Understand the importance of thinking for oneself and resisting societal pressures to conform, empowering learners to confidently navigate their own path.
Explore the value of curiosity in seeking truth and knowledge, and nurture an open mind that welcomes new ideas and perspectives.
Explore Plato's Allegory of the Cave as a metaphor for the journey from ignorance to enlightenment, drawing parallels to the quest for truth and critical thinking in today's world.
Learn to identify and avoid common pitfalls in reasoning such as logical fallacies and cognitive biases, enabling clearer and more rational decision-making.
Navigate falsehoods and uncertainty: Equip learners with the tools to sift through information and navigate the complexities of an increasingly uncertain world with clarity and precision.
How to identify their personal passions, interests, hobbies, talents, and sense of purpose.
Strategies for cultivating a growth mindset to overcome challenges.
Practical tools for reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth.
How to reflect on their passions and understand their significance.
The initial steps towards exploring and nurturing their passions. 

I'm an experienced and certified personal/life coach (Master Certified by the Certified Life Coach Institute) with a focus on confidence, creative and critical thinking, gratitude, clarity, intentionality, truth, resilience, and taking action in life (with a real plan). I host virtual group coaching sessions for my adult client that are based on the same essential principles offered in this teen class. I have personal experience inspiring older teens in my life to think clearer and deeper about their life and future (to be more intentional, focused and confident), and have helped them work through their thoughts and ideas in a way that empowers them with newfound confidence. I've also taught separate critical thinking and life purpose classes for teens on Outschool, and have spent time observing and learning from an experienced former public school teacher (current homeschool teacher) of teenagers in order to get an even deeper understanding of the unique learning needs of this age group to offer the most value possible to students.

0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: 3-6 per week
Feedback: included
Details: 
Certificate of Completion
Frequency: included
Details: If a student attends most of the class sessions (each student may miss one session as an exception), they may request a Certificate of Completion after the class is completed.

- Plato's Allegory of the Cave (from Book 7 of "Republic"), presented using a Youtube video provided by TED Ed

- Well-documented and publicly-available information on logical fallacies and cognitive biases

- General world history demonstrating manipulation of information, censorship, propaganda, related topics

- Class educator's lived experience as a lifelong independent thinker and certified personal/life coach (among other experience), and a passion for many decades learning how to seek and find truth in the world, think for oneself amidst many influences and resources, and help others think for themselves and build more self-esteem and confidence

- Non-political, non-religious, non-partisan examples to contemplate and explore in order to better understand things like logical fallacies and cognitive biases

- Students will be provided a worksheet designed by the teacher/coach for each week (provided in the virtual classroom prior to the next class meeting) that can be edited on a computer or printed and filled in using a writing utensil. This worksheet will help the students to follow along and stay organized with their thoughts and ideas from the class.