Opening minds are for College (middle school) only.

 

The goal of these classes is to go beyond the curriculum and offer a space to think deeply and critically on highly intellectual pursuits without the fear of grades. They are a way to expand students’ intellectual horizons and develop their appetite for learning. 

- The main goal is to make sure that students ask questions (not find answers). They may not be able to solve something as the subject should be difficult for them: this is a way to start understanding how to overcome difficulties and learn to solve problems collectively and individually.

- Students must lead the way and be actively involved. It's all about discovering and cultivating the joy of learning.

- Opening Minds are a way to cater to a variety of interests and abilities and build students’ confidence in their learning

- They are taught by our own teachers and constitute an important part of the mandatory curriculum over 2 semesters (around 15 weeks).

- They are mandatory for all students from 6e to 3e. All levels are mixed together.

- Students must sign up every semester for two different discovery classes per week 

- Students' work in those classes is not graded. Comments and recognition are welcome of course.

- You are encouraged to teach something related to your subject at the highest possible level, equivalent to the first or second year of a university course level.

- Students’ interest will be apparent from the number of students who sign up in the following term. Classes only go if students sign up for them in sufficient numbers.

- The content must be difficult and the subject-specific, even intriguing, in order to arouse the students’ curiosity: your title is your teaser!

- This is a dream class for a teacher (a subject you love, 15 students max) with a low-stress atmosphere (no "corrections de copies", no grading).

 

Main educational goals of the discovery classes

• Critical thinking

• Collaboration (in order to try and solve the problem together)

• Creativity (in the solution found)

• Understanding how we explore and learn what we don’t know.