Student Interview: JoAnn Benway Tinker
Interview conducted: 9-21-13
1. Why did you choose to go to an online high school?
I am into skating, so it was important to me to have a flexible schedule that would allow me to compete. I also wanted a higher quality academic experience than the one available in my area. I was in Florida, and then moved to Delaware.
2. What attracted you to Stanford OHS?
I'm currently a sophomore, and this is my second year at OHS, but I took some courses at other online schools before committing fully to OHS. My Dad and I did research--I took some classes from Johns Hopkins and EPGY (Stanford's Education Program for Gifted Youth) while I was still at a regular school. EPGY became Stanford OHS, so it was a natural progression.
3. What is your favorite aspect of online learning?
I get to meet teachers and students from everywhere. It's really cool to have friends and associations with interesting people who are all over the world.
4. What is your favorite aspect of your school, Stanford OHS, in particular?
One of my favorite things is that I like the course structure and variety at OHS. There are so many really interesting classes I can take. It's also cool that they accept courses from other schools because that adds even more flexibility. I was able to start out part-time, and then I became full time and I can still take courses from other schools if I want to.
5. What is your least-favorite aspect of online learning?
Communicating can be hard--it's not always timely and efficient communication. It's also hard to establish that first connection with friends. There's no hanging out in the hallway, naturally meeting people. At a regular school I didn't even think about it; it just happened. Here, you will be isolated unless you make an effort to get to know people.
6. What is your least-favorite aspect of Stanford OHS in particular?
It's very, very intense. Teachers often don't realize that they are all giving us work at the same time same with the same due dates. They aren't communicating amongst themselves, so we can end up with several huge projects due at the same time. It's really tough. There are also sooo many tech difficulties. We can't be sure that we're even going to get to go to class on any given day. Their system--Centra--is really inefficient. There are lots of requirements--you have to have video, etc. Glitches can be frustrating.
7. Is it difficult for you to get enough social interaction?
Yes, it's really hard. I'm a very social person. I have really close friends at OHS--actually even closer than some of my "real-life" friends. But it's difficult because we can't connect in person. All we have is online. I look at my local friends and see all their amazing pictures on Facebook about things they did together, and I find myself a little envious of their ability to hang out with the people they care about all day.
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?
It depends on the traditional school, but generally speaking, it's a much, much higher quality experience. The coursework is not typical. Our teachers really try to find stuff that we as a group or even as individuals will find fascinating. They cater to our specific needs and it's so interesting and rewarding.
9. Would you recommend online learning to anyone your age? If not, what type of student might you refer online learning to, if any?
There is definitely a certain type of OHS kid. When we meet in the summer, we play this game in the airport where we try to pick out the students from our program. It's actually pretty easy. They are the kids who are slightly weird, nerdy, and extremely smart. You also have to be the kind of person who is ok with not being around people all the time. It takes real drive and motivation to get something done when you are sitting by yourself in your room. It's wonderful for students who have unusual interests and goals and activities they want to do outside of school and find that school limits them. I would definitely recommend it to those students.
10. Would you recommend Stanford OHS in particular? Explain.
Yes. I was in the public virtual school system in Florida for awhile. Those don't have in-person classes. It's hugely important to be able to meet online and interact with teachers and classmates to have interactive discussions and get your questions answered. Most of the other programs I participated in did not have that. It's not the same quality experience without the online meeting. Stanford is also more structured--some of them are completely self paced. The teachers in other programs don't really care if you complete all the assignments. They let you have extra time and are very generous. OHS is really structured--they require that you meet in class and meet the deadlines. I like that structure--it makes for a more efficient learning experience for me.
11. What skills do you think online learners need to have that traditional learners do not?
Learning online takes a certain type of motivation--if you don't understand, no one is watching over you. It's not too hard to just gloss over what you don't get and move on. But to get the real quality experience, you have to push yourself and find the answers when you don't understand. It's easier to let stuff slide in this environment. The independence you get with online learning comes at a price. There are a lot of homework assignments that our teachers don't review. It's easy to skip over some of those--or just not put in your maximum effort. But then the midterm arrives, and any gaps in your understanding are likely to matter. For example, I'm taking AP Chemistry right now and we regularly have about 40 chemistry problems to solve. But our teacher doesn't review them. All I have to do is get an A on the weekly quiz. But if I don't put in the effort on the homework, I may get to the midterm and, "Oh, snap!" it's a really big problem. You learn quickly that the stuff no one is looking at matters.
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've become much better organized in terms of time management. I'm also more outgoing because I've had to learn that if I don't put a big effort into socialization, I will be alone in my educational experience. I didn't think about what that feels like before. I didn't know it was a skill I needed to develop, but I think it will help me make connections in other circumstances in life.
13. What are your short-term goals?
I want to get the most out of my time at Stanford. I want to master time management with more regular studying. It's really easy to let things slide. Our big deadlines and exams are usually about three weeks apart, so I have a tendency to let it go until a day or two before it's due and then I'm in real trouble. So I want to get more organized. Because I've let it slide in the past, I'm in a situation now where I can't skate as much as I want. I'd like to be skating about 2 1/2 hours per day, but right now all I can do is 1 hour because I have to get caught up with my school workload. My short-term goal is to get a more balanced life. I'd like to do an internship, but there just isn't enough time. And there's not enough time for skating. It's all about school right now, and I want to get that better balanced.
