Tips and Tricks for Preparing for Life After High School

Learning can be fun under many circumstances, but nothing really beats the fulfillment of taking control over your own educational journey.  

Thanks to a combination of research and experience, we know that self-directed learning, allowing students to take learning into their own hands, is one of the greatest ways to engage students and empower them in their learning experience.  

With self-directed learning, students can follow their own interests as opposed to having all their learning initiatives handed to them by their teachers. When they are given the freedom to choose what they learn and how they learn it, it fosters creativity, increases focus, and fuels passion in their learning.  

So, what is a “genius hour(opens in a new tab),” and how does it relate to self-directed learning?  

A genius hour is simply an opportunity for students to choose their learning topic. Although it’s referred to as an “hour,” the actual timeframe may vary and is based on course requirements, project guidelines, and other factors considered by the teacher.  

The genius hour, when applied as a project, typically includes the following five steps: 1) Choosing a topic, 2) Creating a driving question related to the topic, 3) Researching the topic, 4) Creating something that conveys findings, and 5) Reflecting on the experience.  

Why Students Need a Genius Hour

In some learning environments, every detail of learning has been pre-planned by the educator. While educator-led learning is a necessary part of the learning process, participating in self-directed learning projects has the power to improve the student learning experience, both now and in the future. 

Here are some noteworthy benefits of a genius hour:  

• Improve critical thinking skills 
• Increase feelings of empowerment and confidence  
• Increase engagement and focus 
• Encourage entrepreneurial thinking 
• Reduce stress 
• Deepen and broaden learning 
• Make meaningful connections between concepts 

Genius Hour Project Examples

Now that you know what a genius hour is and why it’s important, how do you apply it? Per grade, here are some genius hour ideas for promoting self-directed learning. For each project, have students follow steps 1-5 of a genius hour as listed above and have them present their findings through their choice of a visual, audio, kinesthetic, or essay-based method.  

Genius hour project examples for elementary: 

1. Nature 101: Have students explore an outdoor area with a pen and paper in hand. As they observe nature, have them write down the top three most interesting objects or occurrences they notice. Then have them narrow down their topics to just one topic they want to learn more about.
    
2. Discovering Passions: Provide students with a wide array of books, magazines, and other print materials. Preface the question: What would you love to learn more about? Ensure the print materials cover a wide range of topics. Have them make a list of a few topics that stood out to them and then ask them to choose one topic to focus on.  
   
   
3. Careers and Computers: Have students log on to the Internet and practice their online research skills by looking up potential careers and occupations. Have them choose three occupations they find the most intriguing, and then have them select one for their genius hour project.  

Genius hour project examples for middle school:

1. Fueling Passions: Ask students how they like to spend their free time. For example, they may love playing basketball, painting, or going for walks with their dog. Have them narrow down a topic and generate a guiding question related to their favorite activity. 
    
2. From Awful to Awesome: Have students choose three topics (not necessarily academic) that they find the most boring. For example, they may cringe at the idea of reading poetry, doing algebra, or listening to country music. Have them do research on the topic and write down some interesting facts about it, and then direct them to generate a question based on one of the interesting facts. This may sound counterintuitive, but you might be surprised by their new level of engagement.  
   
   
3. Be the Teacher: Have students select a topic they feel passionate about and have them “be the teacher.” Have them create a lesson plan and an assessment to test on the topic and present it to their peers.  

Genius hour project examples for high school: 

1. Global Awareness: Have students do research on global crises, conflicts, and issues around the world, and have them select their top area of interest. Have them give a presentation to educate their peers on the issue. 
   
   
2. Community-Based Documentary Film: Have students select a community-based topic they’d like to highlight for a documentary and create their own film. Topics can include a local club, a sports team, a community problem, a community resource, a local project, etc.  
   
   
3. End-of-Course Project: Have students review all the topics that were covered in the curriculum over the course of the semester and have them select the topic they found most interesting. Follow the genius hour project steps to deepen their learning of the topic.  

Genius Hour and Online Learning 

Many educators, including our teachers and Learning Coaches at Connections Academy®, are incorporating self-directed learning or genius hour into their online curriculum and seeing positive results in their students’ level of enthusiasm, motivation, and engagement.  

At Connections Academy, self-directed learning is second nature. Students have access to personalized, self-paced, and flexible virtual learning options that empower them in their learning experience. Find out how it works. 

“When am I ever going to use this in real life?” 

Math teachers everywhere have likely heard this question more than once. The answer lies in “applied learning”—understanding the applications of math in real life. When students can translate a mathematical concept into a real-life scenario, it deepens their learning and they come to understand why math is important.  
 

Why Math Curriculum Matters 

For educators, providing applications of math in real life for each math concept in the curriculum is an important part of helping students understand math at a deeper level. 

One way to illustrate real-life math applications is to provide students with a list of professions that require using some form of mathematics in everyday work tasks.  

