Students and families often remark that their academic experience with us is not only their most enjoyable, but that their grades are better than those achieved in their home schools. Cynics argue that you can’t have it both ways or how can this be so during what looks like a holiday. There are a number of reasons:
Engagement
Learning outside the sterile environment of the classroom has a much better chance of engaging the student and when students are engaged, they learn. Conversely, when they aren’t engaged nothing gets achieved.
A recent study from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education also shows that students retain much more of what is taught if the educational settings change. “Oh, I remember, we talked about that in the cathedral in London”, is a typical comment.
Some of our courses never use a classroom and we have seen some of our best outcomes from those.
Class Size and Student Quality
Last year our average class size was 12. This is half or less than students experience at home and allows for personalized, experiential education where teachers have time, flexibility, and space to address individual learning styles and provide extra care.
Overall, about 98% of our students are on a track for university, and many to the best ones in Canada and abroad. This makes classes easier to teach at a higher level than most students experience at home. And this provides better university preparation.
Block Teaching: One Course: One Month
Unlike at home where students are taking four, six, or eight courses simultaneously, ours are doing just one. This helps maintain focus, avoids scheduling issues, and particularly helps students who have anxiety and/or organizational challenges.
Quality Teaching
For many teachers, the experience of delivering their courses in context is a dream come true whether that is French in France, Biology on the Great Barrier Reef, or Classical Civilization in Greece. Not surprisingly, we have huge interest in these positions and can select the best whether they come from private or public school settings. We then use student, family, and administrative feedback to assess the teachers and hire back the best.
Support
These are anxious times and students need more academic and personal support than ever. Our faculty and staff are available 24/7 for our students whether that is to talk about an essay or personal struggles. As well, we place a very high value on kindness and peer support, and we have seen lifelong friendships built during these programs.
Global Summers Academy programs are available for students from grades 9 to 12 and offer a wide range of secondary school courses in Europe, North America, Central America, Oceania, and Asia. We will continue our tradition of experiential learning, teaching mainly outside of the classroom walls. Reach out today by calling us at 1-844-357-2621 and speak to one of our friendly and professional course leaders, or visit us online to find out more.
