<p>I want to take a few courses on Keystone over the summer, but my counselor and school would freak if they found out because they don't want me to take anything over the summer (long story, don't ask). I don't even need these courses to count for credit, I just want to take them for the purpose of learning. I obviously don't want my school/counselor to find out, sooo....</p>
<p>Can I take courses on Keystone without my school finding out? </p>
<p>What is the quality of Keystone courses, and how many do you think a person could take and finish over the summer? (I'm thinking APs here)</p>
<p>I took AP Psych on there this year. If I were you and just wanted to take classes to learn (and therefore had no need for actual grades) I would NOT take that course on Keystone. Basically the course was reading the textbook and doing assignments, which were not challenging and basically involved information from the text, and quizzes which were terribly worded and somewhat confusing. I learned psych but the actual course set up there had nothing to do with it, I just read the book. I would suggest for your situation that you check out iTunes U podcasts of university lectures and MIT open course ware. I’ve gotten lecture series there from MIT, Stanford, and UCB for free. I haven’t listened to all of them all the way through but the lectures I have heard have been excellent. There’s also academic earth which offers a similar thing but with videos. Or you could take CC courses. Basically what I’m saying is Keystone is not really the best at extending knowledge beyond what you can read in a textbook and I don’t recommend it.</p>
<p>Why spend $500 to take a class online unless you’re getting credit?
I took Business Law on Keystone for a graduation requirement. It was worth it – now I can take an AP class instead of a standard class.
Why don’t they want you to take something over the summer?</p>
<p>Well okay, I want to not only learn, but show colleges that I took the class too. And CC courses are out of the question because my school would have to approve them, and it’s hard to find a course they would approve. Basically they don’t want me to take courses over the summer because they feel like I would abandon what’s offered in my own high school.</p>
<p>jeez that sucks. my HS will pretty much approve any CC course i apply for but i hate how they wont accept any outside credit. i pretty much wanna do the same as you, sqd</p>
<p>btw, you dont happen to be a member on Cultures Shocked forum do you? i noticed you wanted to study abroad</p>
<p>I started to take AP Psych (dropped it) on Keystone because it did really suck. It was nothing but reading. I take all my classes on there (and will get a diploma from there), and most of them aren’t like that. I mean, it’s not the same as sitting in a classroom, but they’re not as bad. I usually supplement the courses with other textbooks, online resources (especially lecture videos/recordings and notes), extensive note-taking, work books, etc. (basically anything I can get for less than $20 or free).</p>
<p>The classes are what you make of them. If you did a bare minimum (basically only what’s required) and just tried to finish, you could probably finish two or three in a summer. If you actually care, you could do one or two. If you’re just taking the course for credit, I’d say just push through it, get the credit, and review for the exam. If you’re taking the class as if it were your only high school (as it is for me), put some effort into it. Keystone is definitely what you make of it.</p>
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<p>That sounds soooo stupid. Haven’t you already selected courses for next year? It seems to me that if you push hard enough on this issue the school should back down especially because you can basically disprove their reason by saying “No I won’t, I’ll be taking Course A, Course B…” I would keep trying w/ the school and then try to get in some CCs.</p>