Courses
Intermediate Course (12 yrs and up), $195, 14 week course – No Prerequisite
It has been said beauty is the greatest doorway to truth; it's time to fling the doors wide open. Bring your curiosity and sense of wonder, and prepare to revel in a festival of some of greatest masterworks of art ever created. Trace the story of art and the men and women who chiseled, daubed, moulded, and breathed life into it through the ages. Train your eye for art and your reason at the same time. Guided by weekly readings, students will examine featured paintings each week, and explore the great ideas hidden in them by means of Socratic discussion. This course will broadly cover the past millennium of art, studying the various eras, styles, methods and history of the great artists. Can a picture really speak a thousand words - can a few brush strokes really have so much to say about truth? Come and find out for yourself.
Interested students should view the sample lesson below to determine if the course readings will be a good fit.
Intermediate Course (13 yrs and up), $195, 14 week course – No Prerequisite
This course is a delightful introduction to the poetry of the English language with a focus on learning to understand and take pleasure in verse. While gaining the skills and nuance of reading poetry, students will concentrate on a different theme each week and study how various poets explore and challenge that theme through their poems. This is primarily a reading course, but students do have the voluntary opportunity to write and share their own verse in imitation of the week’s poems.
Senior Course (14 yrs and up), $195, 14 week course – No Prerequisite
A girl secretly helps an enemy soldier to escape from the soldiers of her own country – and finds herself bound to a dangerous game of secrecy. A Russian village is convinced that a spy is among them – unaware that he is only a bored young man with a tremendous imagination who loves to see what he can get with. A king and a humble gondolier were mixed up at birth – now that they are of age, not even they know which should inherit the crown! Lights dim, the curtain rises, and the audience is swept away by side-aching laughter, fantastic thrills, and deeper questions that stay with us. Students read through the scripts of these timeless plays, and get a chance both to discuss them Socratically and to perform scenes from them in class, readers’ theatre style. From Shaw to Shakespeare to Sophocles, come unleash your flair for the dramatic, and dive into some of the world’s greatest works of theatre.
Intermediate Course (12 yrs and up), $195, 14 week course – No Prerequisite
It has been said by many that "Music is the universal language of mankind"; music tells a story through the use of sound to convey emotion and depict imagery throughout the ages. In this course, students will listen to the works of the masters, spanning the centuries, and discover the light that music sheds in the understanding of truth. They will engage in listening activities, readings, and class discussion to experience the historical processes by which musical styles grow, develop, mature, and decline. This process will help them to make connections between historical eras, art and music to understand the role music plays in the bigger picture of the elements that have shaped our cultures and societies.
This course covers the music periods of medieval music (1150-1400) through to the late Romantic era (1860-1920).
Intermediate Course (12 yrs and up), $195, 14 week course – No Prerequisite
Robert Schumann, pianist and composter, said, "To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist." In this course, students will listen to the works of the masters, spanning the centuries, and discover the light that music sheds in the understanding of truth. Through the use of audio and visual activities and exercises, as well as reading, the students will experience the historical processes by which musical styles grow, develop, mature, and decline.
This course covers the music periods of Romantic (1860-1920) through to the modern era.
Senior Course (14 yrs and up), $195, 14 week course – Prerequisite: One Intermediate Level Course
(Extra Evaluation Version available - see below)
Shakespeare – the man who captured all it is to be human! You’ve got a front-row ticket to the theatre, and the curtain is about to rise on some of the most gloriously gripping stories ever to drip from the Bard’s quill. Split your sides laughing at the endless duel of wits between Beatrice and Benedick. Quiver with suspense as the Duke of Gloucester, twisted in body and soul, weaves an intricate web of murders with the crown of England at the centre. Soar on the wings of the wind with the castaway wizard Prospero, as he magically conjures a storm to trap his enemies – but is it to obtain revenge or forgiveness? Best of all, interrogate these stories on a deeper level through Socratic discussion, tangling with the intricate truths and ethics at the heart of these incredible plays. With seven plays in all, this course spans all three Shakespearean genres – comedy, tragedy, and history – and dedicates two weeks to each play. Students are introduced to Shakespeare’s writing in an inviting way designed to build confidence, enjoyment, and fluency. Shakespeare meant for his plays to delight both the mind and heart, so “come away, come away,” and feast them both.
