. 

The Fab Lab pre-college Maker Learning programs for youth in middle and high school are presented in partnership with UCSD Extension College Exploration.

These classes are based on the ‘Maker’ philosophy that the Fab Lab San Diego program has developed in response to the need to inspire students while engaging them in learning next generation technology.  The Fab Lab curriculum includes  hands-on, experience-driven activities that are standards based, as well as fun and relevant.

UCSD College Preparation provides an opportunity for students to explore an academic interest in-depth, investigate a subject they are curious about, as well as gain excellent preparation for the increasingly competitive college admission process. Each offering is designed to engage students in an intensive exploration of a specific topic through lectures, discussions, and individual and group work.  All courses listed below are WASC accredited through UCSD Extension.

Introduction to Creative Computing

Learn about the basics of coding by exploring the Processing Development Environment. This project-based class will focus on the development of fundamental programming skills, creation of applets that feature interactivity, allowing students to create responsive virtual environments. Students will also learn about interface and interactivity through the creation and use of infrared pens and IR-detecting cameras. Additionally, ways in which we commonly interact with the virtual environment will be explored through the dissection of a Wiimote™ and identification of its electronic features. Students will produce at least one final applet that they will be able to manipulate via the infrared controller that they have created. This class is beginner-friendly and hands-on.

See more about this class here

Product Design: Make Your Own Illuminated Object

In Product Design: Make Your Own Illuminated Object, students engage in a hands-on process in order to learn how to design shapes in 2D in order to translate their designs into visually stunning 3-dimensional objects. In addition to this, students will also learn basics related to electricity and electronics by assembling their own portable LED lamp. This lamp will then be enclosed within the unique object that the students have designed and produced, resulting in an amazing, professional-looking illuminated object that students can take home. Through this process, participants will learn to use industry-standard vector-editing software such as Adobe Illustrator to create products that will then be cut using a plotter. Students will learn about design, geometry, production, CNC machines, electricity, and unique approaches to product design and creation while engaging in an innovative project-based process as they make their own contemporary illuminated objects.

See more about this class here

Data Visualization

Data visualization is a cutting edge field, and we can find it all around us – from news and magazines to scientific reports and crowd-sourced trends, info-graphics are used to tell us about the world in compelling and easy-to-understand ways. In this class, we will take a data set found in social media feeds and turn it into an info-graphic that conveys the information in an interesting and even interactive manner. If you are interested in learning to code in a creative way, or making dynamic graphics that tell stories, then you’ve found the right class! This field brings together creativity and analysis, relating to a wide variety of fields: computer science, journalism, design, statistics, graphic arts, network analysis, mapping, geo-locative design, scientific visualization and program writing.

Introduction to Clean Energy

This is a fun way to learn about energy, physics, chemistry, and electrical engineering principles to solve one of the world’s most important issues: conversion to renewable clean energy. This class is for middle and high school students interested in learning about the exciting world of renewable energy, and the technologies that make up the standard alternative energy, as well as new break-through technologies and those on the horizon. This will include a brief history and look towards the future of a state-of-art general composition of the main renewable energy technology contenders, and how these technologies function. Also, topics will include an overview of cutting edge technologies in the more mature industries like Solar and Wind, but also the latest emerging alternative energy industries like algae biofuels, and latest hydrogen fuel cell technology. During this class, we will have several of these technologies to show and demonstrate, and ultimately give context and reality to these renewable technologies. This will include in-class demonstrations of small scale hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen production using electrolysis, as well as a wind turbine, a solar cell, and even some algal biofuel. There will be some hands on operation for the students, so that they can tangibly see the renewable energy solutions in action!

Solar Electronics

‘Solar Electronics’ will introduce students to the concepts and ideas behind solar energy and how we can harness it. We will learn about the basics of electricity, electronics, and solar panel systems through discussion, presentation, and hands-on exercises in which students will apply their knowledge. We will learn about the Photovoltaic (PV) effect and how sunlight is converted into electricity, using animations and group work to visualize this complex and abstract phenomenon to make it more easily understood. We will then build on this by covering the solar cell, array and module system. We will learn how to optimize solar arrays and how to calculate their power output. Our first project will be to build solar ovens (in which we will cook a snack) in order to understand solar thermal energy applications, consider the angle and concentration of light, and the resulting heat effects. Students will then make solar-powered lamps that they design, build and keep, and test the output over time to improve efficiency. Finally, students will work with a standard solar panel array to successfully power lights and small electronic devices in order to better understand and apply their new knowledge

Design and Build Your Own Clean Energy Drag Race Vehicle!

Build and race your own 1:20 scale model car! Learn about the past, present and future forms of fuel technology. This course is designed for middle and high school students interested in learning how to make their own small scale hydrogen car. Learn about green energy advancements, hydrogen as an “energy carrier” and its use in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. During car construction, students will utilize Computer Aided Design (CAD) for modeling the custom chassis, as well as using basic physics, chemistry, math, and mechanical engineering principles to make improvements on the vehicle. They will not only create a hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle that works, but will be the student’s to keep! Will your design be the fastest at the race competition at the end?

