Course Descriptions



VIDEO GAME DESIGN

You can have lots of fun while learning the fundamentals of programming and video game design. This experience of using creativity and technological skills will stay with you for a lifetime!

When the class is over, you will have a complete game on a disk you can play at home and share with friends.


VGD 101 Ages 9-13

Design and build your own Windows-based video games. Emphasizing a creative and inventive process with a no-violence policy, participants will learn the basic mechanics of game design including object oriented programming.

Participants will take home their own video game to share with family and friends.


VGD 201 Ages 9-13

As a continuation of VGD 101 participants will learn to put the basic mechanics into more action by learning and applying game physics and being introduced to scripted programming that lends itself more towards platform gaming.

Participants will take home their own video game to share with family and friends.


VGD 301 Ages 9-13

The final class in the series, participants will gather all they have learned to create a 3D RPG that they can take home for their family and friends to share. As will all the video game classes we believe in a non-violent, hyper creative learning environment.

Participants will take home their own video game to share with family and friends.


WEB DESIGN & PUBLISHING (WD1) Ages 9-15

Students learn how to make their own web page and publish it on the World Wide Web. Topics covered: Web Design with WYS/WYG (what you see is what you get). Showcase your video, photo gallery, favorite games on the website.

HTML concepts; Primary tags; Hyperlinks; text formatting; Colors, Backgrounds and Fonts; Pictures, Graphics and Animations; Tables; Web publishing and more!


BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS & KEYBOARDING Ages 6-9

Learn the skills of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Computer Typing! This course will help students learn the basics of word processing, create presentations, learn to enter data in a spreadsheet, and develop basic typing skills.

The classes are fun and engaging, with daily practices, tests, and games etc. that help foster and build necessary skills for future learning.


MOVIE MAKING Ages 9-13

Introduce kids to the principles and practices of filmmaking while practicing the use of camera equipment and the principles of composition. Kids also learn the basics of video editing and audio editing techniques.

Kids learn to collaborate using technology skills while they build self-confidence and creative expression.


DIGITAL STORYTELLING Ages 9-15

Your kids can learn the basics of Microsoft Office while creating an imaginative, memorable, and inspired project. Organize precious photos and videos of family and friends by creating beautiful, digital scrapbooks while exploring various multimedia outlets.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint, Publisher and Windows Movie Maker, you will learn to edit photo, videos and text to design a digital scrapbook.


DESKTOP PUBLISHING Ages 9-15

Learn to use Microsoft Publisher the way the pros do! You will learn design theory and practical application of this program while you make your very own newsletter. Take your skills back with you to school and help get an informational newsletter going at your school...for kids by kids!


MATH ZOOM CLUB Ages 6-9/10-13

This club is to nurture and engage the student's interest in math and develop lifelong analytical, logical and critical thinking skills. Students explore the patterns and correlations between the numbers, develop better number sense and understand concepts better.

Kids will show better confidence, problem solving, critical thinking abilities and more! Students will engage in fun math activities, along with exciting in-class math competitions!!


ZOOM ROBOTICS Ages 9-15

The Zoom Robotics Program engages children in a team-oriented robotics program based on national science education standards. Students are exposed to inquiry-based, learn-by-doing activities using science, engineering, technology, math, and writing skills.

This hands-on program reinforces their learning by designing, building, programming, and documenting robots. This series of classes is an introduction to robotics and the environment of competition robotics like FIRST Lego League (FLL).


Robotics 101: The Basics

This class teaches you the basics of robotics through hands on building and programming activities. Participants will work in teams to build at least 2 different types of robots and program the robots for basic tasks using Lego's NXT drag and drop programming language.


Robotics 201: RobotC

This class takes participants deeper into robotic construction and programming. Participants will utilize several types of sensors to increase the capabilities of the robots and learn to program the robots using Lego's new RobotC language that is used in FLL competitions.


Robotics 301: Competition Prep

Participants will take all they have learned and immerse themselves in the competition, preparatory environment similar to the FLL. Teams will build, program and test their robots on prescribed obstacle course.

Participants learn to maximize their building and programming for top efficiency and speed.


Robotics 401: Research and Presentation

In this final class of the series, participants will get an in depth of the research and presentation portion of the FLL. This class is not just for robotics, but anyone who wishes to improve their research and presentation skills.

Participants, in teams, will be assigned a past topic from the FLL and will be required to research and present their topic, as well as, be questioned by a panel of academics.