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unique opportunities
insight into the ve dierent classes FWCD represents within the Malone Schools Online Network program






soon as the student created an account.
With the help of the online-classroom environment
and these two softwares, students enable themselves to
complete homework in class as well as allow themselves
to receive the most effective instruction with the teacher
during actual class time. Because the learning is done at
home and the homework done in class, the teacher and
the students are able to discuss any misunderstandings
they have.
The new teaching method has been embraced by all
the participating students at Country Day, and many of
them appreciate a different way of learning. Although this
is nothing new to FWCD, the program also boasts small
class sizes and emphasizes the importance of building a
Uhr said. The courses require a lot of bandwidth.
Although scheduling proved to be the hardest goal to ac-
complish in Uhrs eyes, he believes the hard work FWCD
put into making these classes possible for the student body
paid off. MSON course-takers were given a survey, which
yielded positive results. The feedback Uhr got from the
surveys helped him better understand the many advan-
tages of offering courses like these: they are rigorous, they
require a lot of work, and they allow FWCD students to
engage with other students all over the United States. As
many universities today have online programs, taking an
online class as a high schooler only reinforces the fact that
FWCD is a college preparatory school.

comfortable teacher-student relationship.
It took a lot from FWCD faculty to make these classes
available to the student body. Uhr sits in on every class
each day, there for students whether they need his as-
sistance or not.
Hopefully, by second semester, they will be completely
self-suffcient, Uhr said. I have had to adjust my calen-
dar a little bit this year., but I like to watch the different
courses, see how the different teachers teach.
Fortunately, there havent many problems with the daily
process of taking an MSON course. However, there are
some diffculties that come along with providing such an
opportunity.
Its gone smoothly, but there have been a few issues,
12
/
88
FWCD boasts 12 students taking
ve dierent classes: Democracy,
Freedom, and the Rule of Law; Chi-
nese Five; Arabic One; Advanced
Abstract Math; and Introduction
to Organic Chemistry. A total of
88 students across the country are
involved in the MSON program for
the fall semester.
O
rgano chem. Organic chemistry. Some call it the
hardest class theyve ever taken in college, but for
Malcolm McDonald 14, its just another class hes
taking in high school.
The class focuses on exactly what a regulars or honors
chemistry class at FWCD doesnt cover in depth. It studies
the chemistry of carbon bonds and how they relate to our ev-
eryday lives, incorporating chemistrys practical applications
to medicine, various industries, and the environment.
Right now, we are learning all of the prerequisites for the
course, McDonald said. So that includes understanding
how bonds form, hybridization, and orbits. Weve also gone
over functional groups, which has helped a lot in my Biology
class as well.
For him, there is a small price to pay for taking an MSON
course.
I miss a lot of class, McDonald said. But, I usually dont
have a lot of makeup work because I have a free period, and
the class lines up pretty nicely with my schedule. Most of the
classes I miss are taught by teachers with whom I share free
periods with.
McDonalds love for chemistry is defnitely evident, as he
took the AP Chemistry course last year as a junior, and is
now taking AP Biology as a senior. Now, hes taking the next
step into the world of medicine.
Its nice because FWCD doesnt offer Organic Chemis-
try, McDonald said.
With this years new course offerings through MSON, stu-
dents like McDonald are exposed to subjects they wouldve
had to wait until college to study; now, they can take them in
the comfort of their own high school.
A
lso a BC Calculus student, junior Coleman Walker
15 is enrolled in Advanced Abstract Math; and the
class covers just that.
We are currently talking about proving set equality and
countability and introducing fractals, Walker said.
Although some students may have heard of terms similar
to these, like fraction instead of fractal or solution set instead
of set equality, they most likely have never covered anything
like this. Even Walker states that the course is meant to teach
exactly what a student hasnt covered in traditional math
classes like geometry or algebra II.
Considering its a class that is based on math concepts
not covered in high school, I was unprepared, but that was
expected, Walker said.
However, unprepared may be a bit of a misnomer, consid-
ering the feedback Mrs. Wakeland, Assistant Division Head
of the Upper School, is receiving from the coordinators of
the MSON program. Wakeland boasts that FWCD stu-
dents are almost always the frst to log into the system, earn
exceptional grades, and seem to be very comfortable in the
new setting.
Getting accustomed to a new way of learning may prove
diffcult for some, but Walker is thriving.
I defnitely like the relaxed attitude toward grades,
Walker said. Because its a new concept and technology and
has a few kinks, the focus of my class tends to lie more heav-
ily on understanding the concepts than the grades.
By placing more of an emphasis on comprehension rather
than tangible rewards such as a good grade on a test, the
math class creates a comfortable environment for its students,
one in which they can explore mathematics without fear.
Like many other MSON courses, the Advanced Abstract
Math class utilizes the fipped classroom.
We present homework problems to the class and go
Coleman Walker 15 works on his math homework during his Advanced Abstract Math class. Photo by Alex
Doswell 16
over the solutions, Walker said. After that [the instructor]
teaches everything we need to know to watch the homework
lecture and do the problems.
The actual class is something that Walker really enjoys;
however, there are some things that could be changed in
order to make his junior year a little easier. As we all very
well know, junior year is defnitely a stressful one, as you
begin your college search, begin taking APs, and hopefully
start acquiring positions of leadership in fne arts or sports.
With all of the added weight, taking an MSON course can
be challenging in terms of scheduling.
I miss a class every time [the MSON course is in session],
Walker said. It can be a little much at times, but Im able to
make up the work. Id prefer more even spacing [in between
MSON gatherings].
Despite minor inconveniences, Walker thoroughly enjoys
the new environment offered by the Malone Schools Online
Network and believes it is a valuable experience. It has
proved to be a very encouraging, goal-oriented, and reward-
ing way of learning.
I really want to improve my problem solving abilities and
rational thought process, and its defnitely helping, Walker
said.
Expanding on the helpfulness of the program in his math
abilities, Walker invites and encourages other students to go
out on a limb and try something new or continue studying
something they already have a passion for.
If a student is interested in the subject being taught, I
highly recommend they take the class, Walker said.
FWCD students have all expressed their satisfaction with
the MSON course offerings, something that is manifested
in their praise from other teachers all over the country, their
grades, and their success in getting used to the innovational
virtual classroom.