Circuit Design

Circuit Design’ is an introductory class that will teach you how to design and build your own circuit boards. Students will learn basic electronic circuit design principles hands-on. We will use an open-source software program, Fritzing, to create the PCB design, and we will then mill the PCB boards on FabLab’s very own milling machine, in a safe and environmentally-friendly process. Students will start with a simple project: a simple LED (light-emitting diode) blink circuit, that has a switch to turn the LED on and off. This project will use standard through-hole electronic components. The final project will be for a 7-segment display controller, an electronic display device for displaying numbers that is widely used in digital clocks and electronic meters. This last project will use smaller surface-mounted components. Students will learn about basic electronic concepts (voltage, current, resistance) and will learn to create circuits with breadboards for prototyping and then replicate the circuit for the final PCB layout.

Robotics: Make Your Own Vehicle

In this class, participants will learn how to make how to make their own remote controlled vehicle.

Students will learn how to modify RC cars to control them with a microcontroller and add personalized features, including wireless communications, autonomous locomotion, various sensor readings and displaying. Topics include design considerations, building of chassis, programming, testing, debugging and final documented presentations. Over the sessions of the course, you will learn about the theories and concepts of electricity and electronics, as well as the fundamentals of robotics. At the end of the course, you will have created your own mechanical, electrical, and kinetic vehicle (and learned about designing, engineering and electronics).

Create Wearable Electronics

‘Create Wearable Electronics’ is a project-based course focused on the use of electronics on textile surfaces. In addition to being a good introduction to electronics, this class is hands-on: students will create their own wearable projects, using the Arduino microcontroller. By the end of this course, students will have an intermediate level understanding of electronic and programming concepts, including, but not limited to: switches, sensors, networks, embedded systems and the “Arduino” microcontroller. This course is designed for students with some or no electronics/programming experience. While the course is fast-paced, it is a fun and hands-on application of learning, and students will be given thorough context and reference materials as well as personal assistance in class.

See more about this class here

Do It Yourself Robotics: Create Your Own Robot

Do you think it is possible to make a robot from your own vacuum cleaner? This workshop will show you how!

DIY Robotics is a course for students to learn how to design, build, and modify electronic circuits starting from the ground up. Topics include learning about the basics, transistors, and op-amps. We will begin with looking into the inside of obsolete electronics by opening them up and identifying their parts. Students will then reverse engineer the existing circuits to make their own modified version of the project. Over the sessions of the course, students will learn about the theories and concepts of electricity and electronics, as well as the fundamentals of microprocessors. At the end of the course, students will have created your own mechanical, electrical, and kinetic sculpture, widget or invention and learned about designing, engineering and electronics in the process!

See more about this class here

Arduino: Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems

Arduino: Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems is beginner’s overview of the use of electronics. Over the sessions of the course, students will learn about the theories and concepts of electricity and electronics, as well as the fundamentals of microprocessors, and their place in history and society. At the end of the course students will have produced controllers and receptors based on the Arduino™ microprocessor, in order to accomplish various tasks. This course is highly recommended as a complement to the Wearable Electronics and Creative Computing courses.

Mobile Applications – Android

This course will introduce students to the Android mobile application development technology. We will explore Google’s Android SDK, with an introduction to the Java programming language used in developing these mobile applications. We will be using the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment (IDE). At the end of the course, students will have developed their own mobile apps paying special attention to User Interface Design practices. They will also have the opportunity to upload their applications to the Android Market for others to download and use their apps. This class is a great way to learn a new programming language too (no programming experience required).

Game Development in Flash

Have you ever wondered what is a Graphical User Interface (GUI)? This workshop will introduce students to GUIs and present industry design standards while teaching students how to use ActionScript to program their own animations! At the end of this course, students will be able to create and animate their own GUIs and will understand action scripting in a way that will allow them to create a diverse range of animations and web applications, preparing them for future pathways in game design and interactive media.

Introduction to C++: Language Basics

This class will introduce programming concepts to students, with no previous programming experience required, and will focus on learning to read and write programs in C++. The class will focus on in-class programming and participation. The class will move quickly and students are required to have access to a computer at home. We will cover IDEs, programming basics, compilation, execution, flow control, functions, arrays, pointers, file I/O, structures and classes.

See more about this class here

Introduction to Java Programming: Java Language Basics

This week long workshop introduces the structure, syntax, and programming paradigm of the Java™ language and platform. Students will learn the Java syntax you are most likely to encounter in the professional and research world and Java programming idioms you can use to build robust, maintainable Java applications. Students will be guided through the essentials of object-oriented programming on the Java platform, including fundamental Java syntax and its use. You’ll get started with creating Java objects and adding behavior to them, and conclude with an introduction to the Java Collections Framework, with considerable ground covered in between. This course will start with the very basics and assumes that students do not have any previous Java programming experience and does not require any other programming experience. This course will cover the fundamentals of the operative parts of Java and will introduce the basic programming concepts of Java programming.

