EdCircuit Staff 
When students speak, the education world must stop and listen. Welcome to the “Students Speak” series on Future of School: The Podcast, presented in partnership with National School Choice Week.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/futureofschool/episodes/Students-Speak-Anna-Maria-Iaramboykov-on-Self-Directed-Online-Enrichment-S3E5-e1dilrr/a-a7ad9aj
Anna Maria Iaramboykov, a graduate of Radnor High School in Pennsylvania and second-year international college student in the UK at the University of Oxford, is today’s guest.
Anna Maria took her first online class early in high school. She was curious about different subjects and wanted to expand her learning, so she searched for online courses and found some through the FutureLearn platform. She began with a filmmaking class (her first-ever experience with the topic) and learned how animators used handmade models, dealt with problems they’d encounter, and more. She later took a forensic investigation class. Anna Maria’s mom helped her search for courses, but she was entirely self-directed in determining what to seek.
“A lot of students…want to learn more than the fields that are taught at school,” she says. “Instead of seeing it as a limitation, students can see it as an opportunity to make their own choices about what they want to learn.”
When she reflects on her university studies and how things might be different if she’d never had choice in high school, she says, “I would probably be a bit more unsure of what I wanted to study, what I’m interested in. I attribute that to the fact that I was able to explore so many things during my high school years, both through my high school and online classes.”
When asked for her message to those who might want the education system to “go back to normal” post-pandemic, or who are not yet embracing online and blended learning, she encourages them to see technology as a way to progress the educational system and enhance the way students learn.
Future of School: The Podcast is hosted by Amy Valentine, CEO and Education Evangelist for Future of School. Subscribe to hear more Students Speak episodes along with upcoming series from Future of School. Follow Future of School on Twitter @futureof_school, follow Amy @amyvalentine555, and learn more on our website: www.futureof.school
National School Choice Week is a not-for-profit, charitable effort to raise awareness of effective K–12 education options for children. NSCW focuses equally on traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online schools, and homeschools. Participate in the conversation by following @schoolchoicewk on Twitter and using the hashtag #schoolchoiceweek. Learn more at https://schoolchoiceweek.com
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