"How do I

sign up?"

To be considered for participation in the course, you will write to me at mrleon@herodotus-smith-academy.org and explain in no more than one page who you are, where you intend to go in life, and why you want to participate in the course. You must attach a copy of your school grades for the last 3 academic years (translated into English if necessary). Evaluation of your potential participation will go from there and will probably involve a video discussion during the summer. I have no idea how many bright scholars will find out and be truly interested, so I cannot tell you what your chances of getting in are. My aim is to amplify my reach beyond a single classroom in one school, but I’ll have to figure out the group capacity to make sure we can have truly fruitful seminar discussions.

"I am interested in Economics, where is that course information?"

I am going to start with History in September 2023, and if that gathers momentum, I will add Economics from September 2024. I also need the interim time to reinvent an Economics curriculum as I am not keen on existing lesson materials.

"Will this course be a “safe space” and will there be trigger warnings for upsetting content?"

Absolutely not. History does not provide safe spaces or content warnings. When the Mongols stormed up to your walls, they didn’t first advise you that you may want to avert your sensitive gaze. History is a bewildering collection of the most bizarre, monstrous, wonderful, touching, and unexpected events and experiences imaginable, and must be engaged in its full horror and glory.

"What time will classes take place?"

I will schedule lectures and discussion sessions to balance out the different time zones of course participants. Most likely, we will have two parallel schedules with the aim of providing evening and early morning class options for each major world region. 

"How do I join classes?"

We will convene electronically via Zoom.

"Oh no: will this be just as numbingly boring as all my remote classes during the Pandemic?"

Not if I have anything to say about it. I pack my lectures with deliberate shockers, participation points, and provocative questions. Then seminar discussions tend to be borderline “call the riot police” in their level of cacophonous and pugnacious energy. 

"Why not just share recorded lessons?"

I am a big believer in the value of gathering as a class and holding meaningful discussions. The course will feature lectures, but these are interactive sessions in which your comments are an important element. Then once a week we hold seminar discussions in which difficult or even impossible questions are kicked around the “room” and different interpretations are passionately debated. No video can replace this experience. 

"But what if I can’t make it to a scheduled session?"

On an exceptional basis, you will be allowed to miss class, watch a recording of the lecture, and submit a reflection that evidences active engagement with the content covered during the session.

"Wait, so is there an attendance requirement?"

You bet there is. Haven’t you heard the Woody Allen quote that 80% of success is just showing up? Taking a spot in my course means committing to show up. If you don’t show up, your spot will be freed for others’ participation. Building the rock-solid discipline of never missing class is one of the best things you can do to prepare for university.

"Will there be singing?"

Yes. My classroom students know that most of my lessons begin with a ridiculous sing-along somehow related to the topic of the day, a comedy skit, or the trailer for some outrageously historically inaccurate film.

"What history will be covered?"

The IBDP program structure gives an instructor very broad flexibility in periods, geographies, and topics covered. I expect my first 2-year program to center on a deep dive into the trajectories of China and Japan during the 19^th and 20^th centuries, with additional case studies on modern economic progress, authoritarian states, and international wars.     

"I am not an IBDP History student… or even an IBDP student. Is this for me?"

Absolutely! Getting a valuable growth experience from the course has nothing to do with just enhancing your IB marks. Regardless of your secondary school program, you should be able to benefit from this course. 

"What do I get at the end of the course?"

You should participate in the course for a combination of academic learning, curiosity, skills development, and engagement in stimulating and free-thinking discussions. My course will not appear in your school transcript. Should you complete the course in satisfactory standing, you will receive a diploma and certification letter. 

"What else

do I get?"

I write university recommendation letters for many of my pupils, and anyone who has received them knows that if I write your letter, it will be memorable and powerful, evidencing a genuine understanding of your character and strengths.

"Will there be exams?"

Yes, but only for purposes of academic skill development. Your diploma and certification letter will not contain any information about grades. However, if your performance in assessments does not evidence sufficient effort and engagement with the course, you will lose your spot. Our exams will probably be primarily individual oral examinations.

"Will there be homework?"

The aim of the course is to increase your learning and opportunities for open discussion, not to multiply your school work burden. Every week you will write one single page of reflection and analysis on the topics covered. Optional assignments will build skills in structuring arguments, writing essays, and evaluating sources. While I will encourage you to read, providing endless chapter and document recommendations, you will have all the basic factual knowledge you need from being attentive during lectures. 

"Do I sit the IB History exams at the end of the course?"

Not through me - only if you are enrolled in an IBDP school. I provide you with instruction and I follow the IBDP syllabus because it is a robust structure, but in order to sit IB exams and obtain the IB diploma, you have to be enrolled in a IBDP school. 

"Is it a problem if my English is not very good?"

Not a problem at all – within reason. It is ok if you have some challenges following lectures, for I will provide you with written notes. It is also just fine if you need to look words up in dictionaries. But you do need to be able to read English, and to be ready to make substantial efforts to build your language skills. My job is to make you grow academically and intellectually whether you are a native English speaker or a second language learner.

"I am terrified of public speaking. Should I still participate in a course with seminar discussions?"

Yes. There are two ways we tackle this tiny problem: (1) if really necessary, you will be allowed to write your contributions into the comments box during our seminars and I will read them out into our discussion; (2) over many weeks of class meetings, I have always found ways to tickle even the quietest course members into talking. 

"Am I going to be pushed to subscribe to some ideas?"

Only respect for freedom of thought and expression, and the rigorous subjection of all hypotheses to analysis based on facts and logic. I am not here to brainwash you into one view of the world but to encourage and challenge you in building your own. 

"Is it possible to participate anonymously in discussions?"

If you are concerned about speaking openly about different experiences or interpretations of historical events because of the political or social environment of your location, we can make arrangements for your anonymous participation in the course, with your face, name and even voice remaining private during class meetings.

"What if I am not two years away from university?

The IBDP is an academic program intended to be conducted during the two academic years preceding entry to university. However, my sole aim is to provide an enriching academic opportunity, so I am perfectly fine if you want to join one of my classes when you are already in your final year of secondary education. I would probably not allow joining the course any earlier than two years before university, as we go into challenging university-level work.

"Why is your project called Herodotus-Smith?"

It’s all tongue-in-cheek reflecting my old-fashioned inclinations but also dead serious: Herodotus is the father of the discipline of history. (Adam) Smith is the father of the science of economics. When some years ago I organized an association for my former students, I named it The Herodotus-Smith Society. I am just sticking with the name in my education projects. 

"Do you teach AP, GCSE or A-levels?"

Not yet, but I do love cracking exam-based curricula and inventing ways to teach them, and the AP is on my project list. 

"Why on earth are you doing this?"

Because I love empowering young scholars who will go on to their unique amazing paths in life. I derive great enjoyment and fulfillment from tackling this challenge in innovative ways.