School should be more practical and directly applicable to the real world.

I am forever bothered by how useless many class assignments feel. Yes, I do realize that learning can be found everywhere and in everything, but can’t school curriculum be a bit more interesting and useful? It is hard to be engaged in school projects when the classes aren’t creating any real-world value. The only school projects that I look back on with fond memories are the ones that directly influenced my life or those around me. Things like learning to comparison shop, practicing photography techniques, or getting to plan a road trip that my family would actually take. Tangible results excite me.

Kids nowadays have a new opportunity- the one I always wish I had.

Tech Trep Academy brings a collection of classes to the table that are both fun and able to equip kids with career-worthy skills. As their homepage states, it is “A place for kids to learn the real-life skills needed to build, do, and share cool new things.” Their courses cover subjects such as financial literacy, computer coding, web development, sound and audio mixing, and even entrepreneurial skills, just to name a few.

The best part? The kids who take these classes are reminded that you’re never too young to do big things, and they are living it out! I am thoroughly impressed with Tech Trep’s participants. Check a few out for yourself in these videos:

How do the courses work?

All of the subjects offered on Tech Trep have roughly 15-20 weeks of coursework. You have access to these courses for up to a year and the freedom to work at your own pace. Participants can reach out via email to their instructors at any time, plus, they also get 1-on-1 video calls with their instructors, so that everyone gets as much guidance as they need to succeed. When it comes to grades, everything is on a pass/fail basis. Why? Because grading spectrums embrace mediocrity. Tech Trep’s goal is not grades – it is learning.

If you are wondering what the heck a “Trep” is, you’re not alone.

I can’t write a post about Tech Trep Academy without addressing one of their most frequently asked questions. “What is a “Trep”? According to their official FAQ,

“Trep is short for ‘enTREPreneur’ as most people can’t seem to say or spell that word very well.

 

We also think treps are instilled with a Maverick personality – someone who wants to stand out from the crowd and apply their skills to make a positive difference in the world.”

Can I just make that a poster graphic? I love their definition.

Ready to see what kind of Treps these guys are training?

Go check out their course listings and descriptions here!