Teen Voices: Sociology, Identity, and the Power of Social Change

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐝𝐞? 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨?

The world is full of questions that don’t have easy answers. Questions about 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 often lead to frustration or confusion. If you’re tired of surface-level answers or looking for 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 that make sense of today’s world, you’re not alone.

This class 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 and their role within it. You’ll 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐰𝐡𝐲” behind human behavior, challenge outdated assumptions, and connect what’s happening around you to the bigger picture.

From exploring the ripple effects of social media to the hidden dynamics of power, this journey makes you the problem-solver. The world is complex—but you’ll learn how to ask the right questions and discover surprising insights that turn confusion into clarity.

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Week of September 9: Sociology in Action: Exploring Society's Hidden Patterns
Week of September 16: The Science of Social Trends: What Shapes Our Behaviors?
Week of September 23: Sociological Tools: How to Study Human Behavior
Week of September 30: Ethical Dilemmas in Sociological Research

Week of October 7: Agents of Influence: Family, Friends, and Media
Week of October 14: Who Are We? Social Roles and Identity
Week of October 21: Understanding Social Class and Inequality
Week of October 28: The Reality of Poverty and Social Mobility

Week of November 4: Breaking Down Prejudice, Discrimination, and Stereotypes
Week of November 11: Gender Expectations in a Changing World
Week of November 18: Deviance: Why Society Defines What’s Normal
Week of November 25: OFF

Week of December 2: Social Pressures and Deviance: Where the Two Meet
Week of December 9: Crime, Punishment, and Social Control
Week of December 16: Revolutionary Change: Movements That Shaped Society

Weeks of December 23 & December 30: OFF

Week of January 6: Youth Subcultures: Breaking the Mold
Week of January 13: The Allure of Consumer Culture
Week of January 20: The Power of Protest and Collective Silence
Week of January 27: Peer Influence and the Pressure to Conform

Week of February 3: The Role of Fashion in Social Identity
Week of February 10: Who Decides What’s Normal? Values and Social Norms
Week of February 17: Media, Misrepresentation, and the Fight for Truth
Week of February 24: The Psychology of Wanderlust: Why We Crave New Experiences

Week of March 3: The Social Dynamics of Bullying
Week of March 10: The Power of Identity and Belonging
Week of March 17: OFF
Week of March 24: The Role of Work and Skills in Modern Society

Week of April 7: How Media Shapes Public Opinion and Control
Week of April 14: Food and Society: What We Eat and Why
Week of April 21: Cancel Culture: Accountability or Overreaction?
Week of April 28: Why We Distrust Institutions

Week of May 5: The Social Media Effect: Connection or Isolation?
Week of May 12: Education Inequality and Its Lasting Impact
Week of May 19: Navigating Daily Challenges in Modern Society
Week of May 26: The Growing Demand for Work-Life Balance

Week of June 2: Technology and the Future of Human Interaction
Week of June 9: The Sociology of Pop Culture: Entertainment’s Role in Shaping Society



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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.