See more about this class here

Introduction to Web Development – HTML5

Introduction to web development technologies, through HTML5 (the latest major revision to HTML) and CSS are changing our understanding of the web. Students will learn how to build quality web pages using the latest technologies, and will come to understand how new technologies are affecting content on the web. This course is designed to give students a fundamental understanding of web design and development, enabling students to become proficient in the basic skills required to create their own website, and is taught using classroom and lab instruction employing lecture and demonstration, in-class exercises, student participation, and class activities leading to a final project. Classes will include introductory concept presentations, followed by in-class exercises.

Hello:

If you are here to participate, start by doing the following:

1) login to http://staging-inhaiti.dotcloud.com/

2) Go to your email to get your confirmation and dummy items list

3) with your new username/password go to Inventory: http://staging-inhaiti.dotcloud.com/users/inventory/ 

3) Click ‘Create post’ is in the right corner. That is where you can post the dummy items listed in your email

4) Login to http://www.hipchat.com/grVYQaoR4 to be in the chatroom and tell us your feedback

Please join us Thursday May 3, 2012 to beta test a new system for humanitarian assistance/disaster relief in Haiti.

This project is addressing a core need in the deployment of aid to countries post-disaster: how to connect supplies with the first responders on the ground that need them.  Operating similarly to a ‘Craigs List’ for medical professionals and aid workers, this system catalogues supplies and updates users when items they need become available.  The matching of available supplies with people who need them takes place through an anonymous system that allows the users to be recognized within the system, but have masked public identities until they decide to make the connection.

We need a group of users to test the system and help us find issues and strengths before we deploy this to users abroad.  Please come down and meet the amazing group of students that are behind this project, hang out, send a text, and help Haiti.  Thank you!

Map and Directions to UCSD:  http://www.cs.ucsd.edu/node/11

If you would like to participate, but cannot make it to campus, please sign up anyways – we will do our best to include you in the exercise.  

Please register to participate here:

Enjoy a showcase of designs, projects and products fabricated in FAB LAB San Diego.

Recently with the help of our friends at MakerPlace we completed a laser engraved work for talented Argentinean designer OP.

Her award winning ALL YOU NEED design was laser etched on an skateboard deck with beautiful results as you can appreciate in the macro photography where details are outstandingly shown.

[Show as slideshow]

For Spring 2012, we are pleased to announce that we will be extending our course offerings, including Adult programs. We will have more brand new class offerings, more total classes over the course of the season, and some very nice new venues.

Many adult courses have the option of being accredited through UCSD Extension.
We are now able to offer certificate programs for post-high school Adults, all available through a unique Fab Lab + UCSD Extension partnership program.
These classes at Makerplace are for ages 18+.  If you are looking for classes for youth, our summer courses are listed online at k12.ucsd.edu

Check out the amazing new MakerPlace – a 14,000 square foot DIY fabrication facility. These classes will be held at the space: 1022 West Morena Blvd, Suite H, San Diego, CA 92110

Custom Circuitry: Turn Your Schematic into a Machine-ready File

If you have a schematic for a board that you’d like to create, we’ll help you get it into EagleCad or Fritzing and get it ready for machining. If you don’t have a custom schematic, and just want to learn the software, we’ll give you a template schematic to work from. We will show you how to use the software and get your file ready to be loaded into the K2 milling machine. Through this process, you will be introduced to tools required to create a custom-made PCB board so that you can continue to work on projects beyond this class.

Level: Beginner
Open to members AND NON MEMBERS
*This class counts as a basic safety and usage class
Please Note: We are rescheduling this class to a later date, please email info[at]FabLabSD[dot]org with questions.
$75 + $25.00 materials fee – includes PCB and your own specialized bit

Pay for the Class and Materials by clicking below:

Learn Arduino

This 4-part workshop is geared toward beginners as well as more accomplished Arduino users. Beginners should start at Workshop 1, where we will get you up to speed on the fundamentals of electricity and electronics, so that you understand the components you’ll be working with, and can feel confident discussing and building your project. By Workshop 2, we’ll move into an overview of the use of microprocessors, and work with the Arduino to program an LED blink sequence. Workshops 3 and 4 will further advance into the intermediate levels of programming and electronics. By workshop 5, you’ll be integrating Processing with Arduino, adding interactivity to create interactive environments through visual or physical sensing and controls.

Over the sessions of the course, you will learn all about physical electronics, the inputs and outputs of the Arduino board, going over theories and concepts of electricity and electronics. You will also learn how to code your very own programs using the freely available and open-source software: Arduino, which is similar to C++ and Processing’s IDE. At the end of the course, you will have produced controllers and receptors based on the Arduino microprocessor, in order to accomplish various tasks.