Here’s a list of specific occupations that require regular use of math: actuary, air traffic controller, animator, architect, astronaut, attorney, biologist, biostatistician, budget analyst, carpenter, cartographer, chemical engineer, chemist, climatologist, college professor, computational biologist, computer graphics engineer, computer scientist, cost estimator, cryptanalyst, data scientist, economist, electrical engineer, epidemiologist, financial analyst, forensic analyst, geographer, geologist, hydrologist, inventory control specialist, market research analyst, mathematical physicist, mechanical engineer, medical scientist, nuclear engineer, physician, political scientist, software engineer, statistician, stockbroker, teacher, technical writer, and urban planner.  

This list of occupations may seem exhaustive, but it only scratches the surface of professions that require using some form of mathematics. Even for professions that don’t require as much math use (creative writer, counselor, painter, etc.), math is still essential for performing numerous adult life tasks, including:  

• Managing money
• Budgeting 
• Balancing a checkbook 
• Cooking and baking 
• Figuring out distance, time, and cost of travel 
• Understanding loans for cars, trucks, homes, school, etc. 
• Understanding games and sports 
• Playing music 
• Home decorating 
• Sewing 
• Gardening and landscaping  

If your child is wondering why you need math, share the infographic below that includes examples of how math is used in everyday scenarios, at every stage of education. 

Download the Infographic Now

How Online Education Benefits Math Learners 

There are numerous benefits of a virtual learning model. For many math students, having control over the pace of learning can make all the difference. In an online setting, students are able to receive additional support when they need it and gain confidence without comparing themselves to others.  

One of the many benefits of Connections Academy® is that our teachers are versed in an important aspect of learning math: self-reflection. Education research shows that students who reflect on their learning have better academic outcomes than those who don’t. For this reason, Connections Academy has self-reflection exercises built into its online math curriculum.  
 

Ensure a Path of Success in Mathematics 

At Connections Academy, students participate in a math curriculum that’s engaging and provides context for the material so they can apply what they learn in real life. When students make the connection between concept and application, they’re empowered to prepare not just for the future, but for their future. Find out how Connections Academy is making it possible for students to find the right learning experience for them.  

By 2024, students will soon be tossing out their No. 2 pencils in exchange for a digital version of the SAT college-entrance exams. The historically paper-based exam will transition to an online version intended to improve accessibility for students and provide them with a more familiar testing format for the digital age. Though the new SAT online test will remain on-site, it will return to being scored out of 1600, shorten to two hours instead of three, and allow the use of a calculator on the math section. International students will begin testing in the new format in 2023. 

The future of education is online, and news of the SATs going all-digital comes as no surprise. What we know is that digital learning, including college test prep, has substantial advantages for both students and parents. These advantages begin today and prepare students for an increasingly technological tomorrow.  

The Future of Learning 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an increasing need for virtual learning and testing, and advancements in technology have made it possible to expedite and expand digital options like the emergence of the SAT testing changes. This growing need for online education fortunately provides added learning benefits for students, parents, and educators alike.  

Here are a few of our 2021 online learning survey findings that illustrate what parents and students can gain from the digital-learning revolution: 

1. Students who transitioned to online learning during the pandemic increased their self-sufficiency by 79% and their resilience by 78%. 
2. Parents reported that online learning has brought their family closer, and men have become more involved in their children’s learning.  
3. Since shifting to online learning, student competencies saw an 85% increase.  

Not all online education programs are created equal, though, and each will produce different results. However, according to our 2021 Parent Satisfaction Survey, 95% of parents agree that the Connections Academy® program is preparing their student(s) for future success.  

Online Students Are Prepared for the Future … and the Future of the SAT Exam

With Connections Academy’s accredited curriculum and college test-prep support, students learn what to expect in an online test, including the SAT digital format. They also develop skills that are critical for both their education and future performance in what will be a highly-digitized workplace. Some of these skills include:  

• Time Management – Virtual learning provides accountability and flexibility that teaches time-management skills and meets students’ individual needs.  
• Independence – Students learn how to take charge of their own learning, develop goals, and acquire critical-thinking skills that help them determine when to reach out for support.  
• Planning – Students work alongside supportive staff to plan for their future and ensure they’re prepared for all relevant entrance exams, including the SATs, if necessary.  

Connections Academy understands that every student has unique learning needs and preferences. When preparing for the SATs, dedicated and supportive counselors guide students in developing a plan that aligns with their future goals. Students are guided on how to:  

• Create an individualized study plan for the SAT. 
• Register for an SAT test date.  
• Visit the SAT practice section on the official website and check out the free resources, such as the question of the day, sample practice questions, and a free practice test.  
• Take the PSAT, the official SAT practice test.   
• Study SAT vocabulary lists. 
• Solve SAT math practice problems to sharpen your math skills. 
• Review different test-taking approaches, including preparation for the SAT online test. 

Are You Ready for the Digital SAT Test? 

This new format will allow the learning and testing process to transition seamlessly from online college test prep to online SAT testing without a change in materials or methods—no No. 2 pencils required. In other words, how students prepare is how they test, maximizing their potential for success. 

Connections Academy students don’t prepare for the future, they prepare for their future. We provide an impactful online education that addresses the challenges and accommodates the needs of each and every student. With more than 20 years of experience in online learning, Connections Academy knows how to help your child thrive in the online classroom and succeed in the digital world ahead. Learn more about how Connections Academy can make an impact in your student’s life.