There are numerous methods of learning outside of tradition schooling:
Homeschooling. Unschooling. Alternative Education. Waldorf. Montessori. Remote Learning. Life Learning. Independent Study...
These educational styles can all be incorporated into Travel Adventure Education, or Worldschooling. Sure, kids can learn so much from a book, film, or discussion, but studies prove time and time again that knowledge is retained the most when it’s experienced firsthand.
With worldschooling, students generally study whatever is relevant to the places they visit so they can experience a deeper level of understanding. Relevant subjects include: languages, geography, world religions, astronomy and earth sciences such as geology, oceanography and meteorology.
Geographically specific areas of studies might include:
- Renaissance art history and architecture while in the Mediterranean Sea
- In the United Kingdom; literature, theatre, and the history of the monarchy
- When traveling through the Caribbean Sea students can visit sugar plantations and learn about the history of slavery as well as explore diverse underwater ecosystems and participate in marine biology projects
- In Africa they can go on land safaris and learn about animal behavior in the real world. In the Amazon: botany and conservation sciences
- Egypt - ancient history and civilizations
- There is so much to learn in Asia from the Himalayan mountain range, to the temples and the giant panda sanctuary
- In the Middle East, there is a fascinating amount to learn about theology and archaeology
- In Russia, students can discover Bolshoi ballet, read Tolstoy, and research the iron curtain
- In Vienna they can attend a classical music concert and learn about Mozart and other Austrian composers
- What better place than Washington DC to learn about democracy?
Real-world learning is what sticks in students' minds for the long term. Studying historical dates is boring, but attending a living history reenactment at Gettysburg or the Mayflower or Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre makes history come alive in the eyes of a student. With worldschooling, students experience up close how people live in other places and they become tolerant of other cultures which is essential learning for a peaceful world.
Many families electing a travel adventure education skip formal academics in the primary or elementary years and focus on experiential learning. In the middle grades, students often begin taking some virtual classes that they can complete from anywhere in the world, such as those offered through Outschool or Next Level Homeschool. Throughout the teen years, some families opt for an online program such as Williamsburg Learning while others participate in a dual enrollment program to start earning credits that apply to both their high school diploma and college transfer prerequisites.
Circumnavigating the globe in your private Storylines residence is an excellent way to incorporate a worldschool education, giving each text your children study true context. Furthermore, your children's educational journey will be supported by a ‘village’ of mentors and teachers and they’ll have access to lectures, projects, classes and a community of likeminded individuals.
We're excited to see what insights and impact youth with such a connected and diverse education might have on the future. From all of us at Storylines, we look forward to welcoming you and the children you love on board.