If you are interested in receiving a certificate of completion for this class, attendees who complete 4 of the 5 workshops are eligible for a UCSD Extension accreditation option. This is an additional cost of $165 upon completion, for the 3 unit UCSD Extension certificate. Please let us know if you are interested in this option up front.

Level: Beginning-Intermediate. Beginners should start at class 1 and progress.
Open to Members and Non-Members
Find out more about the Arduino microprocessor here: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Hardware

About the kits for these workshops:
We have had some questions about whether  people can buy their own parts.  We are asking that you purchase the pre-made kit here so that everyone has exactly the same materials.  We have worked hard to source the best prices, and the only other comprable kits online (such as the Sparkfun Arduino Inventors kit) costs ~$30 more.  We are passing the savings directly to you for our many hours of best-deal-finding.

The kit for Arduino workshops 1-3 includes : Arduino Uno SMD, Breadboard, Clear Self-Adhesive, USB Cable A to B – 6 Foot, Relay SPDT Sealed, Buzzer – PC Mount 12mm 2.048kHz, Mini Photocell, Hobby Motor, Trimpot 10K with Knob, Momentary Push Button Switch – 12mm Square, Resistor 10k Ohm 1/6th Watt PTH, 330 Ohm or 560 Ohm resistor, Diode Small Signal – 1N4148, LEDs, Tri-Color LED, Jumper Wire, 9v batteries, Shipping

Arduino Workshop 1

Electrical Fundamentals
An In-depth Introduction to DC Basics – Everything you need to know to be able to understand and discuss fundamental concepts of electricity and electronics.

This workshop will get you up to speed on both terminology and understanding of electricity and electronics through experimentation and hands-on activities. You’ll be seeing, touching and working with the things that we explain. We will cover Electricity and Analogies, Current, Voltage, Power, Ground, Resistance, Ohms Law, Circuits, Schematics, Series and Parallel Circuits, DC Battery, Breadboard, Wire, Switches, Resistors and LED, as well as a brief description of Arduino (which will include installing the software and exploring the IDE), and lots of examples. Soldering will also be covered. This is a beginner-friendly level workshop. This workshop is hands-on, no boring theory lessons! We will supply the necessary components.

Level: Beginning
Open to Members and Non-Members
For members, this counts as a basic safety course for the electronics lab.

Sunday May 6 11:00 – 3:00

*Due to interest, We have added a second session on the same day from 4:00-8:00
$55 Class + $60 materials kit fee – includes Arduino, cable, wire, batteries, LEDs, and all necessary components.  Please see ‘ about the kits for these workshops’ above for more info.

Buy The Materials and Arduino Here:
*Please note that as of Friday May 4th at 3pm, if you register past this time you will be enrolled in the 4:00pm – 8:00 pm version of this class on Sunday 

Pay for the Class Here:

CLOSED

Arduino Workshop 2

An introduction to Arduino Programming Language & Building a Blink Circuits.

We will progress into programming the Arduino through a hands-on blink sequence exercise, followed by creating a circuit with 8 LEDs in various light sequences that you control. By the end of this workshop, you will be a more accomplished Arduino user, with an understanding of the fundamentals and syntax of the Arduino language, and inputs and outputs. This class is perfect for new Arduino users, as well as more experienced users who may have programming questions.

Please purchase before May 7 so that we have time to order the parts! 

Level: Beginner (must have completed Workshop 1) or Intermediate electronics and programming experience
Open to Members and Non-Members
For members, this counts as a basic safety course for the electronics lab.
Sunday May 13 11:00 – 4:00
$75 + $60 materials fee – includes Arduino, cable, wire, batteries, LEDs, and all necessary components (If you purchased this for Arduino Workshop 1, you do not need to re-purchase)

Buy The Materials and Arduino Here (if you have not already purchased the kit from Workshop 1) :

Pay for the Class:

CLOSED

Arduino Workshop 3

More on Arduino Software

This workshop will be a continuation of the previous from the Arduino series. We will cover more of the Arduino language and learn the difference between digital and analog pins. We’ll learn about debugging and using external Libraries. As always, everyone will be working with their Arduino board, following along to expand on your knowledge and design your personal projects.

Please purchase before May 13 so that we have time to order the parts! 

Level: Intermediate electronics and programming experience or Completion of Workshops 1-2 required
Open to Members and Non-Members
Saturday May 26 11:00 – 4:00
$75 + $60 materials fee – includes Arduino, cable, wire, batteries, LEDs, and all necessary components (If you purchased this for Arduino Workshop 1, you do not need to re-purchase)

Buy The Materials and Arduino Here (if you have not already purchased the kit from Workshop 1) :

Pay for the Class:

Arduino Workshop 4

AC, Capacitance, Semiconductors, and Motors

This workshop is intended as an eye-opener to what is beyond DC electronics. Still using the Arduino, you’ll be able to integrate more components in your circuits, like capacitors, pots and motors!

Please purchase before May 20th so that we have time to order the parts!

