BrainBoost Education
Current POD Offerings
Our PODs are a great way to tackle a new subject or learn about something you can't get from regular school. The classes are generally subject and age specific, but when it makes sense to do so we will make exceptions. Peruse the list below to see what is currently on offer.
Getting down to Business: Innovation, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
In this POD, recent MBA graduate Darren Negraeff teaches students the fundamentals of business, marketing, and what it means to take an idea from concept to a physical thing in the real world. The class will focus on identifying needs that exist and can be met through design (innovation), communicating value and benefits to others (marketing), and finally, what it means to start something from scratch (entrepreneurship).
Cost: $375
Dates and times: Tuesdays from 4 to 6 pm, October 13th to December 15th
Ideal for: Students in Grades 10 to 12
Thinking and Writing: Technology and the Future
Did you know that scientists have created a biological printer that can print chicken heart cells? Or that a virtual reality machine can convince you that you've got 6 legs? Or that a $100 laptop is being distributed to young kids in countries like Rwanda and Peru? The world is moving quickly. How will that affect you? We'll learn about crazy technology and explore the very limits of what it means to be human. All along, you'll be learning to write and think more effectively, so it can transfer into your English class.
Cost: $375
Dates and times: Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, October 14th to December 16th
Ideal for: Students in Grades 10 to 12
Open Art Time
We invite you to join in a directed study, open art course. Rebecca Geddes will lead you through themes and mixed media and complete a project (or two or three or more!) that you design in 10 weeks. Many types of mixed media will be covered, including canvas work, 3-D pieces, photo transfer, print-making, and much more. Themes will be explored throughout the course to inspire the projects, such as: transitions and transformations, object based personal history, and off the wall art (a license to be exceptionally creative and do the thing you would never do).The course teacher will operate in both a 1-on-1 style and dynamically with the class as a whole and in small groups.
Cost: $375 - not including supplies
Dates and times: Saturdays from 1 to 3 pm, October 10th to December 12th
Ideal for: Students in Grades 8 to 12
Math Power-Up
This course is for kids who need a boost in math class. BrainBoost Director Matt Giammarino teaches fundamental skills that are the foundation for math, thinking skills needed to succeed on math tests, and improves homework skills by having kids work during the class and dynamically giving feedback to improve efficiency and effectiveness. There's also lots of time for digressions into the history of math, and uses of math in society. Students will leave the course with better fundamentals and homework skills, and an appreciation for why mathematics exists and is important.
Cost: $375
Dates and times: Wednesdays from 4 to 6 pm, October 14th to December 16th
Ideal for: Students in Grades 8 to 10
Club for Interesting Adventures (CIA)
Get ready for some seriously fun and intersting times. The CIA is an all-purpose awesomeness group, dedicated to exploring the world around us. We'll visit video game studios and science labs; art galleries and music performances, and experiment with technology and design as we alternate between field trips and at-the-HUB projects. It will culminate in a festival of fantasticness, where individual CIA members will share their top-secret creations and projects. This class is not to be missed!
Cost: $375
Dates and times: Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 pm, October 15th to December 17th
Ideal for: Students in Grades 2 to 7
What's Happening at the HUB This Month
The HUB is the place to be for anyone interested in the world of ideas and learning in general - we offer occasional guest lectures, Friday TED talks, and special activity nights - read on for the specific details of each event.
Friday Afternoons Friday is a great day to celebrate all the hard work you did. For us this means gathering in the media room for a TED Talk, where we will discuss news and interesting issues in detail. You might learn about the latest advances in technology, psychology, or education.
Upcoming Course Power-Ups
Starting in late June, 2010, we will be offering the following Course Power-Ups:
Math 10 - with Matt Giammarino
- Work with BrainBoost director Matt Giammarino to understand math in a deep and meaningful way.
- You'll get your Math 10 credit, but you'll also actually 'get' the math.
- Work in the relaxed atmosphere of The HUB and finish Math 10 in 4 weeks flat!
Math 11 - with Matt Giammarino
- Work with BrainBoost director Matt Giammarino to understand math in a deep and meaningful way.
- You'll get your Math 11 credit, but you'll also actually 'get' the math.
- Work in the relaxed atmosphere of The HUB and finish Math 11 in 4 weeks flat!
Planning 10 - with Jessy Giammarino
- Work with BrainBoost director Jessy Giammarino to get Planning done.
- You'll get your Planning 10 credit, but you'll also actually enjoy the course
- Work in the relaxed atmosphere of The HUB and finish the course quickly with the help of our new PIPE: Planning 10 online course development tool!