In traditional systems of education, students learn established information from textbooks and are assessed on their mastery of this content through exams, essays, and reports. Hands-on experimentation and project-based learning, when it exists, serve only to illustrate foundational concepts in pre-existing knowledge. Authentic research—that is, the creation of new knowledge through the scientific method—is typically reserved for graduate students. The Pioneer Research Program turns this system on its head, allowing high school students to conduct original research in a variety of research areas and concentrations. Rather than memorizing what other researchers have discovered, Pioneer scholars venture into the unknown to create new knowledge. This idea of “learning the unknown” is a valuable academic experience that many find increases motivation and engagement. 

Seeking the answers to problems that have not yet been solved is an exciting challenge. Ranjani (India, computer scienc...more

Pioneer scholars are often met with new ways of learning as they embark on their research experience. The main learning format, and the one that forms part of the backbone of the Pioneer Academic System, is an approach that emphasizes the asking of questions rather than the seeking of answers. This is often referred to as inquiry-based or inquiry-driven learning. 

In an article published in the Journal of Inquiry & Action in Education, Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is defined as, “a student-centered approach driven by students’ questions and their innate curiosity.” This definitely characterizes the Pioneer experience. In fact, natural curiosity is something that Pioneer scholars bring to the program and a trait that helps them thrive. 

Pioneer scholar Yvonne (Nigeria, art history/architecture, 2020) shared that her inquisitive nature was not nurtured in her prior educational experiences and that being encouraged to approach learning from a place o...more

In the past week, the public release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, an artificial intelligent "bot" has garnered a lot of press and attention. As with many leaps forward in technology, people are struggling to understand the impact it will have on society and in some cases, on their very own lives or livelihoods.

If you ask ChatGPT about the impact of AI on humanity, it will tell you:  

“It's difficult to predict exactly how AI will change the future of humanity, but it's likely that it will have a major impact on many industries and could potentially change the way we live our lives. Some potential benefits of AI include increased efficiency and productivity, the ability to automate many tasks, and the ability to access vast amounts of data quickly and easily. However, there are also potential drawbacks to the widespread use of AI, such as the potential for job displacement and the ethical concerns surrounding the development and use of AI technology. Overall, the future of AI is likely to...more

When Anxing (China, psychology, 2020), began her research paper on the occupational burnout of long-haul truck drivers in her native country, she could not find any data that was relevant to her paper.

So she decided to conduct her own survey that not only gave her first-hand information but also a glimpse of what her research subjects’ lives were like.

Before she could begin her survey, however, Anxing’s Pioneer faculty mentor needed to apply for approval to conduct a study with human subjects from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Oberlin College, Pioneer Research Program’s academic partner. The requirement, which applies to any researcher at a college, university and other organization, is mandated by federal law.

“It was the first time in my life when I did real research with human subjects and I needed to follow a series of rules when conducting the survey,” says Anxing, who is now a first-year student at the University of Chicago.

Anxing was among the group of Pioneer schol...more

In the spring of my daughter’s junior year in high school, she was just beginning to narrow down the list of colleges she might like to attend.  As we are what I might consider an upper middle class family, there was very little chance we would receive any need-based financial aid to reduce the burden of tuition payments.  We also have the good fortune of living in the state of Texas where there is a preponderance of good state schools.  So, we were left with the common quandary of state versus higher cost private schools.

I visited what is now called the College Consultant Network (CCN) and found the site informative and user-friendly.  

I advised my daughter to visit the site and offered to pay for any calls she made.  After viewing several profiles she chose Whitney Bruce, an Independent Education Consultant with more than 20+ years experience in education but who also been successful in the corporate world.  It was a simple process to request and confi...more

The College Consultant Network (CCN) is the first knowledge-sharing platform and social media network dedicated exclusively to independent education consultants whose primary activities include helping high school students and their families select a college, school or other program that is a “best fit” for the student. 

On the CCN, consultants can showcase their knowledge and expertise or interact directly with students and / or their families. The CNN also provides an interactive directory of helpful ancillary resources for students and / or consultants.  

The CCN is powered by Brainsy Inc. and was originally incubated in partnership with the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) but now operates collaboratively on a non-exclusive basis with any independent education association.  The long-term vision for the CCN is that it will be owned and operated by all members of the community that contribute to its growth and success. 
 
Students and their famil...more

Most high school and college students fall into one of three categories with regard to career:

• They are all set to dive into a specific career path.
• Their career is unknown, but they have a specific subject they really enjoy.
• They have no idea of a career or a subject of special interest.

If you fall into the first category, you may want to investigate the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn what level of education is needed for the career you have chosen, what the job forecast is for that career, and what the job typically pays.

If you are in the second category, you may want to find out what career options you might have if you major in that subject in college.

If you have no idea of a career or subject of interest, it might be best to determine your personality type using a Myers Briggs personality test and then see how the careers for that personality type appeal to you.

Whichever group you are in, it is good to get first hand career exposure for car...more