In an era of online learning, how do you learn to make a meal at home?
You probably don’t do it in a kitchen.
That’s why Massachusettes online school has become such a sensation.
The online school is a collaborative effort between students and instructors that has taught nearly 700 people how to cook meals for the public at large.
Massachusetts Online School of Cooking, founded in March, allows students to learn how to make healthy, inexpensive meals online, with an emphasis on vegan and vegetarian recipes.
In addition to the traditional classroom meal, the school offers cooking demonstrations, classes on home-style cooking and even a “home-cooking competition” to encourage the creative use of ingredients and techniques.
Students receive $100 in tuition and $60 in credit toward their classes, plus tuition reimbursement for materials.
Massachussets online school also has its own kitchen, where they can experiment with new recipes and develop their own techniques.
The school is currently enrolling approximately 30 students in online classes.
Students are given an introduction to the concept of cooking and the materials needed for their own cooking classes, and then are guided through the process of cooking.
Students are able to choose from four different recipes, each with a different ingredients, to create a personalized meal.
“We think of it as a kind of online college,” says student and founder Jennifer Schumacher.
“You can go home and cook a meal for yourself.”
Students have a limited number of ingredients to choose between.
“We don’t have a lot of options, but it’s a way to explore a lot more of what we have,” says Schumachers husband, Adam Schumach.
Massachuettes online food school also offers cooking classes for the school’s students.
“It’s really fun to be able to have the freedom of creating your own food and to really explore a whole different world, even if you’re not vegan,” says Adam Schamach.
Students can also get an online tutorial on how to assemble a healthy meal.
They can also participate in a cooking competition.
“There’s something about making a meal that’s very personal and different from other foods that you could actually put together a meal,” says Massachusses director of culinary development, Jessica Regan.
“You get to be part of this community of chefs and foodie enthusiasts that are really exploring a new cuisine,” says Regan, who works for Massachaus online school.
The school has also made it available to students who are attending other schools.
Regan says the online school was originally set up to help students learn cooking skills at home.
“A lot of these students have no idea what to do with a kitchen, so this online program was really designed for them to learn their craft and to connect with other students,” she says.