Level: Intermediate electronics and programming experience or Completion of Workshops 1-3 required
Open to Members and Non-Members
Sunday May 27 11:00 – 4:00
$75 + $80 materials fee – includes Arduino, cable, wire, batteries, LEDs, and all necessary sensors, motors and components (If you purchased this for Arduino Workshop 1, you do not need to re-purchase, only add $20 for additional components)

Pay for the Class:

Add $20 if you have already bought the kit for Arduino 1-3:
 

Arduino Workshop 5

Integrating Processing and Arduino

This is a great workshop for projects using interactivity. You’ll learn how to leave all of your intense processing and calculations to Processing, which leaves your Arduino with more time to collect sensor data and more output power – that’s always a good thing.

Please purchase before May 25th so that we have time to order the parts!

Level: Advanced electronics and programming experience or Completion of Workshops 1-4 required
Open to Members and Non-Members
Weekend Workshop: Saturday June 2nd and Sunday June 3rd 11:00 – 4:00
$150 + $80 materials fee – includes Arduino, cable, wire, batteries, LEDs, and all necessary components (If you purchased this for Arduino Workshop 1, you do not need to re-purchase only add $20 for additional components)

Pay for the Class:

Add $20 if you have already bought the kit for Arduino 1-3:

Girls Geek Out

Workshop: Laser Cut Jewelry

Learn how to use the laser cutter and how to prepare files for laser cutting while creating custom-designed jewelry. Bring your own photo image (file types: .jpg, .psd, .ai, .png, .svg) to etch onto an acrylic or wood shape. If you have a specific shape that you’d like to have cut, you can bring those files as well as we’ll help you trace them. If you don’t know how to design a digital file using Illustrator or Corel, don’t worry – we’ll help you get there. Please bring your image files on a flashdrive/memory stick. If you don’t have files, don’t worry – we will supply you with a set of options. We will provide colored acrylic and wood for you to use – if you’d prefer to bring your own materials, they should be wood or acrylic, ¼ inch thickness or less.

Level: Beginner
Open to Members and Non-Members
Sunday May 13 – 4:30 – 7:30
$55 – includes materials

Pay for the Class:

CLOSED

Electronics for New-Comers: Electrical Fundamentals

An In-depth Introduction to DC Basics – Everything you need to know to be able to understand and discuss fundamental concepts of electricity and electronics.

This workshop will get you up to speed on both terminology and understanding of electricity and electronics through experimentation and hands-on activities. You’ll be seeing, touching and working with the things that we explain. We will cover Electricity and Analogies, Current, Voltage, Power, Ground, Resistance, Ohms Law, Circuits, Schematics, Series and Parallel Circuits, DC Battery, Breadboard, Wire, Switches, Resistors and LED, as well as a brief description of Arduino (which will include installing the software and exploring the IDE), and lots of examples. Soldering will also be covered. This is a beginner-friendly level workshop. This workshop is hands-on, no boring theory lessons! We will supply the necessary components.

Level: Beginning
Open to Members and Non-Members
For members, this counts as a basic safety course for the electronics lab.
Please Note:  Class is now Saturday May 5th, from  12:00 – 4:00
$55 Class + $20 materials fee – includes breadboard, LEDs,  batteries, jumper wires,  and all components

Pay for the Class and Materials by clicking below:

CLOSED

By Pat Sherman

The Summer STEAM program at La Jolla Country Day School will include a course in 'Wearable Electronics.'

Summer STE[+a]M
WHAT: Electronics, engineering and robotics program for students grades 6-8
WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, July 9-27
WHERE: La Jolla Country Day, 9480 Genesee Ave.
COST: $2,500 for two courses
INFO: (858) 453-3440, ljcds.org or fablabsd.org

Middle school students will build remote-controlled cars, make illuminated clothing and learn the basics of video game programming during a summer science and engineering program offered at La Jolla Country Day School, in connection with UC San Diego Extension.

The new three-week program, titled Summer STE[+a]M, uses fun and engaging projects that incorporate science, technology, engineering, arts and math to pique students’ interest in these competitive fields before heading off to high school.

Four courses, offered Monday through Friday July 9-27, were designed by Fab Lab San Diego, a collaboration between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and San Diego-based nonprofit Heads on Fire.

Though students’ are immersed in technology on a daily basis, from digital music players to touchscreen tablets, most don’t comprehend the technology behind them, said Katie Rast, Fab Lab’s program director.
“If a student can understand how all those devices work, they’ll have a really big advantage in college and career pathways,” she said. “It’s becoming more and more competitive to get into college. We have to prepare students as early as possible, especially in science, technology and math.”

Summer STE[+a]M courses include “Wearable Electronics,” “Do-It-Yourself Robotics,” “Creative Computing: Re-engineering the Wii,” and “Product Design,” in which students learn to make their own LED lamps and other illuminated objects.

One student enrolled in Fab Lab’s Wearable Electronics course made a sweatshirt with flashing LED turn signals on the back. A sensor in the cuffs allowed the student to engage the signal when turning right or left on his bicycle or skateboard.