Intermediate Course (13 yrs and up), $285 per term, 28 week course/class twice weekly – No Prerequisite
Private 30 minute tutorials are available upon request. (Cost: $25/tutorial)
Contact Nicole Noster for more information or to book a tutorial: nicole@wisdomhomeschooling.com
Latin 1 is a full year course running from Fall to Spring (two 14-week terms). Students are automatically enrolled for the entire year when registering in the Fall.
Students in Latin 1 will study from a book entitled Lingua Latina: Familia Romana by Hans Orberg. This work immerses the student in the language, and grammar and syntax will be learned from within the context of reading lengthy Latin prose. It is a particularly exciting and novel way to approach learning Latin. In Lingua Latina, the student will first attempt to understand what is said, then investigate the rules which are the foundation of the language.
Intermediate Course (13 yrs and up), $285 per term, 28 week course/class twice weekly – Prerequisite: Latin 1 or equivalent
(Students may be required to pass a Latin 2 placement exam.)
Private 30 minute tutorials are available upon request. (Cost: $25/tutorial)
Contact Nicole Noster for more information or to book a tutorial: nicole@wisdomhomeschooling.com
Latin 2 is a full year course running from Fall to Spring (two 14-week terms). Students are automatically enrolled for the entire year when registering in the Fall.
Students in Latin 2 will use the same book as those in Latin 1: Lingua Latina: Familia Romana by Hans Orberg. Having studied Latin for at least one year, students will continue to see the concepts they have learned unfolding in the lengthy prose of Lingua Latina. This course year can sometimes be the most challenging as students move past the opening concepts of the Latin language and begin to grapple with more intricate elements.
Latin 2 covers approximately Chapters 11 - 18 of Lingua Latina. Focus includes:
Senior Course (14 yrs and up), $285 per term, 28 week course/class twice weekly – Prerequisite: Latin 2 or equivalent
Private 30 minute tutorials are available upon request. (Cost: $25/tutorial)
Contact Nicole Noster for more information or to book a tutorial: nicole@wisdomhomeschooling.com
Latin 3 is a full year course running from Fall to Spring (two 14-week terms). Students are automatically enrolled for the entire year when registering in the Fall.
Students in Latin 3 will use the same book as those in Latin 1 and Latin 2, Lingua Latina: Familia Romana by Hans Orberg. Having already studied Latin for at least two years, Latin 3 students will continue to develop the concepts he/she has been studying and will move toward learning the subjunctive case.
Latin 3 covers approximately Chapter 19 - 27+.
Intermediate Course (13 yrs and up), $195, 14 week course – No Prerequisite
Why did God give man a reasonable mind, the ancients asked, if not for the purpose of discovering the source of truth? Students will use discussion to stretch themselves in the art of clear thinking, grow in their ability to pursue the truth rationally, articulately, and persuasively, and recognize faulty thinking when they see it. In a world where communication grows ever more easy, this course will challenge students to know how to communicate well, discuss appropriately, and not shy from alternate opinions, but rather welcome them because they facilitate meaningful connections and open dialogue.
Intermediate Course (13 yrs and up), $285 per term, 28 week course/class twice weekly – No Prerequisite
Euclid's Elements has proved itself to be the most enduring work on basic geometry and for good reason. Euclid begins with the most basic principles of geometry, such as the definitions of points and straight lines or the axiom that things equal to the same thing are equal to each other. From these modest beginnings, he deduces step by step many amazing truths about shapes and quantity. This course covers the first six books of Euclid, which are on plane geometry. These first six books were the parts of Euclid's Elements studied by most university students from the Middle Ages until fairly recently. Students will learn the proofs in these books, present them to the class, and then discuss them. Students will be expected to learn about 3 proofs in preparation for class. For most students, this preparation will take about an hour per class.
Students will present their proofs to the class by video and audio, so they will need a working webcam.
Senior Course (14 yrs and up), $285, 14 week course/class twice weekly - Prerequisite: Foundational Great Books
In this course, students will become acquainted with the basic phenomena of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. Students will see how Ptolemy (2nd cent. A.D.) took naked eye observations and came up with an earth-centered model that explained the motions of the heavenly bodies and allowed predictions of their future locations. After immersing themselves in this geocentric system, students will see why Copernicus's heliocentric model of the cosmos came to replace Ptolemy's, and how the heliocentric system was bolstered by the observations and theories of Kepler, Galileo, and Newton. This investigation of cosmic models will allow students to see the interplay of observation and mathematical theory that is found in many of the scientific disciplines.
