the pod

a small group of students who learn together (like peas in a pod), either for academic convenience or due to special circumstances (such pandemic, specialized programs, or homeschooling) From Merriam-Webster blog: The origin of pod, referring to a group of marine mammals, isn't known, but in the 20th century it was adopted to refer to small groups of students as well. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this usage has seen an uptick, as educators consider new models for educating students remotely or in small groups referred to as "pods."