Another student created a San Diego Chargers T-shirt with an LED lightning bolt. Each time he touched a switch on the shirt, the bolt would light and the sound of cracking thunder was emitted from a speaker embedded in the shirt.

First, the students first had to learn how to program a microcontroller.
“I live for the experience of seeing the lights turn on in kids’ eyes when they’re working with design, engineering or creating things,” Rast said.

“We’ll tackle some pretty hefty topics, but rather than having the students run away in fear or feel overwhelmed by these somewhat complicated topics, they’re seeing it happen before their eyes, so it’s much more tangible.”

The camp, which is open to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students from throughout San Diego County, will include field trips to use UCSD’s laboratories and supercomputer facilities.
In some instances, students will be able to see their digital files come to life with the use of large-scale 3D printers.

Edward Abeyta, director of UC San Diego’s K-16 programs, said the key to engaging tomorrow’s technology professionals is to help them “learn to be creators and not just consumers,” and to make the process fun before they’re funneled into the “fast and furious” testing sequence of high school.
“Middle school is a place to inspire,” Abeyta said. “We need as a nation to inspire students much earlier and to create a culture of lifelong learning.”

In another of the accredited, pre-college courses, students will learn the basics of programming interactive graphics used in video games.

Once they understand the syntax and how the programming language works, they’ll program objects on a screen to respond to the movement of a Wii controller (which they’ll first disassemble and rebuild to learn how it works).

Susan Domanico, chair of Country Day’s science department, will oversee the program.
Domanico said Summer STE[+a]M provides science-minded students an alternative to the usual sports and adventure camps offered during summer, as well as two-hour blocks to work on more complex projects that are not easily tackled during standard 50-minute science classes.

“We’re going to give kids who are interested in science a longer period to explore,” Domanico said. “This is going to be a notch above your average, everyday science class.”

Source URL: http://www.lajollalight.com/2012/02/15/ucsd-country-day-partner-for-innovative-summer-tech-program/

FabLabSD and UCSD Extension present Summer Programs at La Jolla Country Day.

Source URL: http://torreytimes.ljcds.org/page/test

For Spring Break Week and Spring Season 2012, we will have more brand new class offerings, more total classes over the course of the season, and some very nice new venues.

Additionally, we are now able to offer accredited K-12 Pre-College programs as well as class accreditation, all available through a unique Fab Lab + UCSD Extension partnership program.

Pre-College Middle and High School courses are presented in partnership with UCSD Extension K-12 College Exploration.

Most are beginner-friendly unless otherwise indicated.
Pre-college/K-12 classes are generally held at UCSD campus or UCSD Extension campus.

Registration is NOW Open, Please save your space by enrolling now on the course of your choice.

We are also offering similar courses for Adults, click here for more information about this program.

Introduction to Creative Computing (Closed)

SPRING BREAK: Monday to Friday 04/02/12 – 04/06/12 . 8:30AM – 12:30PM – $200

Learn about the basics of coding by exploring the Processing Development Environment. This project-based class will focus on the development of fundamental programming skills, creation of applets that feature interactivity, allowing students to create responsive virtual environments. Students will also learn about interface and interactivity through the creation and use of infrared pens and IR-detecting cameras. Additionally, ways in which we commonly interact with the virtual environment will be explored through the dissection of a Wiimote™ and identification of its electronic features. Students will produce at least one final applet that they will be able to manipulate via the infrared controller that they have created. This class is beginner-friendly and hands-on.

Circuit Design  (Closed)

SPRING: Mondays 04/02/12 – 06/04/12 . 3:30PM to 6:00PM – $200

‘Electronic Circuit Design’ is an introductory class to designing and building your own circuit boards. Students will learn basic electronic circuit design principles hands-on. We will use an open-source software program, Fritzing, to create the pcb design in order to connect all the electronic components and will then be milling the pcb boards on FabLab’s very own milling machine, an environmentally-friendly process. Students will start with a simple project: a simple LED (light-emitting diode) blink circuit, that has a switch to turn the LED on and off. This project will use standard through-hole electronic components. The final project will be for a 7-segment display controller, an electronic display device for displaying numbers that is widely used in digital clocks and electronic meters. This last project will use smaller surface-mounted components. Students will learn about basic electronic concepts (voltage, current, resistance) and will learn to create circuits with breadboards for prototyping and then replicate the circuit for the final pcb layout. This course is designed for students with some or no electronics/programming experience.

Solar Electronics  (Closed)

SPRING: Tuesdays 04/03/12 – 06/05/12 . 3:30PM to 6:00PM – $200

‘Solar Electronics’ will introduce students to the concepts and ideas behind solar energy and how we can harness it. We will learn about the basics of electricity, electronics, and solar panel systems through discussion, presentation, and hands-on exercises in which students will apply their knowledge. We will learn about the Photovoltaic (PV) effect and how sunlight is converted into electricity, using animations and group work to visualize this complex and abstract phenomenon to make it more easily understood. We will then build on this by covering the solar cell, array and module system. We will learn how to optimize solar arrays and how to calculate their power output. Our first project will be to build solar ovens (in which we will cook a snack) in order to understand solar thermal energy applications, consider the angle and concentration of light, and the resulting heat effects. Students will then make solar-powered lamps that they design, build and keep, and test the output over time to improve efficiency. Finally, students will work with a standard solar panel array to successfully power lights and small electronic devices in order to better understand and apply their new knowledge.

