—periscope – Deerfield Academy

The Experimentory: PERISCOPE (our virtual summer program) is a fantastic opportunity for students entering seventh, eighth, or ninth grade to experience Deerfield Academy from wherever they are in the world! This summer, PERISCOPE will allow students to delve into project-based creative learning, focus on collaboration, communication, fostering creativity, building character, and developing new ways of looking at the world. Most PERISCOPE teachers and senior staff are current Deerfield Academy faculty and staff members, and many of our small group leaders are recent Deerfield graduates. The program includes ample opportunities for students to connect one-on-one with Deerfield faculty and to collaborate with their peers in a highly flexible schedule.

EX-perience Deerfield

With faculty-designed and led courses, exciting community events and guest speakers, and virtual campus experiences.

1:1

On a weekly basis, students will meet one-on-one with their advisor and teachers— creating a learning experience tailored to each individual student.

Conn-EX-tions

Students will make new friends and collaborate with peers from all over the world!

Fl-EX-ible Format

PERISCOPE is intentionally designed to be hyper flexible to allow active participation from students around the world.

Leadership Community

This is a small group experience that focuses on leadership and communication skills.

EX-traordinary!

PERISCOPE is designed to be engaging, collaborative, and hands on!

PROGRAM DATES

July 5-July 23

THREE week tuition

$2,900

Experience

PERISCOPE will be different from any other virtual program you may have been a part of in the past. This summer we will build a community of curious, innovative, and engaged “Experimentors” who will delve into project-based, creative learning that focuses on collaboration and communication with two main goals in mind: maximizing our creativity and character and having LOTS of fun in the process! Students will form deep connections with like-minded peers around the world in ways they never thought possible on a virtual platform. They will learn more about themselves and their connection to the world around them, all while experiencing a taste of what life as a student at Deerfield Academy might be like.

LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNITY

Leadership in Community is a small group experience that allows students to build relationships with peers from all over the world in a fun and social setting. Each small group will take part in the same activities as a way to build the larger PERISCOPE community through shared experiences. Students will take a deep dive into building their leadership and communication skills as a means of better understanding themselves and how they fit into the world. They will engage in experiential group activities, practice public speaking, and create artifacts to show their growth through the program. In addition, each small group leader will act as an advisor to students, meeting with them 1:1 to check on their progress and discuss their personal and educational goals for the future.

A TASTE OF DEERFIELD

Along with taking courses designed and led by Deerfield faculty, students will take part in some beloved Deerfield traditions. School Meeting will be a time for the entire community to come together, and could include exciting guest speakers or presentations from groups of students. Sit-down meals will be a great opportunity to engage with one another and discuss a variety of topics—no food necessary! And students will also have access to a virtual Deerfield campus experience that includes asynchronous activities and a 3D walking tour!

courses

Staying true to the Experimentory mission, PERISCOPE courses will approach subjects in fresh and exciting ways and will be project based, creative, and experiential in nature. A mix of group collaboration, independent work, and field studies will foster teamwork across time zones and embrace a diversity of perspectives. The virtual platform will provide an opportunity to teach students new skills and prepare them for collaboration in a rapidly changing and inter-connected world.

What subjects? What ways? We love to try new things—which means the Experimentory changes from year-to-year as we play and experiment. While we are putting the finishing touches on our course offerings for this summer, enjoy a sample of our 2019 courses below, which will give you a good idea of what to expect in 2021. Once our courses for this summer are set and students are enrolled, they will have an opportunity to rank our 2021 course offerings by preference; each student will take two courses.

13.8 Billion Years: Big History

CLASS DESCRIPTION

Where did everything come from? How did we get where we are now? Where do humans fit in? Where are things heading? Come explore the modern scientific origin story of how the universe and life have grown more complex. We’ll engage the powerful ideas winding through the Big Bang, the birth of star systems, Earth’s first life, and the rise of humanity. We’ll juggle galaxies and atoms. We’ll consider events that took a billionth of a second and stories that span billions of years. Along the way we’ll discuss how scholars develop, justify, refute and refine claims about the past. Students will also work on their own narratives and explanations of “Big History’s” essential questions. Let’s build a framework for learning about anything or everything.

