The LOCAJ Approach to Education
“Our goal is to help students build not just knowledge, but judgment. And confidence. The confidence to look at a complex topic and say, ‘Okay, I don’t know this yet, but I can figure it out.’”
-Professor Adam Zingg
And that’s the mindset we aim to cultivate in every course we design – every student we teach.
“If all my classes had been like this, I would have actually learned something while in school!”
-Ross Graduating Student
Our Learning Approach: How We Teach Teens to Think
Adventure
If there’s no challenge, sense of confusion or frustration, then there is probably nothing worthwhile going on.
We want students to experience the right degree of struggle, bolstered by reliable support. We want students to grapple with concepts that they’ve never heard of, only to find that these ideas are not only helpful, but thrilling and thoroughly worthwhile.
Empowerment
People who sign up for our academic journeys should complete them with a new way of engaging their world. While of course we want them to know things they didn’t know at the beginning of the adventure, we’re shooting for new skills and understanding. Moreover, the knowledge that students gain shouldn’t be stored away for some nebulous point in the future, but should be immediately applicable to how they interface with their current circumstances.
Artistry
Our courses feel different from a standard textbook curriculum. For that matter, they don’t quite work like an online course that you might take at a high school or undergrad class, or like a learning channel on YouTube. What we offer keeps the learner in an active role, but we ensure along the way that aesthetic appeal and audio/visual punch support the work the learner is undertaking. As it turns out, the brain has to be coaxed into breaking old patterns of thinking, which is what real learning is all about. Our academic journeys are definitely challenging, but we promise a soothing and often playful backdrop.
Integration
Studies show that people learn through association. We master new ideas by linking foreign concepts with what we already know. We help you to capitalize on this principle of integration with frequent check-ins to ensure you’re still with us.
Ready to help your teen learn with clarity and confidence?
Explore our courses and see how the LOCAJ Approach comes to life in every lesson.
Adam Zingg
Curriculum Architect & Lead Educator
Professor Adam Zingg is a finance and economics professor, curriculum architect, lifelong learner, and an advocate for making education both meaningful and engaging. As a co-founder of Lines on Clay Academic Journeys (LOCAJ), he partners years of business and academic experience with a love for teaching that resonates with students of all ages.
Academic and Business Background
- Residential Faculty at Phoenix College – Business Department
- 10+ Years of College-Level Teaching Experience – Courses through the 600 level
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Registered Investment Advisor
- Master of Science in Financial Engineering – University of Michigan
- Master of Arts in Applied Economics – University of Michigan
- Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics – Indiana University
- ACUE Certificate – Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Online Learning Environment
- Data Science Certificate – CFA Institute
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best learning path based on your teen’s goals and interests.