14. What are your long-term goals?
I'm really interested in science and medical research. I'm also interested in government policy research. So I want to take as many of the amazing advanced science classes that OHS offers as possible so that I can set myself up for
a great career in medical research. I'm really excited to have these opportunities.
15. How did going to Stanford OHS help you get closer to your goals?
It offers advanced classes in lots of courses. I think it will also help me apply and get in to good colleges. Juniors and seniors here are taking college-level science courses, so that will help me be well set for college and my career goals.
16. If you had it to do all over again, would you choose online learning, and if so, the same online school? Explain.
That's a tough question. In some ways I regret the decision. I am a very, very social person. I didn't realize I would miss having direct contact with people so much. But yes, I would do it all over again, and I would choose OHS. It's been such a fantastic experience. The teachers are amazing and I'm so lucky to be part of such a unique and interesting learning environment.
17. How have you made friends virtually?
A lot of our classes require group projects, so we talk to each other and get to know each other in small groups online. You can also bond with people over specific class experiences. I met one friend in a lab class by bonding over our mutual frustration with the teacher. We had such a great time complaining about everything he did, and became really good friends in the process. I also got in a fight with another student over course policy, and in the process of that became really good friends with him. So you meet in weird ways, but it's intense, so you get to know each other well. It's sometimes the problems or the struggles of the situation that bring us close together.
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?
Communication. Some teachers struggle to communicate effectively online. Like the teacher my friend and I had a problem with in our lab class--when I met him in person I realized that he's really cool! He didn't seem too into it online, like he didn't really care. But the reality is he really did care a lot and was way into it, he just didn't know how to communicate that online. It was a struggle for him, while it's no problem for some other teachers. I've made lots of connections with some really great teachers, but I wouldn't have if I hadn't met them in person. It takes time to develop relationships online. It can take months and months. It may be the pesky details that crop up before teachers come to you and really start getting to know you.
19. What is your favorite memory of high school?
One day in chemistry one girl who loved to talk and was super gung-ho, bright, and cheery was just given the mic and talking a lot about the topic when all of the sudden we heard a voice from the background scream something about her personal hygiene habits. She quickly dropped the mic and dropped offline. It's was ridiculously funny to us, but definitely one of those reminders of how careful we have to be about our environment when we're at home or in Starbucks or something. The weirdness and diversity of our situations make for some very, very funny moments.
20. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I think we've just about covered it all!
1. Why did you choose to go to an online high school?
I am into skating, so it was important to me to have a flexible schedule that would allow me to compete. I also wanted a higher quality academic experience than the one available in my area. I was in Florida, and then moved to Delaware.
2. What attracted you to Stanford OHS?
I'm currently a sophomore, and this is my second year at OHS, but I took some courses at other online schools before committing fully to OHS. My Dad and I did research--I took some classes from Johns Hopkins and EPGY (Stanford's Education Program for Gifted Youth) while I was still at a regular school. EPGY became Stanford OHS, so it was a natural progression.
3. What is your favorite aspect of online learning?
I get to meet teachers and students from everywhere. It's really cool to have friends and associations with interesting people who are all over the world.
4. What is your favorite aspect of your school, Stanford OHS, in particular?
One of my favorite things is that I like the course structure and variety at OHS. There are so many really interesting classes I can take. It's also cool that they accept courses from other schools because that adds even more flexibility. I was able to start out part-time, and then I became full time and I can still take courses from other schools if I want to.
5. What is your least-favorite aspect of online learning?
Communicating can be hard--it's not always timely and efficient communication. It's also hard to establish that first connection with friends. There's no hanging out in the hallway, naturally meeting people. At a regular school I didn't even think about it; it just happened. Here, you will be isolated unless you make an effort to get to know people.
6. What is your least-favorite aspect of Stanford OHS in particular?
It's very, very intense. Teachers often don't realize that they are all giving us work at the same time same with the same due dates. They aren't communicating amongst themselves, so we can end up with several huge projects due at the same time. It's really tough. There are also sooo many tech difficulties. We can't be sure that we're even going to get to go to class on any given day. Their system--Centra--is really inefficient. There are lots of requirements--you have to have video, etc. Glitches can be frustrating.
7. Is it difficult for you to get enough social interaction?
Yes, it's really hard. I'm a very social person. I have really close friends at OHS--actually even closer than some of my "real-life" friends. But it's difficult because we can't connect in person. All we have is online. I look at my local friends and see all their amazing pictures on Facebook about things they did together, and I find myself a little envious of their ability to hang out with the people they care about all day.
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?
It depends on the traditional school, but generally speaking, it's a much, much higher quality experience. The coursework is not typical. Our teachers really try to find stuff that we as a group or even as individuals will find fascinating. They cater to our specific needs and it's so interesting and rewarding.
9. Would you recommend online learning to anyone your age? If not, what type of student might you refer online learning to, if any?
