Orthodox Saints and Geography: British Isles | Fall

Have you ever wondered what life was like, or what the world was like, for our Celtic Saints? In this course, we will dive deep into the lives of these treasured Saints, and the geography, the stories and the culture that shaped their lives. Together, we’ll trace their journeys across the lands and waters they called home, and explore the stories they might have heard as they were children.

What did this region look like? How (and how far) did the Saints travel? Where did they build churches or monasteries? Each week, we will study one Saint and follow their journey on a map. Scattered throughout our studies, we will also delve into the fairy tales these Saints might have heard as bedtime stories long ago, shaping their early view of the world.

As a final project, students will be able to choose between creating a 3-D map of an area related to a Saint of their choosing, illustrating their earthly journeys, or creating a 3-D replica of a church or monastery built by their chosen Saint.

By the end of the course, students will have a deeper relationship with these precious Saints, and a foundational knowledge of the world that shaped them.

• Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
• Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
• Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
• Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
• Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.