By Madison Akers '17
As the fourth quarter of the school year launches and the countdown for summer begins, Severn students must start thinking about next year’s course selections. Some students may turn a cold shoulder to the obligatory duties of the approaching school year, but there is an exciting aspect to your course selection process for next year. Back in 2012, Severn introduced itself as a Malone Family Foundation School, which means students can choose from an abundance of optional courses designed to accommodate different tastes and interests. A Malone course is a virtual classroom taught by skilled educators and shared with students from across the country. Mysterious to some but very well known to others, the Malone School Online Network (MSON) has knocked on The Anchor’s door. I’ve interviewed some of the most knowledgeable advocates of MSON to get the inside scoop on the program and to reveal all that it has to offer for Severn students. The first person I met with was Ms. Charlier.
Q: Why are you an
advocate for the Malone School?
Ms. Charlier: Because it
offers more possibilities and more options for our students in two different
ways. One, it enriches the curriculum. Two, it allows someone who has a specific
passion to be able to find a group of people that share the same passion. With this, a community can be built. The MSON program allows you to explore topics
that you are passionate or curious about.
Q: What is the
feedback from students who have taken a Malone course? Do they usually speak positively about it?
A: So far, everyone who has taken a course that
I have spoken to has said that they would repeat the experience. I think most students have been very pleasantly
surprised. There’s an element of pride
in being able to learn about a subject in the way that materials are delivered
in a Malone. You only have two contact
hours with the teacher, and then the rest of the learning responsibility is on
you. The level of independence becomes
intrinsically rewarding for students. I
think students are proud of the fact that they can balance their schedules and
still do well in their other classes at Severn.
I also think they’re surprised at how they can build a community
virtually.
Q: If you were to give advice to students who
are thinking about enrolling or are already planning to take future Malone
courses, what would you tell them?
A: I would say to
be hyper organized. Take a course that
you’re interested in, because it will require a lot of work, and it is easy to
stay motivated when you are passionate about a certain topic. I would make sure you can handle all of the
courses you are already planning to take before you decide to take a Malone
course, so that you do not become too overwhelmed.
Q: Is there a GPA
boost or weighted score for the classes?
A: Yes. So far,
all the classes have had either an honors weight or an AP weight. They can’t have an AP name because they’re not
an AP course. For example, Multi-layered
Calculus is actually two levels beyond an AP course.
Q: What are some
advantages to joining?
A: To some
colleges, it is nice to see that someone has had experience with a virtual
online setting. It is an indicator that
you can manage a full load. It allows
you to distinguish yourself with a course of study that is very uncommon.
Q: If you were to
put yourself in the position of a Severn student enrolled in a Malone class,
which class would you choose to take?
A: That’s a hard one. I think that I would take Ancient Greek
because I’ve already studied Latin, French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Also, since Ancient Greek isn’t spoken, I
couldn’t be put to the test!
Stick around for my interview with Headmaster
Lagarde on his perspective of the Malone School. Mr. Lagarde will fill us in on MSON’s excellence
and exactly how it landed itself here at Severn School.
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