Create Wearable Electronics  (Closed)

SPRING BREAK: Monday to Friday 04/02/12 – 04/06/12 . 8:30AM – 12:30PM – $200
SPRING: Saturdays 04/07/12 – 06/09/12 . 1:00PM – 4:00PM – $200

‘Create Wearable Electronics’ is a project-based course focused on the use of electronics on textile surfaces. In addition to being a good introduction to electronics, this class is hands-on: students will create their own wearable projects, using the Arduino microcontroller. By the end of this course, students will have an intermediate level understanding of electronic and programming concepts, including, but not limited to: switches, sensors, networks, embedded systems and the “Arduino” microcontroller. This course is designed for students with some or no electronics/programming experience. While the course is fast-paced, it is a fun and hands-on application of learning, and students will be given thorough context and reference materials as well as personal assistance in class.

Do It Yourself Robotics  (Closed)

SPRING BREAK: Monday to Friday – 04/02/12 – 04/06/12 . 1:30PM – 5:30PM – $200
SPRING: Wednesdays – 04/04/12 – 06/06/12 . 3:30PM to 6:30PM – $200

Do you think it is possible to make a robot from your own vacuum cleaner? This workshop will show you how!

DIY Robotics is a course for students to learn how to design, build, and modify electronic circuits starting from the ground up. Topics include learning about the basics, transistors, and op-amps. We will begin with looking into the inside of obsolete electronics by opening them up and identifying their parts. Students will then reverse engineer the existing circuits to make their own modified version of the project. Over the sessions of the course, students will learn about the theories and concepts of electricity and electronics, as well as the fundamentals of microprocessors. At the end of the course, students will have created your own mechanical, electrical, and kinetic sculpture, widget or invention and learned about designing, engineering and electronics in the process!

Have fun with analog circuitry  (Closed)

SPRING: Fridays – 04/06/12 – 06/08/12 . 3:30PM to 6:30PM – $200

‘Analog Circuitry Fun’ is a great way to dive into the world of electronics. You will learn about all the great components and inventions that were at the very basis of the electronics revolution by replicating many of the experiments that led to these inventions and gaining a strong fundamental understanding of how these components work. We cover the theories that came out of this era of experimentation and then apply them within our own experiments. At the end of this course, you will have built your own resistors, buttons, solenoids, inductors, triggers and sensors, microphones, speakers, and more. In addition to creating their own experiments, students will learn about the electron theory, the electromagnetic and induction theories and more. This course is highly recommended as a complement to the ‘Wearable Electronics’ and ‘Arduino 101’ courses.

Arduino: Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems  (Closed)

SPRING: Saturdays – 04/07/12 – 06/09/12 – 9:00AM to 12:00PM – $200

Arduino: Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems is beginner’s overview of the use of electronics. Over the sessions of the course, students will learn about the theories and concepts of electricity and electronics, as well as the fundamentals of microprocessors, and their place in history and society. At the end of the course students will have produced controllers and receptors based on the Arduino™ microprocessor, in order to accomplish various tasks. This course is highly recommended as a complement to the Wearable Electronics and Creative Computing courses taking place later in July and in early August.

Game Development in Flash  (Closed)

SPRING: Wednesdays 04/04/12 – 06/06/12 – 3:30AM to 6:30PM – $200

Have you ever wondered what is a Graphical User Interface (GUI)? This workshop will introduce students to GUIs and present industry design standards while teaching students how to use ActionScript to program their own animations! At the end of this course, students will be able to create and animate their own GUIs and will understand action scripting in a way that will allow them to create a diverse range of animations and web applications, preparing them for future pathways in game design and interactive media.

3D Modeling and Animation Using 3D Max  (Closed)

SPRING BREAK: Saturdays 04/02/12 – 04/06/12 . 8:30AM to 12:30PM – $200
SPRING: Tuesdays 04/03/12 – 06/05/12 . 3:30PM to 6:30PM – $200

In this course students will learn 3-Dimensional principles and apply them in the creation of 3D representations using Autodesk’s 3ds Max. This course will give you the opportunity to create 3D objects and 3D places. You will arrange them in settings and environments for a movie or game or visualization. This course will introduce you to 3D animations and rendering.

