ISD: Online

An Online Platform for the #ISDDifference

For more than a decade, ISD has provided students with an outstanding experience rooted in access to all of our championship instructors and a focus on individualized attention for every student, regardless of their experience level. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ISD launched an online experience to continue to support student growth. Today, we continue to offer an online option to students around the country and the world as a more flexible and affordable way to experience the #ISDDifference. With instruction designed by professional educators, ISD: Online will bring the experience that you have come to expect from the ISD right into your home!

Here is what doesn’t change when students choose ISD: Online for their summer experience:

• Students will still be organized into labs and given access to ALL of our championship faculty.
• Instruction will still occur in lectures, lab time, small group breakouts, individual one-on-one coaching sessions/office hours, and practice debates/performances.
• Students will still be able to collaborate with peers from around the country and build connections that last far beyond the end of camp.

ISD is the only camp in the country that guarantees an adult educator in every lab and that commitment continues online, a difference between our institute and others that matters even more in a digital environment. As such, our experienced instructors know that online instruction also requires some changes:

• Skill and Topic Lectures: Recorded lectures and more modular scheduling of follow-up discussion and drills that allows students to work at their own pace and acknowledges the challenges with excessive screen time and attention span.
• Lab Time: Synchronous (all students online at once) and asynchronous (each student online at their convienience) opportunities to learn in small group settings.
• Office Hours: In what has long been a differentiator for ISD, all students will continue to have opportunities to work individually with each and every instructor in their event.  ISD: Online offers opportunities for more one-on-one instruction than ever before!
• Practice Speeches and Rounds: Not only will all students still participate in abundant practices, but now instructors will have the chance to record critiques for review throughout the upcoming season.

Regardless of the event, we are all united by our commitment to the #ISDDifference and our focus on providing students with the best educational experience possible.