Students will make observations of the sun, moon, planets, and stars, especially in the first portion of the semester. The main readings consist of excerpts from Ptolemy's Almagest, Copernicus's On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, Galileo's Starry Messenger, and Newton's Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Many of the readings are technical and will be accompanied by reading notes. In preparation for each class, students should expect to spend up to 60-90 minutes on reading and other assignments.
Below, find detailed information about WISDOM's Socratic Dialogue Online Program. You may scroll through and click on 'Read more' for the whole article. See the sidebar to quickly and easily access a specific section.
Find details on — and register for — specific upcoming spring courses here.
University of Alberta, Augustana Campus
Augustana is a campus of the University of Alberta, located in Camrose, Alberta, Canada.
WISDOM Home Schooling is pleased to be partnering with Augustana Campus in a pilot project that invites WISDOM students to apply to Augustana with extremely homeschool friendly requirements.
For the first time, home education students will have a pathway to the University of Alberta that compliments the use of traditional homeschool resources, which are not Alberta curriculum specific.
Pursue Truth, Goodness, and Beauty through the WISDOM Socratic Dialogue Online Extra Evaluation courses, and enjoy a simple pathway to the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus.
Through the use of virtual classrooms, WISDOM offers a selection of courses supporting home schoolers. Each classroom environment features a tutor experienced in leading Socratic discussion. Communication within the classroom is achieved through microphone, text chat, and whiteboard. (Webcam is not typically used, as experience has shown it to be a distraction.)
The online program is primarily available for students who are enrolled with the Gilbertine Institute. Out-of-Province students, Albertan notification-only students, and WISDOM alumni also are welcome to join the program.* Non-Gilbertine in-Province students are not eligible to register for online classes. If a family leaves the Gilbertine Institute mid-year, they are also by default removing themselves from any online class(es).
WISDOM acknowledges and views parents as the primary educators of their children. The online program is not meant to replace education in the home, but rather acts as an extension of the home, giving support to parent through the high school years (and earlier). Tutors work in cooperation with parents, providing a service that recognizes the authority of mother and father. This entails some flexibility on the part of the tutor.
For current courses, please click here.
Read on more helpful information.
Students and parents are solicited for feedback at the end of each term. This feedback asks the student to evaluate what they liked best and what they would like to see changed. Parents are also given opportunity for comments. This feedback, remitted anonymously, is shared with tutors so they can self-evaluate and make needed changes or not.
It is important that the online classes provide a learning environment where tutor and students are respected and time is well spent. Uniformity in all the classes as it pertains to expectations is crucial. By abiding by the Etiquette Guidelines, students can expect the same standard from class to class.
The WISDOM Socratic Dialogue Online Program was first started in order to help families fully engage in a classical approach to learning. It is natural for youth, ages 13 and up, to be attracted to learning with others in an interactive environment in order to challenge, develop, and refine their own thinking.
Especially with the approach of the high school years and the time for entering work or post-secondary studies becomes more imminent, students want to assure they are amply prepared. A classical education provides the time-proven foundation that supports all future study and work.
The WISDOM Socratic Online Program offers a classical education. A classical education can refer to using the classics (i.e. the Great Books) in studies but, more importantly, it refers to the time-honored approach to education. The classical approach emphasizes memorization during the ages of 6 to 12 and then the development of the skills of logic and expression thereafter. Developing logic requires discussion (socratic dialogue), which is the method used in all the WISDOM online classes.
The Great Books or original classics are extremely valuable in education. Since they have been so influential throughout history, in the development of our ideas and culture, we do well to read them in order to have a strong grasp of our roots; they reveal to us where we have come from and where we are going as a society. Further, the Great Books are among the best examples of beautiful literature, clear and orderly thought, and persuasive language. But most importantly, the classics are classics. That is, they are not simply a passing fad, but have stood the test of time. Every generation has found them to be worth reading, which proves that they contain important insights and truths - truths that are just as important today as they were in the past. This really is the greatest benefit to be gained from the great books - not just an understanding of history or a mastery of language and literature, but a love for truth and beauty.