When your high schooler wakes up in the morning, chances are they drag themselves out of bed and find their way to the shower, to the kitchen for breakfast, and then off to school. They probably aren't thinking about the business they want to build or the next great marketing slogan for their favorite brand, but what if they could?
When you look at a typical high school schedule, there is a lot to consider. Students attend school all day to complete their studies. Then, they move on to extracurricular activities like sports practice or club meetings immediately after the last bell. When they finally make it home, they rush through dinner, work on homework, and go to sleep. This tight schedule doesn't leave much room for students to pursue their passions or consider what the future might look like for their career.
Today's students are trying to balance their studies with their social life on top of the day-to-day stresses of traditional schooling. Many students are involved in multiple clubs, sports, and other activities, both through the school and outside organizations. Each of these comes with time commitments and expectations. What's left? For most students, the answer is no time for anything else. Luckily, students have other options.
K12's online career readiness education program, Destinations Career Academy, gives today's high school students a modern learning experience. Destinations disrupts the chaotic schedule of school in a positive way. As a self-paced learning environment, online school offers the flexibility to participate in extracurricular activities and maintain a social life, all while excelling in school. Destinations is for the student looking for more control over their high school education. Students earn their diplomas while pursuing interests within their school work and extracurricular activities.
Take a look at how your child can make school their own with a typical day in the life of a business pathway student at Destinations Career Academy.
8:30 AM - Starting Morning Classes
When it's time to rise and shine, your student shakes off their sleep and starts the day thinking about the possibilities that lie ahead. Core classes look very similar to what you would typically think of for high school education. Students still take core subjects like math, science, and English. These core studies set the stage for an afternoon of career-based electives like accounting or marketing. For example, morning math classes can shine a new light on accounting spreadsheets.
Your student will work independently on their course material while attending teacher-led online sessions called Class Connects. Unlike an average classroom, there is no immediate face-to-face interaction. Instead, through the Class Connects portal, students interact with their teachers and peers through video, chat, and voice features, just like a virtual conference call. Not only does this help students gain valuable communication skills, but it also helps them learn problem-solving. Unlike typical classroom structures, students have the opportunity to get one-to-one learning time that helps them feel more confident in their studies.
11 AM - Business-Specific Class
Once students wrap up their core studies in the morning, they can move on to the classes that ignite their entrepreneurial spirit. Our Business pathways use project-based learning to teach students through experience. Instead of reading a textbook, completing worksheets, and taking tests, these courses immerse students in projects they'd face in the working world. Students may spend a semester developing marketing plans and materials for a real company to learn from real-world experience.
Through these courses, students learn skills on the technical platforms they would use in a job setting. From bookkeeping software for accounting students to Adobe® Photoshop® for marketers, students use these industry-standard tools to learn modern business skills.
1 PM - Work-Based Learning
Time to put these practices to work. No matter what your student's passion is, Destinations has the tools to help students find an experience that is right for them. At Destinations, we use a few different tools to allow students to connect with real professionals. Through a platform called Tallo, students network and build relationships with industry professionals. Using the tool, students can find internship and apprenticeship opportunities. For students looking to pursue a degree, Tallo can be used to connect with colleges for scholarship opportunities.
5 PM - Independent Learning
There still may be homework to complete after a full day of Class Connects and working on the job. While much of a student’s time is spent working with teachers, peers, or industry professionals, independent study is an integral part of their education. Homework and individual projects help students become independent problem solvers.
That's where you come in. Parents are often the go-to Learning Coaches for students. Your student will look to you for support and guidance on assignments. You'll help them stay on track with their school work and encourage them along the way. You may not be your child's only Learning Coach. Anyone they trust to help them navigate their assignments and answer questions can be a part of their education. As students spend time on their independent studies, Learning Coaches are there to give the support and reassurance they may need.
6 PM - Passion Projects
As students wrap up their day, they will have the time to pursue passion projects. Perhaps it's starting their own small business or playing sports. Maybe it’s just relaxing and socializing with friends. Time for extracurricular activities helps students fuel their passions and recharge by doing something they love. Destinations has more than 50 online extracurricular activities for students to participate in.
There are business-oriented career clubs, like DECA, for students looking to advance their career dreams beyond what they'll learn in class. This organization gives students the tools they need to pursue entrepreneurship and innovation in high school. Through competitions, workshops, and lectures, DECA is an excellent way for students to hone their business skills after class and make friends along the way.
Destinations Career Academy's Business pathway programs enable your student to get the necessary skills and resources they need to succeed in a business career straight out of high school. Whether they plan to pursue college or go straight into the workforce, the experience, network, and virtual skills students take away open many doors. While their peers balance schoolwork, applications, and self-guided learning, Destinations blends the benefits of these in an easy-to-follow platform that will make your student's high school education stand out from the rest. Once they have completed their education with Destinations, they'll be well on their way to the boardroom, a professional kitchen, or even a corner office at their very own business.
*Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
