This fall, the Institute for Educational Advancement鈥檚聽Academy program will be offering a wide variety of classes, including 鈥淢arvel Comics: The Hero’s Journey.鈥� For students ages 6 through 9, this class uses the popular Marvel Comics superheroes to exercise a child’s creative writing ability. To learn more, we spoke to instructor Cynthia Perez.

This seems like it would be an attractive class for kids. Other than learning a history of these characters, what kinds of lessons are you hoping to convey? How do you use their enthusiasm and turn it toward something academic?

Students are intrigued by superpowers and can talk endlessly about which character has or doesn’t have a certain capabilities. The focus of the class is taking that outstanding history that Marvel is known for and guide a student’s enthusiasm to create a comic of his/her own with their own unique character, by designing and drawing that character and teaching them how and write actual panels for a comic using their thoughtful creativity and plotting a story and series.

In your opinion, what鈥檚 the value in learning how to create a comic book story versus creating a short story?

For those who want to plot and plan a longer narrative that is inspired by Marvel, that becomes the basis for fiction fantasy and science fiction writing. One of the most consistent comments that students will share when reading their favorite superhero or fantasy story is that there aren’t enough illustrations. In fact, mainstream fiction and stories have started to publish novels without words. To strengthen students whose strength is writing and who are influenced by Marvel, this can begin a new phase of “chapter books” that are about superheroes and can tap another market of interest among readers.

What do you think genre fiction like science fiction, fantasy and superheroes offers to writing students that maybe 鈥渃lassical鈥� literature does not?

Science fiction, fantasy, and superheroes offer unknown characters who literally can do anything and can explore unknown worlds. “Classical” literature has known patterns and relationships between characters, which can be explored in different patterns and a particular time period, whereas in sci fi and fantasy and with superheroes time is past, present future, or wherever one wishes.

鈥淢arvel Comics: The Hero’s Journey鈥� is an online Academy class for ages 6 through 9, taught on Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. For more information about the class, as well as information about registering for Academy, .

classes are at once engaging and educational. While sitting in on three classes two weeks ago, I was surprised by the instructors鈥� hands-on, student-centered approach to learning. Academy students arrive at conclusions through discussion and inquiry; rather than feeding the class answers and formulas, Academy instructors give students room to explore and discuss concepts. Coming from a boarding high school that emphasizes a collaborative, inquiry-based approach to learning, I was impressed to see classes with younger students using the same pedagogy.

Due to the interdisciplinary and interactive nature of these classes, students are able to apply what they learned to real-word scenarios, from using chemistry to prepare food to making video games in Java and Python. During a Primary Geometry class, for example, students learned about shapes by creating their own mini-boats out of foil and straws and testing them in a tub of water. The instructor used the most buoyant boats as a segue into a discussion about 3-D geometry, helping students visualize the intersection of geometry and the outside world. If you missed out on Primary Geometry, check out our new offering, Math Magic: Numbers up your Sleeve, a class offered in .

In a Rocket to Calculus class, the instructor asked students to predict the path of a rocket using mathematical formulas before going outside to test their predictions with their own handmade rocket. Rather than plugging numbers into equations, the instructor helped students understand the origin and meaning of the formula. In both classes, the instructor made sure that each student had an equal opportunity to ask questions; due to the small class sizes and instructors鈥� approach to teaching, each student felt included and comfortable speaking up.

Although each Academy class has a structure and purpose, instructors are open to students鈥� suggestions and are there to engage their curiosity. On the last day of a Robotics class a few sessions ago, students were testing their robots when one came up with the brilliant idea of attaching pins to the front of the each robot and balloons to the back, then pitting the robots against each other. An eccentric way to test their robots, indeed, but the creative activity made for a memorable end to a Robotics class!

Classes are still open for Session II and III, so if you missed out on previous sessions, check out our offerings for this summer. In addition to our classic offerings of Video Game Design and Microbiology, we are excited to announce a handful of new classes, from Improv 101 to Creative Writing. Summer is only getting started, so we can鈥檛 wait to see you at Academy in the coming weeks!

Mark is an extern this summer at 优蜜视频. A Los Angeles resident, Mark will be a senior at Phillips Exeter Academy this fall.