Society & Self: Navigating Media, Peer Pressure, and Popular Trends Confidently

𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞?

In a world filled with trends, opinions, and algorithms, it’s easy to feel like everyone else is deciding who you should be. This class offers a space to step back, reflect, and ask: What do I want to stand for? Through open discussions about 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬, and 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞, you’ll explore the forces shaping your world and uncover how to navigate them while staying true to yourself.

Each week, we’ll dive into topics that feel relevant to your life—like TikTok culture, beauty standards, and the impact of social media on friendships. Together, we’ll unpack how these pressures work, why they matter, and what you can do to approach them with confidence and clarity. This isn’t about rejecting everything around you—it’s about learning how to think critically, choose what aligns with your values, and trust your own voice.

Your story is yours to write. This class helps you build the tools, perspective, and courage to shape it your way.

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Week of January 15: Welcome & Defining Identity: Who Do You Want to Be?
Week of January 22: The Power of Trends: What Makes Something Go Viral?
Week of January 29: TikTok Culture: Creative or Controlling?

Week of February 5: Influencers & Impact: Who Are You Really Following?
Week of February 12: Memes and Messages: Humor, Influence, and Connection
Week of February 19: Internet Friendships vs. Real-Life Connections
Week of February 26: Bullying in the Digital Age: Spot It, Stop It

Week of March 4: Algorithms and Influence: Who’s Controlling Your Feed?
Week of March 11: OFF
Week of March 18: Understanding FOMO: Fear of Missing Out in Social Media
Week of March 25: Consumer Culture: Are You More Than What You Buy?

Week of April 8: Cancel Culture: Accountability or Overreaction?
Week of April 15: Breaking Free: The Trap of Comparison
Week of April 22: What Does Success Look Like? Defining It for Yourself
Week of April 29: Media Role Models: Healthy Inspiration or Unrealistic Goals?

Week of May 6: Peer Pressure Unplugged: Making Decisions That Feel Right
Week of May 13: Trends That Stick: The Ones That Actually Matter
Week of May 20: Building Confidence in a Loud World
Week of May 27: OFF

Week of June 3: Social Media Detox: Is It Worth It?

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CLASS ENVIRONMENT

Our classrooms are guided by a Socratic teaching approach, fostering critical thinking and encouraging open dialogue among learners. By facilitating engaging discussions and posing thought-provoking questions, students are able to explore topics more deeply and gain a comprehensive understanding of the material. 

Our class size does not exceed 5 learners. This allows for more personalized attention from the educator, ensuring that each learner's individual needs and learning styles are met. With a smaller group size, there is also more opportunity for discussion and collaboration among classmates, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. Additionally, students may feel more comfortable and confident participating in discussions and activities in a smaller group setting.

We incorporate a mix of traditional methods such as videos and limited PowerPoint presentations to accommodate various learning styles as well. 

In addition, we gamify our lessons, as much as possible, to make learning fun and interactive for students. By adding elements of games and competition, we are able to keep learners engaged and motivated to participate in their education.

We also incorporate hands-on projects, wherever possible, to provide students with real-world application of their learning. Through these projects, students are able to apply their knowledge in practical ways and further enhance their understanding of the subject matter.

By designing this type of diverse classroom environment, utilizing multiple teaching methods, we effectively address the diverse learning styles of our learners.

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IMPORTANT DATES

Please note we value mental health and want to prevent teacher burnout. With that said, we do take company wide breaks where there will not be any classes taught nor will we be answering emails. 

Please expect a delay in responses the following dates: 

2024:

August 19-August 25 (Summer Break)
November 27-29 (Thanksgiving Break)
December 23 - December 31 (Winter Break)

2025

January 1 - Jan 5 (Winter Break)
March 17 - March 23 (Spring Break)
April 19 - April 20 (Easter Break)
August 25-31st (Summer Break)

If you are enrolled, you will not be charged!

We will be returning all emails the day or two after we return. 

In addition, teachers may need time off outside of these breaks as emergencies do happen. We always try our best to give ample notice when we can. You will never be charged for a day that we cancel classes.

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CLASS POLICIES

Refund Policy:

We strictly adhere to Outschool's refund/reschedule policy for all of our classes. This means that once a class has been paid for, there will be no deviation from Outschool's guidelines. We do not offer refunds or rescheduling outside of what Outschool allows. 

Camera Policy:

All students are required to keep their camera turned on during the entire class. The only exception is those that have been verified by Outschool and have the verification badge.  

Contact info:

In compliance with Outschool's policies, we do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former families on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). We also do not provide or ask for any personal information such as email address or phone numbers.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with these policies.