There is definitely a certain type of OHS kid. When we meet in the summer, we play this game in the airport where we try to pick out the students from our program. It's actually pretty easy. They are the kids who are slightly weird, nerdy, and extremely smart. You also have to be the kind of person who is ok with not being around people all the time. It takes real drive and motivation to get something done when you are sitting by yourself in your room. It's wonderful for students who have unusual interests and goals and activities they want to do outside of school and find that school limits them. I would definitely recommend it to those students.
10. Would you recommend Stanford OHS in particular? Explain.
Yes. I was in the public virtual school system in Florida for awhile. Those don't have in-person classes. It's hugely important to be able to meet online and interact with teachers and classmates to have interactive discussions and get your questions answered. Most of the other programs I participated in did not have that. It's not the same quality experience without the online meeting. Stanford is also more structured--some of them are completely self paced. The teachers in other programs don't really care if you complete all the assignments. They let you have extra time and are very generous. OHS is really structured--they require that you meet in class and meet the deadlines. I like that structure--it makes for a more efficient learning experience for me.
11. What skills do you think online learners need to have that traditional learners do not?
Learning online takes a certain type of motivation--if you don't understand, no one is watching over you. It's not too hard to just gloss over what you don't get and move on. But to get the real quality experience, you have to push yourself and find the answers when you don't understand. It's easier to let stuff slide in this environment. The independence you get with online learning comes at a price. There are a lot of homework assignments that our teachers don't review. It's easy to skip over some of those--or just not put in your maximum effort. But then the midterm arrives, and any gaps in your understanding are likely to matter. For example, I'm taking AP Chemistry right now and we regularly have about 40 chemistry problems to solve. But our teacher doesn't review them. All I have to do is get an A on the weekly quiz. But if I don't put in the effort on the homework, I may get to the midterm and, "Oh, snap!" it's a really big problem. You learn quickly that the stuff no one is looking at matters.
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've become much better organized in terms of time management. I'm also more outgoing because I've had to learn that if I don't put a big effort into socialization, I will be alone in my educational experience. I didn't think about what that feels like before. I didn't know it was a skill I needed to develop, but I think it will help me make connections in other circumstances in life.
13. What are your short-term goals?
I want to get the most out of my time at Stanford. I want to master time management with more regular studying. It's really easy to let things slide. Our big deadlines and exams are usually about three weeks apart, so I have a tendency to let it go until a day or two before it's due and then I'm in real trouble. So I want to get more organized. Because I've let it slide in the past, I'm in a situation now where I can't skate as much as I want. I'd like to be skating about 2 1/2 hours per day, but right now all I can do is 1 hour because I have to get caught up with my school workload. My short-term goal is to get a more balanced life. I'd like to do an internship, but there just isn't enough time. And there's not enough time for skating. It's all about school right now, and I want to get that better balanced.
14. What are your long-term goals?
I'm really interested in science and medical research. I'm also interested in government policy research. So I want to take as many of the amazing advanced science classes that OHS offers as possible so that I can set myself up for
a great career in medical research. I'm really excited to have these opportunities.
15. How did going to Stanford OHS help you get closer to your goals?
It offers advanced classes in lots of courses. I think it will also help me apply and get in to good colleges. Juniors and seniors here are taking college-level science courses, so that will help me be well set for college and my career goals.
16. If you had it to do all over again, would you choose online learning, and if so, the same online school? Explain.
That's a tough question. In some ways I regret the decision. I am a very, very social person. I didn't realize I would miss having direct contact with people so much. But yes, I would do it all over again, and I would choose OHS. It's been such a fantastic experience. The teachers are amazing and I'm so lucky to be part of such a unique and interesting learning environment.
17. How have you made friends virtually?
A lot of our classes require group projects, so we talk to each other and get to know each other in small groups online. You can also bond with people over specific class experiences. I met one friend in a lab class by bonding over our mutual frustration with the teacher. We had such a great time complaining about everything he did, and became really good friends in the process. I also got in a fight with another student over course policy, and in the process of that became really good friends with him. So you meet in weird ways, but it's intense, so you get to know each other well. It's sometimes the problems or the struggles of the situation that bring us close together.
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?
Communication. Some teachers struggle to communicate effectively online. Like the teacher my friend and I had a problem with in our lab class--when I met him in person I realized that he's really cool! He didn't seem too into it online, like he didn't really care. But the reality is he really did care a lot and was way into it, he just didn't know how to communicate that online. It was a struggle for him, while it's no problem for some other teachers. I've made lots of connections with some really great teachers, but I wouldn't have if I hadn't met them in person. It takes time to develop relationships online. It can take months and months. It may be the pesky details that crop up before teachers come to you and really start getting to know you.
19. What is your favorite memory of high school?
One day in chemistry one girl who loved to talk and was super gung-ho, bright, and cheery was just given the mic and talking a lot about the topic when all of the sudden we heard a voice from the background scream something about her personal hygiene habits. She quickly dropped the mic and dropped offline. It's was ridiculously funny to us, but definitely one of those reminders of how careful we have to be about our environment when we're at home or in Starbucks or something. The weirdness and diversity of our situations make for some very, very funny moments.
20. Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I think we've just about covered it all!