Thinking with Shapes in Artistic Experience: A Workshop on Two-Dimensional Exercises, Shape Rules, and Compositions

Cultivation of the senses is a key element of art and design education. Yet, artistic appreciation of our environment does not solely take place in this realm. In general education, as well as in daily practices, your sensory explorations of the world create meaning and heighten your awareness to the beauty and delight of all our surroundings.

For training your senses to better understand the meanings and aesthetics around you, it is essential to generously observe the world and formulate your experiences. Capturing your experiences in the form of art and design is going to give the opportunity to see how your creations touch you and others around you, generating novel experiences.

This workshop offers a framework to experiment with two-dimensional shapes and shape rules to explore your experiences and unique views of the world, as well as hands-on exercises in drawing and producing artistic compositions based on the rules and schemas you wish to investigate. Active engagement in explicit discussions is encouraged, both with ourselves and with others on how our artistic thinking transpires. These discussions provide increased consciousness about our decisions based on our unique perceptual experiences and designerly thinking. No advanced design or crafting skills are required; only an eagerness to sense, experiment, and discuss.

Do you cringe when you see Comic Sans used in a serious setting? Have you ever had to help your parents navigate a website? Does the future of media excite you?

Get ready to explore some of the different fields and methods within the broad discipline of design. We will explore topics such as human centered design, graphic design/typography, creative thinking methods (“design thinking”), and existing/emerging technologies in relation to design. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about applied art, and to better understand the built environment and media that surrounds us in society.

EXPECTATIONS: We will be studying, discussing and playing with these topics/theories, however, it should be noted that this is NOT a production course. Short readings will be suggested.

Be the first students to make games with Gameblox, a new online blocks based programming language for making games. You'll be able to make games like pong and breakout and design your own.

As we increasingly rely on web applications for a variety of tasks, their security is becoming paramount. We'll discuss common vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting, SQL injections, and cross-site-request-forgery attacks, and look at some examples and their implications. At the same time, we'll see how modern technologies prevent these attacks by design, and also investigate why such attacks nevertheless still continue to be a problem.


Prerequisites
Some knowledge of HTML would be useful, but is not required.

Introduction to Python as a programming language. Examples and workshops will be geared towards algorithms and common data structures. Lists, Arrays, and Hashtables will be covered as well as Breadth-First-Search and Depth-First Search. Possibly graph theory if there is time.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites necessary

Do you have problems efficiently managing admirers yearning for your hand? Or applying maximum flow to flowers sent to your sweetheart? Go from tame to scoring some serious game with this introductory algorithms course. Assortment of topics will be covered: complexity analysis, sorting, queues, dynamic programming, and maximum flow (among others).


Prerequisites
#calculus #programming #verypreferrednotrequired

This class will give you a hands-on introduction to many ideas in theoretical computer science, from the design of algorithms to the limits of computation and beyond!


Prerequisites
None.

We live in a world of uncertainty and imperfect knowledge. Fortunately, we can make sense of that uncertainty using probability theory and an equation called Bayes' Rule that tells us how to update our beliefs based on evidence. Bayesian methods can be used to predict how likely you have a rare genetic disease, how many tanks your enemies are building, or how long you'll be waiting for the next Red Line train.

This class will be an introduction to Bayesian statistics, with a twist: rather than crunching through the math ourselves, we'll learn how to make computers do it for us.


Prerequisites
- Basic probability ("If I flip two coins, what is the probability that both coins land heads?") - Previous exposure to programming may be helpful; students will be working with Python code.

What are the sociological implications of Isaac Asimov's Robot novels? What parallels can be drawn between the fictional societies in his writing and contemporary society? What did Asimov predict for the future (now the present)? Was he right?
Find out by signing up for this course!


Prerequisites
An interest in science fiction and willingness to read, ponder, and discuss selections from Isaac Asimov's Robot series.

Have you ever seen one of those paintings that just looks like the artist splattered some stuff and called it a day? Or maybe even Warhol's paintings that are literally just Campbell's Soup Cans. Do you get bored looking after Renaissance painting after Renaissance painting? Why are these all THE COOLEST PAINTINGS EVER?! Come find out as we travel through the history of art to gain an appreciation for paintings and techniques through their context and content.


Prerequisites
An open mind

Making of the Modern Mind is the intersection of cognitive science, philosophy of mind, humanities and critical thinking. We study the science, processes, and theories of the brain, consciousness, memory, and cognition.

Depending on the interests of the class, some of the topics might include: subconscious, decision making and mind control , false memory, social psychology and group theories, ethics and the problem of good and evil, mind mapping and multiple intelligences. Two important topics are theory of mind (empathy), and the “mind/body problem,” and how these ideas relate to modern technology, AI, robots and learning.

Some of the material is college level, but I make it very accessible with a lot of open class discussion. I add tips for study skills throughout the course. We also look at some famous social psychology studies, depending on the interests of the class


Prerequisites
some neuroscience or cognitive psychology will be helpful, but not required

Are you happy? Do you feel like your life is missing something? Something...tres important? Then let's go on a journey! Together we will learn basic French so that you can sustain a respectable conversation with a French-speaking person* (*Terms and Conditions may apply to subject of conversation). So get your berets, and allons-y!

