Artos Academy
Artos Academy
Writing about Current Events
Responding to Media in a Hyperconnected World
What kinds of material will I read and compose in this course?
editorials
Books
Narratives
reports
articles
Our first objective in this course is to identify the characteristics of reliable news sources. Along with limitless access to media comes the imperative for realistic plans for intake. This course introduces strategies and criteria to consider to maximize the time we spend reading and watching news and learning about important events happening in our immediate vicinity, our state, our nation, and our world.
Our second and equally important objective in this course is to crystalize our responses to current events by learning to write considerately, concisely, and clearly. This means understanding our audience and being mindful of their points of view, while making our own opinions and ideas palatable and interesting.
Ultimately, after assessing sources and honing our writing skills, we develop written arguments expressing our own perspectives. Research, documentation, and specific supporting evidence are all parts of bolstering our communication skills and making us a viable and solid voice in the public sphere.
Duration & Delivery
This is a SEMINAR COURSE with fixed start and end dates.
Exercising control over your family calendar is one of the perks of homeschooling. Coordinating all the wonderful things you and your family members are involved in can be a huge scheduling challenge.
Artos Academy courses are designed in four-week modules with new start dates every Monday, making it easy to customize your academic schedule to accommodate community events, club meetings, team practices, dance rehearsals, church retreats, and other activities.
Since each course can be completed from the first assignment to the last in one month, it’s easy to take breaks, bookending courses around family trips, theater performances, playoffs weeks, or carefully planned time of rest and restoration. The module format gives you control of when and where you do your schoolwork, with optional live meetings that you choose to attend or not, leaving your schedule in your hands so that you can prioritize your time according to your personal standards and goals.
Live Connections
Instructor-led discussions are centered on engaging topics that challenge students to think deeply and talk freely. Students learn online etiquette, like sensing how and when to share ideas, anticipating and dealing with interruptions, overcoming technical issues, and understanding how to express genuine interest in the thoughts of others.
In addition to solid academic instruction, one of the central goals of the class is to foster social connections and encourage friendships. Team projects are a part of every course, as well as group presentations. Collaboration is a buzzword and top priority in today’s workplace. Team assignments build confidence and improve comfort levels in group situations, preparing students for the future and enriching their classroom experiences in the present.
Other advantages of attending the optional Live Connections are:
- Scheduled interaction with peers provides opportunities for real-time feedback and collaborative learning.
- Students have the option to meet with the instructor multiple times throughout the week through Live Connections. This is a time to talk with the instructor about course materials and to receive support, guidance, and individualized instruction along the way.
- Lessons are completed chronologically. Access to each lesson is dependent upon successful completion of the prior lesson. Independent progression forward is an option.
- Assessment of assignments is delivered by the instructor at set times.
- Social interaction with other Seminar learners is an integral and ongoing part of the course.
- Upon successful completion of the course, learners receive a Certificate of Completion for record keeping.
- Live Connections are times in which the instructor or content expert interacts with learners in real time, integrating online and in-person elements.
- Parent consultations about academic skills, as well as individualized pre-assessments are available upon request prior to enrollment.
Support for Independent Learners
Live meetings with the instructor are optional. Students who prefer to work independently can watch the video lectures and complete the assignments on their own. If a student attends one Live Connection meeting, he is not obligated to attend others. He may utilize these meetings as a time to get needed information or encouragement at any point as he completes the coursework mostly on his own.
During live meetings students can ask questions about the learning materials and assignments and discuss the required reading for this course, which is The Intellectual Life, by Sertillange.
The Google Meeting link is available on the first page students see upon entering the course, along with a link to a Report Card and access to the social group exclusive to registrants of the course and the instructor.
For a minimal fee, an optional consultation is available twice during the course for parents who want to monitor more closely a student’s progress and to receive advice and tips for improving specific skills in writing, grammar, speaking, reading fluency, and comprehension.
