
17. Did you make friends virtually? Explain.
Not really. I never really interacted with any of the students outside of class required things.
18. What would you say makes a good online instructor? What characteristics are necessary/helpful for the instructor to be effective in an online environment?
They should be able communicate easily over email.
19. What is your favorite memory of high school?
20. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?