The Nakba: Live Online Course with Professor Rania Assily

Expert Instruction. Small Class. Deep Learning.

Some subjects deserve more than self-study. The Nakba is one of them. This live online course brings your student into direct conversation with Professor Rania Assily—a tenured educator with nearly 20 years of experience making complex history accessible and engaging.

The Live Learning Difference

Real-Time Discussion

History comes alive through dialogue. Each week, students join Professor Assily and a small group of peers to explore primary sources, debate interpretations, and ask the questions that matter. This isn’t a lecture—it’s a conversation.

Personalized Feedback

Writing assignments aren’t just graded—they’re engaged with. Professor Assily provides detailed feedback that helps students develop stronger analytical and writing skills. Your student learns to think and communicate like a historian.

Peer Community

With class size capped at 12 students, everyone has a voice. Your teen learns alongside motivated peers from other homeschools, microschools, and co-ops—building connections while building knowledge.

Expert Guidance

Questions that arise during self-study can be asked directly. Confusing concepts can be clarified. Connections between historical events and contemporary issues can be explored with someone who knows the material deeply.

Course Structure

8 Weekly Sessions

Every Friday at 11:30 AM Eastern Time via Zoom.

• 60 minutes of live instruction and discussion
• 8 consecutive weeks of progressive learning

Complete Online Course Access

Your enrollment includes full access to our self-paced online course:

• 16 lessons with professional audio narration
• Historical documents and primary sources
• Self-grading comprehension quizzes
• 100+ term glossary

Graded Writing Assignments

Each week includes a writing assignment reviewed by Professor Assily:

• Detailed feedback on argument and analysis
• Suggestions for improvement
• Development of college-level writing skills

What Students Experience Week by Week

Weeks 1-2: Foundations

Understanding Zionism, early Jewish immigration, and the historical context of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Weeks 3-4: The British Mandate

Analyzing colonial documents, the Balfour Declaration, and competing nationalisms in Palestine.

Weeks 5-6: Crisis and Catastrophe

The Holocaust’s influence on international politics, the events of 1948, and mass displacement.

Weeks 7-8: Voices and Legacy

Personal narratives from multiple perspectives, contemporary implications, and the ongoing significance of the Nakba.

Meet Your Instructor

Rania Assily has taught college history courses since 2006 across Northeast Ohio. She holds a Masters degree from Cleveland State University and is a tenured professor at Cuyahoga Community College.

Beyond the classroom, Professor Assily has:

• Brought the first documentary on Arab American history to Cleveland (now featured on PBS)
• Interviewed historical actors portraying Frederick Douglass, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln
• Served on the boards of Elyria Catholic High School and Lorain County Children Services

Her passion is reaching hearts and minds through historical narrative, in order to help students of all backgrounds discover why history matters and how it shapes our present.

Why Small Class Size Matters

With only 12 spots available, every student:

• Can ask questions and receive answers
• Participates in meaningful discussions
• Receives personalized feedback on writing
• Develops relationships with peers
• Gets attention from the instructor

This is small-group education led by an individual who is an expert in both the subject matter and in teaching.

Ideal for…

Students Ready for Rigorous Engagement. Teens who want to go deeper than surface-level history and develop real analytical skills.

Families Seeking Expert Instruction. Parents who recognize the value of learning directly from a subject-matter expert.

Future College Students. High schoolers preparing for college-level academic expectations in humanities courses.

Discussion-Oriented Learners. Students who thrive when they can talk through ideas with an instructor and peers.

What’s Included

• 8 live weekly sessions with Professor Assily (Fridays, 11:30 AM ET)
• Complete self-paced online course (16 lessons, audio, quizzes)
• Graded writing assignments with detailed feedback
• Session recordings for review
• Small class size (maximum 12 students)
• Direct access to an expert educator
• Certificate of completion

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this course will:

• Demonstrate deep knowledge of the Nakba and its historical context
• Engage confidently in academic discussions about contested history
• Write analytical essays using primary source evidence
• Evaluate multiple perspectives on complex events
• Apply historical thinking skills to contemporary issues
• Develop college-readiness skills in humanities

The kind of history education that transforms how students think.

Course Details

Price: $299
Schedule: 8 Live Sessions | Fridays 11:30 AM ET
Class Size: Maximum 12 Students