Break a Leg: Performance on the Stage

CLASS DESCRIPTION

“We must all do theatre, to find out who we are, and to discover who we could become.” As stated by Augusto Boal, theater is a powerful experience and you will be sure to find discovery at every turn. After building an ensemble as a class, you’ll move on to scene study, improvisation, monologue work, and performance techniques. The course will conclude with a short performance of your work. Whether you’ve been in every school play since kindergarten or have never set foot on stage, this course will hone your critical thinking, strengthen your collaboration skills, and increase your self-confidence.

Finding Your Voice: Public Speaking

CLASS DESCRIPTION

The human voice does more than just place orders at a drive-thru: we can use the spoken word to teach, chastise, influence, and inspire. In this course, you will learn both how to speak comfortably in front of others and how to write text that yearns to be delivered. Beginning with the written word, we will move toward utilizing the full capabilities of the human voice and engaging the body. Along the way, students will develop strategies for memorization and tricks for calming nervous jitters. The power of speech will come alive through dramatic monologues, debate, and delivering a final speech that you will write yourself.

Functional Art: Architectural Sketching and Design

CLASS DESCRIPTION

Architects design spaces so that we can live, work, and play in them. We will study designed spaces with frequent trips around the buildings of the Deerfield Academy campus with sketchbooks in hand. Then, put your business hats on as we consider the functional aspects of our art when our class transforms into a mock architectural firm hired to reshape those existing DA spaces for a new purpose. Students will finish the course with experience in architectural sketching and plenty of principles of design. Let’s get drawing!

Lab Coat Jerseys: The Science of Sports

CLASS DESCRIPTION

There is science everywhere, but perhaps nowhere is it more overlooked than in sports. Why put dimples on a golf ball? What happens in your blood when you run? Why do spinning balls curve? How does your body’s starting position influence your jump shot? Why do we become so committed to a team we love? These are the sorts of questions we will be exploring this summer. We will play and study the science that underlays several different sports while taking full advantage of DA’s Athletic Center. Are you game to join us?

Makerspace: Creative Problem Solving

CLASS DESCRIPTION

Creativity is often about using what you have well. This course will feature daily hands-on team challenges that will force you to think on your feet, collaborate with others, and build things of your own design. For example: How fast can you transport 10 marbles across a room using newspaper, toothpicks, and mailing labels? How tall of a tower can you build using spaghetti, tape, and yarn in just 10 minutes? Accommodating limited time and materials will teach you creative problem solving techniques.

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the program be synchronous or asynchronous?

Students will engage in a variety of different types of learning mediums throughout the program. Synchronous time will include small group time, live instruction, 1:1 meetings with Deerfield faculty, and group collaboration with classmates. Asynchronous time will include independent coursework, field studies, and opportunities for students to explore their personal passions and interests.

How many hours per week do students need to commit to the program?

Students will be joining PERISCOPE from time zones around the world and with a variety of scheduling constraints. The program is intentionally designed with the flexibility to accommodate different schedules. Students can anticipate approximately 6 to 10 hours per week of synchronous activities, and many of those can be coordinated around personal scheduling constraints. Students can also anticipate approximately 4 to 8 hours per week of asynchronous work that can be completed on their own schedule.

What will the courses be like and when will I select which courses I will be taking this summer?

Staying true to The Experimentory's mission, courses will approach subjects in fresh and exciting ways and will be project based, creative, and experiential in nature. A mix of group collaboration, independent work, and field studies will foster teamwork across time zones and embrace a diversity of perspectives. The virtual platform will provide an opportunity to teach students new skills and prepare them for collaboration in a rapidly changing and ever-connected world

Courses will be designed to challenge students to take ownership of their own learning with time for independent inquiry and exploration of their passions and interests. Flexible scheduling will give students the opportunity to meet 1:1 with their teacher each week to discuss progress and help create a learning experience that is personalized to each student.

