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.

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.  

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.    

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.

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!

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.

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.  

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.

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)