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Home Future of School: The Podcast Students Speak: Increasing Passion for Learning (S3E2)
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2 minutes read

Students Speak: Increasing Passion for Learning (S3E2)

College student Isaac Steinmeyer explains how the choices he explored as a homeschooled student made him more passionate about learning.

In this episode of Students Speak, Amy interviews Isaac Steinmeyer, a college student who explored a variety of choices when he was homeschooled.
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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.

Future of School: The PodcastStudents Speak: Isaac Steinmeyer on Increasing Passion for Learning (S3E2)January 25, 2022 · 20 min 9 sPlay episode: Students Speak: Isaac Steinmeyer on Increasing Passion for Learning (S3E2) (20 minutes 9 seconds)Follow on SpotifyApple

Isaac Steinmeyer, a first-year student at The College of Wooster in Ohio, is today’s guest. Isaac is interviewed by Amy Valentine, Future of School’s CEO and Education Evangelist.

“It helps you to become more passionate about what you’re learning,” says Isaac when asked about the benefit of students having agency and choice in their own education. He first began taking some online classes in middle school and found completely new interests, from history to world languages like French and Russian. He also used resources like Khan Academy for online learning. Reflecting on what choice has meant for him, Isaac realizes he’d be bored and less engaged with his learning if he didn’t have the opportunity to pursue these passions.

Isaac was a homeschool student for a number of years and felt he had a good idea of the options available in education. But when he was in middle school and researched the variety of choices out there, he was “absolutely astonished” by everything that was available. He says it’s important for all students and families to learn about the options they can pursue.

By his junior year of high school, Isaac signed up for a few college classes and took a microeconomics class online which was recommended by his mother and his school’s guidance counselor. It was an academic leap but exposed him to new, interesting content. Thanks to information and support from his local school district, Isaac found yet another subject he enjoyed.

Now in college, Isaac has the option to take hundreds of classes fully online, or to choose to take an in-person class remotely. He’s currently taking a blend of online and in-person classes. He encourages students to become familiar with all the options available to them and determine what is the best fit so they can become their own advocates.

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 Valentine @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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More on Future of School: The Podcast

  • Amy Valentine
    : Author
    Chief Executive Officer, Future of School

    Amy Valentine is the Chief Executive Officer and Education Evangelist of Future of School, a national nonprofit organization designed to support the growth of innovative school models integrating blended and online learning. Prior to guiding Future of School’s incubation and launch, Amy managed a portfolio of Colorado schools where she led academic and operational turnaround strategy. She also previously served as executive director for a network of Nobel Learning Communities schools in California.

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  • Isaac Steinmeyer
    : Author
    Student, The College of Wooster

    Isaac Steinmeyer was a first-year student at The College of Wooster in Ohio when Steinmeyer appeared on the Students Speak series of the Future of School podcast in 2022. A former homeschool student, Steinmeyer took online courses from middle school onward, including history, French and Russian, and encouraged students and families to learn about every education option available.

    View all posts
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