Does The Experimentory offer Financial Aid?

The Experimentory offers a limited amount of financial assistance. Financial aid is based on need and is part of the program application. All students applying for financial aid must apply for both the program and financial aid by March 29, 2021 to be considered. Financial aid applicants will be notified simultaneously of their admission status and any financial aid award via email later this spring.

What will the experience be like at The Experimentory this summer?

The Experimentory will be different from any other virtual program you may have been a part of in the past. This summer we will create a community of curious, innovative, and engaged Experimentors that will delve into project-based, creative learning that focuses on collaboration and communication with two main goals in mind...maximizing our creativity and character and having LOTS of fun doing it! This summer, students will form deep connections with like-minded peers around the world in ways they never thought possible in a virtual world. Students will learn more about themselves and their connection to the world around them all while experiencing a taste of what life at Deerfield Academy might be like. We can’t wait to get started this summer for what is sure to be an Experimentory we won’t soon forget!

What are the technology requirements for the program?

To fully engage in the program, students will need a reliable internet connection and a computer or tablet. At a minimum, the connected device should include a webcam, speakers, and microphone and be able to support live video and audio conferencing. In addition, students will at times need to record and upload video and audio files, download content, and access information online from a variety of sources. We will use an assortment of online applications throughout the program and access to these will be provided by The Experimentory. We will communicate any additional specific technical requirements for courses well in advance of the start of the program.

Why is the virtual version of the Experimentory called PERISCOPE?

A periscope is defined as “an optical device most commonly used for making observations from a concealed or protected location or where an obstacle prevents normal line of sight.” We think this is a great theme for our virtual program after a year of obstacles and challenges we have all had to overcome. Although our community will not physically be together this summer, we will still learn and grow together as we make deeper observations about ourselves and the world around us.

What is Leadership in Community?

Leadership in Community is a small group experience that allows students to build relationships with peers from all over the world in a fun and social setting. Each small group will take part in the same activities as a way to connect with the larger PERISCOPE community through shared experiences. During Leadership in Community students will take a deep dive into building their leadership and communication skills as a means of better understanding themselves and how they fit into the world. Students will engage in experiential group activities, practice public speaking, and create artifacts to show their growth through the program. In addition, each small group leader will act as an advisor to students, meeting with them 1:1 to check-in on their progress and discuss their personal and educational goals for the future.

What will the daily schedule look like?

PERISCOPE has been designed with the flexibility to allow students from around the world to comfortably engage in all aspects of the program. The intentional design of the daily schedule was created to facilitate maximizing synchronous time with students while being mindful of the total amount of time students spend in the virtual world. Below is a sample schedule of what a week could possibly look like for a student. It is important to note that many of the elements in the schedule below, such as 1:1 meetings and open course time are flexible and will depend on a student's individual availability.
Sample Daily Schedule

EST- AM, Monday

9:00-9:45 - School Meeting
10:00-10:30 - 1:1 Advisor time
10:45-11:15 - 1:1 teacher check-in

EST-AM, T/W/TH

7:30-8:00 - Leadership in Community
8:05-8:35 - Synchronous Course 1
8:40-9:10 - Synchronous Course 2
9:10-11:00 - Open Course 1 time (asynchronous work, group projects, extra help)
11:00-1:00 - Open Course 2 time (asynchronous work, group projects, extra help)

EXPLORE EXPERIMENTORY

THIS YEAR IS EX-CEPTIONAL—but EVERY YEAR is EX-CEPTIONAL

JORDAN BROWN

director of summer programs

PHONE
413-774-1436

MAIL
The Experimentory
at Deerfield Academy
PO Box 87
Deerfield, MA
01342

Find out more about our campus and area or get directions. If you will be in the area and would like to meet our Experimentory staff, email us at experimentory@deerfield.edu.

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