Introduction to Web Development – HTML5  (Closed)

SPRING: Mondays 04/02/12 – 06/04/12 . 3:30PM to 6:30PM – $200

Introduction to web development technologies, through HTML5 (the latest major revision to HTML) and CSS are changing our understanding of the web. Students will learn how to build quality web pages using the latest technologies, and will come to understand how new technologies are affecting content on the web. This course is designed to give students a fundamental understanding of web design and development, enabling students to become proficient in the basic skills required to create their own website, and is taught using classroom and lab instruction employing lecture and demonstration, in-class exercises, student participation, and class activities leading to a final project. Classes will include introductory concept presentations, followed by in-class exercises.

Introduction to C++: Language Basics  (Closed)

SPRING: Saturdays 04/07/12 – 06/09/12 . 1:00PM to 4:00PM – $200

This class will introduce programming concepts to students, with no previous programming experience required, and will focus on learning to read and write programs in C++. The class will focus on in-class programming and participation. The class will move quickly and students are required to have access to a computer at home. We will cover IDEs, programming basics, compilation, execution, flow control, functions, arrays, pointers, file I/O, structures and classes.

Introduction to Java Programming: Java Language Basics  (Closed)

SPRING BREAK: Monday to Friday 04/02/12 – 04/06/12 . 1:30PM – 5:30PM – $200
SPRING: Saturdays 04/07/12 – 06/09/12 . 9:00AM to 12:00PM – $200

This weeklong workshop introduces the structure, syntax, and programming paradigm of the Java™ language and platform. Students will learn the Java syntax you are most likely to encounter in the professional and research world and Java programming idioms you can use to build robust, maintainable Java applications. Students will be guided through the essentials of object-oriented programming on the Java platform, including fundamental Java syntax and its use. You’ll get started with creating Java objects and adding behavior to them, and conclude with an introduction to the Java Collections Framework, with considerable ground covered in between. This course will start with the very basics and assumes that students do not have any previous Java programming experience and does not require any other programming experience. This course will cover the fundamentals of the operative parts of Java and will introduce the basic programming concepts of Java programming.

Data Visualization  (Closed)

SPRING: Thursdays 04/05/12 – 06/07/12 . 3:30PM to 6:30PM – $200

How can you take a large set of data and turn it into an info-graphic that conveys the information in an interesting manner? If this is something you are interested in, then you’ve found the right class! This is an excellent class to learn programming too. You will be using the programming environment called Processing. Because of the ease of use of the software, this class will get you visualizing information in no time. Initially, we will use a data set that is made available to the students, but you will get the opportunity to scrape any data online to create informational representations in various forms. This course is designed for students with some or no programming experience.

Mobile Applications – Android  (Closed)

SPRING: Fridays 04/06/12 – 06/08/12 . 3:30PM to 6:30PM – $200

This course will introduce students to the Android mobile application development technology. We will explore Google’s Android SDK, with an introduction to the Java programming language used in developing these mobile applications. We will be using the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment (IDE). At the end of the course, students will have developed their own mobile apps paying special attention to User Interface Design practices. They will also have the opportunity to upload their applications to the Android Market for others to download and use their apps. This class is a great way to learn a new programming language too (no programming experience required).

PRESS RELEASE
BADGES FOR LIFELONG LEARNING COMPETITION STAGE ONE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Stage One Winners Announced
www.dmlcompetition.net | The Digital Media & Learning Competition is a HASTAC initiative supported by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to the University of California Humanities Research Institute in collaboration with Duke University’s John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute.

December 5, 2011—The HASTAC/MacArthur Foundation Badges for Lifelong Learning Competition today announced the 60 winners of Stage One of the Competition. For the list of winners, see www.dmlcompetition.net. The Competition is held in collaboration with the Mozilla Foundation, and is part of the 4th Digital Media and Learning Competition funded by the MacArthur Foundation and administered by HASTAC. The Badges for Lifelong Learning Competition is designed to encourage the creation of digital badges and badge systems that support, identify, recognize, measure, and account for new skills, competencies, knowledge, and achievements for 21st century learners wherever and whenever learning takes place.

Stage One applicants were asked to submit ideas for compelling learning content, activities, or programs for which a badge or set of badges would be useful for recognizing learning that takes place in a particular area or topic. Winning applications represent a wide array of public and private institutions and organizations from around the world, including museums, non-profits, after-school programs, research institutions and for-profit companies. Proposed content for badge systems address a breadth of topics—from the promotion of civic engagement and community volunteerism, to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) learning in and out of the classroom, to digital literacy, to workforce preparedness and beyond. Winning applications are available for public perusal and commenting at www.dmlcompetition.net.

Based on response in Stage Two, winners of Stage One may be paired with winning badge design/technology teams for the opportunity to work collaboratively on developing a badge system to be judged in Stage Three.
Stage Two, which seeks badge system design and tech proposals that respond to Stage One winning content or content from one of the Competition’s official Collaborators—including the Department of Education, the Department of Veteran Affairs, Microsoft, Intel, NASA, the American Library Association and more–opens on
December 12, 2011. Full information can be found at www.dmlcompetition.net

Source URL: http://www.dmlcompetition.net/media/4/stage-one-content-winners.pdf