I am back again and today I bring you information on my Online Classes and unschooling. One might ask,
What websites do you use? Well, my first class coming up is Creating Web Pages on
ed2go.com which starts on the 17th this month. In the past I took a writing class through ed2go, but almost all my other ones are through
Coursera.org. I like Coursera because it is free, there are plenty of classes to choose from, and because being from Universities, the classes are challenging. So far I have done a writing class and a Western Music History class through Coursera, and I passed them both yet the music one was very hard since I have no music experience. Before my Creating Web Pages class ends I will start The American South: Its Stories, Music, and Art which will be on Coursera. After that, I will be doing Water: The Essential Resource and What a Plant Knows (and other things you did not know about plants) which are also through Coursera. So, as you can see, Coursera makes up most of my online classes. I will probably take more Coursera and ed2go classes in the future.
Why do you take these classes? Aren't they long? Well yes, it is hard and some of the classes are really long but I do it for a challenge and to learn something new. Doing classes for my age or grade is simply boring. I don't learn anything and because of that it is a waste of my time. For some people, classes at their grade-level is perfectly fine, and it is that case for me on occasion, but most of the time? I really want a challenge and new adventures. Because of this, I don't find these classes as a waste of my time.
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| Now this is a PC design I want... |
Okay, that makes sense I guess, but why are you taking the Creating Web Pages class? And why is it not on Coursera? I want to learn how to do HTML coding and web design so I decided to take that class. While both websites have college classes, Coursera is much harder since most of them are from Universities compared to just normal colleges. ed2go is better if you are just trying out something. I am not 100% sure if I want to learn coding and web design but this will help me fully decide. If I was to do one through Coursera, I probably would have a harder time.
But I thought you said... That I want a challenge? I do, but this will be challenging too, and it will give me a chance to fully decide. If I like this class I am going to do a Coursera one afterwards.
Okay, I got it but if you are unschooled you don't truly learn, right? I am unschooled, yes, but being unschooled does not necessarily mean no learning. To be unschooled is to choose your own path. If you want to go to college or university, or if you have a career in mind, you do what will get you there. If you want to do a four year, you have to reach their requirements. If you are unschooled, you can reach those requirements your own way. I don't know what I want to do, but I will probably need math, technology, science, or writing and reading skills. Some unschoolers don't do classes, but most do. Most younger kids that are unschooled do little to no classes or things like that which probably gives unschoolers their name as people who do nothing. In reality, unschooling is making your own path. Most of those paths require learning so don't view unschooling as doing nothing. Even younger kids still learn, but just in a different, creative way than how others would.
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| Making a path |
Why do you like being unschooled? I like unschooling because you have plenty of free time to do hobbies and figure out what you want to do in the future. Once you know, or even if you are like me and have an idea, you can try things out and work towards your goal. You have time to create businesses, research, learn, and you work at your own pace. You choose your own path, and how exactly you will get there. I have been to public school before but it never fit me. I have progressed much more being unschooled and that is because I am able to learn at my own pace. Plus, as an unschooler, you can learn what interests you. That interest can become a future career or business. In school you learn whatever they give you but you only remember that stuff temporarily unless it was something really interesting. Maybe public school is perfectly fine for you, but maybe it isn't. For my family, unschooling is the best option. Another thing I like is you're home all day - unless you do groups - meaning you get to spend time with your family. When I was in school I came home, had dinner, did my homework, and then it was basically bedtime. As an unschooler I get a chance to actually spend time with my family.
Okay, I know this post is getting really long now so I will be signing off here, and I think tomorrow I will make a true Questions and Answers post, or maybe a post more about unschooling. Hopefully you found this post interesting, useful, or... or whatever you found good about it. I just hope I did not make you bored out of your mind with a lack of pictures and a lot of words. Note: The computer picture is sort of the color and design I would want mine to be. I picked that one because it sort of goes along with the online classes, HTML coding, and web designing since you use a computer.
three other students in 8th grade did a contest for the FFA called Novice Parliamentary Procedure for Districts. Well, we got third place which meant we would be going to state as long as we have a complete team of 6 members. Now we have six members that will be competing in the FFA Parliamentary Procedure State Contest in Pullman, Washington at WSU. I think this will be a very fun, challenging competition. And another good part is that we are leaving 3:30 on Thursday, the 14th of this month and won't be back until around noon on Sunday, the 17th. Why are we there so long? Well, along with the Novice Parliamentary Procedure Contest, other Harrington kids have contests they are doing as well for the FFA. Plus we are staying to go to all the workshops and events planned. I just thought I would mention this now, considering we will be leaving in exactly 7 days. Okay, if you want to be technical, it will be 7 days exactly at 3:30 pm today. Just if you want to be technical.