Students who choose NOT to attend the Live Connections will receive feedback on assignments and will have access to the instructor through the Idea Exchange group, through email, and through the course components themselves. Feedback on assignments is an integral part of this course, whether a student attends the Live Connections or not.
Start Dates & Meeting Times
A new section of the course begins every Monday. The duration of the course is four weeks. Students who enroll together stay together for the duration of the course, interacting voluntarily in a social group and discussion forum exclusive to that group.
Choose a course date below that best fits your schedule. There is no obligation to enroll. We’ll let you know if the dates you choose are already full or open for new enrollees. Then you can decide whether to proceed with enrollment or not.
Optional Live Connection meetings for this course are available every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9:00 Central Time.
Required Reading
Students will read the book, The Intellectual Life by Sertillange, as well as articles from the following news sites, among others: The National Review, The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
Course Content and Objectives
No matter which Artos Academy course you choose, students should expect to spend approximately two hours reading and writing outside of Live Connection meetings each week.
The objectives below are examples of skills practiced in each course. Similar standards are common to all states and are representative of the goals of every course, no matter the subject matter or theme. All courses require students to read edifying, substantial materials and to respond in written essays and discussion posts.
- Recognize and write in various modes, for different purposes, including to support and sustain an opinion or argument, to inform, and to express and reflect.
- Understand the relationship among writing task, purpose, and audience.
- Understand writing occurs through a process, and utilize a process that includes planning, revising, editing, and rewriting.
- Use technology to communicate effectively and to produce and publish writing.
- Understand writing can be used to answer questions and participate in short- and long term research and inquiry projects.
- Use evidence to support claims and convey ideas in writing.
- Integrate and synthesize others’ ideas into writing.
- Write often to develop fluency, confidence, and stamina.
Cornerstone Foundational Skills: 2022. Tennessee Board of Education. 10-20-17_III_J_Non Substantive_Changes_to_Math_ELA__Science_Standards_Attachment_2_-_ELA.pdf (tn.gov)
Skills Focus
Students taking this course are expected to be able to read high school and college level texts and mainstream media sites.
The purpose of the course is to teach students habits and strategies to help them read and interact with the media in thoughtful ways. Writing assignments focus on expository and informational writing (explaining a topic clearly) and persuasive and argumentative writing (stating a claim and supporting it with evidence).
Students learn to identify the traits of reputable sources and to navigate academic databases, a skill that can serve them throughout their academic careers and in their personal pursuits of deeper knowledge about any topic of interest to them.
A balanced view of media is presented and students are encouraged to take control of their thinking, viewing, and reading habits so that their interpretation of news and media content is healthy, positive, and edifying.
In addition to the expertise of the instructor, students experience the insight of three experts to whom media consumption is important: a military Lieutenant General, a career newspaper editor, and a State Representative.
Grade Level Expectations
The content in the courses is appropriate for both middle school and high school students. Students in the junior and senior level ability groups write sourced papers that utilize secondary texts and include a Reference page, while younger students write papers using primary sources only and are not required to include a Reference page.
Completion Certificate
Each lesson begins with a step-by-step content guide and a point value indicator. Students who successfully complete 80% of writing assignments and quizzes earn a Certificate of Completion to add to their transcripts, academic profiles, or curriculum vitae.
Technical Requirements
Students need a reliable Internet connection. Live class meetings are conducted in-person. The physical address of the meeting location will be sent through email. Students have the option of attending the meeting through Google Meet to allow added flexibility. Students who choose to attend class via Google Meet are expected to have a functional camera and microphone and to keep cameras and mics on for the duration of the class meeting unless otherwise instructed. Course materials are shared through the Artos Learning virtual classroom and typically include videos, pdf files, and website links.
Tuition
The regular tuition for this course is $215.00. Because Artos Academy is in a beta phase, the tuition is currently $25.00.
Students may withdraw from a course up to ten days before the start date with a 50% refund. No refunds are offered within ten days of a course start date.
Click below to purchase the course.
