GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

Hi my name is Sarah Qureshi I am currently an eight grader at JHS 194 in Queens. I had placed this school on my high school list , because of its innovative teaching style.

Angelica thanks for the insight! I didn’t know that there were schools with complete online courses already in high school…you depict the troubles of this method really well. They are the same I had with my online courses in college. Hopefully more schools will adapt!

Angelica, I am so impressed with your writing and your thoughts. For those individuals reading this blog and don’t know, I am Angelica’s Living Environment teacher at the NYCiSchool.

Angelica, A thoughtful and well written piece. You eloquently capture the challenges and struggles of online learning as well as the pros of it. I am excited that you will be blogging here and look forward to reading more of your posts. Ms. R

Angelica, What a thoughtful, impressive piece of writing! I was especially struck by your ability to manage the level of independence presented by online courses. As a freshman in high school you are already well on your way to understanding and mastering some of the important skills to success (self-control, self-motivation)- skills that even many adults find difficult. Keep up the good work! And I look forward to reading more of your columns!

Thanks for your comments Vincent!

I first started developing better self-restraint skills when I realized what the trade-off was. Either I adapted to the courses or I failed my classes. Though this may seem like a harsh, sink-or-swim situation, this just demonstrates the necessary attitude when presented with a new and often unconventional idea. Initial bewilderment is often a given when there is a change or the creation of a new method: online learning means learning a new method.

To answer your second question, I doubt the lack of advancements occurring in schools is intentional. I think that with everything that has already been adressed and improved, the full adoption of this school model hasn’t represented a definite priority. I am sure more schools will follow this initiative.

Angelica

Angelica,

I really appreciate your opinion on the NYC iSchool. It seems really interesting. I’m definitely putting it on my application. I really loved the blog. It was well written. Thank you.

Angelica I’m glad you are doing well but I think you inadvertently touched on something in your article that highlights many of the problems schools face

“Online courses were the most brutal confrontation with what was lacking in me as a good student. Being forced to teach myself, I became more aware of all my scholastic shortcomings. My faults were never as evident as when I first started out. I was always confused, had trouble following directions, could not focus on the task at hand, and expected to be hand-fed all the information. Crestfallen by these heart-breaking revelations, I desperately wanted to redeem myself.
“Finally straight fromt he horses mouth.. If you who seem to be more advanced then the average rank and file city student realize your own resposibilty in the learnig process might we also infer that other students face this very same thing? I mention this not as a put down to students but rather to highlight the fact that there is another part to the equation that is hardley brought up and that is student responsibility for their own learning. In this data driven world we live in right now teachers arebeing held accountable for student outcomes and there is a movement afoot to have their pay tied to this as well. Its right to hold to the teacher to some mearuable accountability but to leave out the role student responsibility plays in the outcome is folly. I just wanted to thank you for your forthright honesty in highlighting you experience as a learner.. By the way I took my masters classes online.. They were tougher then any class I ever sat for in college. Good Luck

tHIS SOUNDS LIKE A RICH AND ROBUST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS STUDENT CENTERED. I WILL BE VERY HAPPY IF I AM ABLE TO ATTEND AS A FRESHMAN STUDENT.

wow this post really motivates me to actually look forward in life. it makes me belive that im not the only one out there that belives that changes should happen in schools to make them better for every one. this was really an exquisied pice of writing that everone should read inorder to pass.ill put this school on my aplication.

im an currently eigth grader andim stuck between a lot if schools, but i came across this school and i wanted to see how it is can you describe the schoool and teachers. PLEASE im stressed out about this HS stuff!

I want to go to the NYC iSchool, but what is the best thing that you like about this school? I want to get a better idea of this school because it is in my Top3 Choices. Can you describe this school in one word and why did you choose this word?
Thank You

A focus of study in the iSchool is a certain area in which a particular student wants to delve further into and excel at. For example, if your focus of study was science, you would take AP Bio your junior or sophomore year, go to more advanced classes at a university, then intern at laboratory or science organization for three years. This gives you an advantage when you’re applying to college because they’re looking for students that actively participate in one particular interest and strive to meet goals within that field.