EdCircuit Staff 
When students speak, the education world must stop and listen. Welcome to the โStudents Speakโ 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 todayโs 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 theyโd encounter, and more. She later took a forensic investigation class. Anna Mariaโs mom helped her search for courses, but she was entirely self-directed in determining what to seek.
โA lot of studentsโฆwant to learn more than the fields that are taught at school,โ she says. โInstead of seeing it as a limitation, students can see it as an opportunity to make their own choices about what they want to learn.โ
When she reflects on her university studies and how things might be different if sheโd never had choice in high school, she says, โI would probably be a bit more unsure of what I wanted to study, what Iโm 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.โ
When asked for her message to those who might want the education system to โgo back to normalโ 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 Kโ12 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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