For students staying at St Peter’s College, the eagerly anticipated Insight Masterclasses took place yesterday. The masterclasses are led by industry experts and encourage students to learn topics or gain experiences they wouldn’t normally get in the classroom. Each student had the opportunity to select the Masterclass they felt most compelled to learn about, ensuring every student attended a workshop of great interest to them.
One group of students joined the Crime Scene Investigation programme, with the ultimate aim of solving a murder inquiry. Students had to get inside the mind of murderers, piecing together dozens of minute details to unravel a larger picture. Students got into a heated discussion when deliberating the identity of the murderer, before determining the evidence was conclusive enough to identify one murderer. Students also examined the case files of various famous cases, including Oscar Pistorius’ trial, casting their own opinions on the outcome.
Zoolab saw the entrance of all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures into St Peter’s, including a skunk, meerkats and a tarantula. The students (some more reluctant than others) had the opportunity to touch each animal, a very unique experience to be so close to such obscure creatures.
The Stock Market Challenge was a hectic affair, to say the least. Students adopted the roles of Wall Street stock brokers on the trading floor, attentively watching the trade updates displayed by the simulation on screens. The experience was undoubtedly more frantic and exhilarating than most students initially imagined, but much was gained learning about the fast paced working environment many thrive in.
The final option was a theatre and performance workshop. Students participated in various movement exercises, interacting with their peers and teachers as they learnt about spacial awareness and the power of improvisation. The class aimed to improve each student’s overall stage presence. Empowering comments from teachers encouraged students to relax and feel comfortable performing to an audience.