Program Director: Allyson Palmer

Contact : (617) 395 - 7527

Email : info@ctwboston.com

About Children's Technology Workshop

Children's Technology Workshop empowers children in pre-K through grade 8 to be creative using today's tools while preparing them to be comfortable with 21st century concepts in communication, design, and self-expression. We offer applied-technology classroom workshops, summer camps, after-school workshops and special events that are uniquely enriching, creative, and empowering. We have been building our curriculum since 1997 and are constantly embracing new technologies to enable all children to explore, invent, and create. Visit our website at www.ctworkshop.com

About the Instructors

Tara's interest in teaching grew from years helping her mother in a special education classroom and learning to teach students with different educational needs. She applied these skills throughout her college career working as a writing and study skills tutor. Tara joined CTWorkshop May 2008 and was so inspired that she made CTW the subject of her dissertation as she was pursuing a graduate degree in Critical and Creative Thinking. Tara teaches after-school programs and is an instructor at CTWorkshop's icamp program. She is trained in CPR and First Aid.

Ed is an electrical engineer with training in media production and a Master's degree in Music Technology. He works in sound engineering and also teaches video game design and programming at Suffolk University. Ed has been with CTWorkshop since October 2008. He teaches after-school programs and is an instructor at CTWorkshop's icamp program. He is trained in CPR and First Aid.

 

Bonnie has been teaching cademic workshops, birthday parties and after-school classes, and helping out in icamp since October 2006. Prior to discovering CTWorkshop, she was teaching elementary school and coaching figure skating. Her classes at CTWorkshop always earn top ratings, and she is loved by children, parents, and colleagues alike..

Program Descriptions

Grades 3-8

It's obvious that the more a child is interested in a given topic, the higher his or her initiative to learn. Many of today's children are fluent with the use of computers, video games, and cell phones. But to really grow and learn from these new tools, it's important that students also understand the fundamentals underlying the technology. The learning happens behind the scenes when students discover that they actually need to understand friction to build a LEGO construction and algebra to make their cool game or movie.

This program is geared toward students in the third through eight grades and will cover the topics of Robotics, Animation, Architecture and Video Game Design. New and returning students are welcome to this program. A strict non-violence policy is enforced.

We begin our year with Video Game Design, where students are introduced to the fundamentals using an icon-based object-oriented programming language. Our expert instructors and detailed step-by-step software guide take students through the creation of their first fully functional 2-dimensional game while they learn concepts of math, geometry, design, and logic. Students will progress with the concepts at their own pace and will eventually build on basic skills with more complex programming by working with coordinates, variables, formulas, ratios, and other mathematical concepts. When they are done, they can play their games at home and challenge their friends (MS Windows-only).

As the cold weather rolls in we will shift our focus towards Robotics. Students work in pairs to construct a different project each week using LEGO* MINDSTORMS™ components. After building, students motorize their projects and program them on a computer using one of several LEGO programming languages available. Sessions will cover proper use of motors, sensors, wiring, and pneumatics, as well as creation of steering mechanisms, gearboxes, vehicles, lifts, and other designs. Instructors introduce design challenges, discuss real-life robots, and teach participants about proper design and application of structural elements. Students receive a photo slide show of all the class projects to share with family and friends.

*Note: LEGO models will not be taken home.

Starting in February we will move onto Architecture, where students create their own architectural design while considering concepts of function, aesthetics, environment, and materials, to name a few. Our instructor guides students through the planning, sketching and design stages, while also teaching students about perspective, coordinates, measurement, scale and ratios, and functional design decisions. Students use computer technology to create a 3D rendering of their building, making decisions along the way about everything from color schemes to interior decorations. After completing their building, students make a photo slide show of their masterpiece to take home and share.

We finish the year with Animation. Students start by learning the basics of stop motion animation, digital cell animation and digital video production. We will explore hands on complex concepts such as perspective and scale, camera angles and movement, and digital effects as well as the sound and editing process. Students put it all together to film and edit their own original movie that they can play at home or post online.