How do people rise to power and positions of authority? How do individuals shape and maintain the fabric of society? How does civilization continue and change over time? These questions, as well as the deeper questions of motivation and "why" people and societies do what they do, will be addressed in this course.


Prerequisites
Be prepared to do reading and writing to prepare for class.

Dreams, Dreaming and the Subconscious introduces you to cognitive sciences, thinking and memory from the perspective of the subconscious and the sleeping brain, using an interdisciplinary approach of cognitive psychology, dream science and humanities.

Movies and books include these ideas with lots of twists and turns, and bring up questions about the brain, knowledge and artificial intelligence. What’s possible and what isn’t? Can an idea be planted in a person’s mind? Can two people share a dream? Can a person’s mind be controlled? What's deja vu? With lots of class discussion, we’ll answer these questions, and more.

As we discuss the breadth and depth of the mind, the sheer ingenuity of an individual’s ability to think and create in so many ways, (and even do it while we’re sleeping,) we open the door to understanding that vast universe we call a mind.


Prerequisites
none

Collaborating across STEM fields + Art (= STEAM), we'll look at how art and science can be a medium to effectively communicate, educate, and advocate for environmental and ocean issues.

While this class is inspired by From the Bow Seat, a platform for ocean education and advocacy to the next generation of ocean stewards, you as members of the class will be an integral part of the curriculum creation process! Your new ideas are the stuff of creativity, so throughout the class we will together think about how art and science can be effectively used to educate by reflecting on how we are doing it in the HSSP class.

Focusing specifically around the science of plastic pollution in the ocean, we'll look at artists, writers, video directors, and scientists who combine art and science, explore the principles of STEAM, and practice our own creative expression to see how to best educate people about ocean issues. Along the way, we'll explore scientific topics like - How did the ocean garbage patches form? What is the science and chemistry of plastic in the ocean? How could we possibly clean it up?

We'll also create an online Tumblr Portfolio of STEAM and art that we find inspiring.

To gain confidence in our own creative communication skills, we'll try our hand at making art, writing poetry, writing persuasive essays, and creating advocacy videos. At the end, you will showcase your favorite work in a class showing, and can even publish it on the online portfolio.

While you cannot submit anything you create in this class to the From the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Student Contest, you can take the skills and inspiration from this work and submit your own entry for 2015 with a chance to win one of 40 prizes, all with cash prizes and 1st prize amounting to $1,000.


Prerequisites
Be ready to try a lot of different expressive styles and learn science! No prerequisites except a desire to change the world.

This course will be for those who have not seen Calculus before. In this course, we will not just learn the definitions and formulas of Calculus, but also the how and the why. Calculus may seem like a dry subject but in actuality it has a lot of stories to tell and can often be the most expressive part of Mathematics. In these 7 weeks, we will understand what Calculus has to offer.


Prerequisites
Fundamental understanding of Algebra and Trigonometry.

Want to learn how to keep secrets from your little sister or a well-funded intelligence agency? Why 19 is a happy number, but 20 isn't? How to count to infinity, and then some? Then sign up for this whirlwind tour of math! You'll learn about something completely different each week from a series of 7 speakers. The exact list of topics is TBD and may depend on class interests.

A thorough introduction to probability theory, both intuitively using algebra and at the calculus level. This section is aimed at middle schoolers.
Probability is the science of how likely an event is to happen, We use probability all the time in our everyday lives. For example, what is the chance it will rain tomorrow? What is the chance that you will go to HSSP this summer? What is the chance that you will get your desired birthday present? In this course, we will quantify these ideas and develop mathematical machinery to work with them and use them to produce hopefully beautiful results.

(This class meets for one hour).


Prerequisites
An aptitude for higher mathematics such as calculus

Math is beautiful, and it's even occasionally useful. In this class, we'll explore a different way of doing arithmetic on the integers and see how it helps us solve real-world problems.

For example, the rules of arithmetic on a clock (eg. 14 hours past 11:00, the clock will read 1:00) turn out to be at the foundation for one popular method of encrypting data.


Prerequisites
Familiarity with algebra (up through algebra I). Willingness to put in some work outside of class.

We will cover a number of different systems and introduce standard mathematical analysis techniques used for each. These systems include flight, cell evolution, the pythagorean theorem, quantum tunneling, and how fast a coffee cup overflows. In every case, the system drives the math - we will be teaching you exactly what's needed to understand the world around you.


Prerequisites
Definitely algebra 2, geometry and trigonometry. Intro calculus is a benefit but not required.

A thorough introduction to probability theory, both intuitively using algebra and at the calculus level. This section is aimed at high schoolers, and middle schoolers who have a knowledge of or a strong aptitude for calculus.
Probability is the science of how likely an event is to happen, We use probability all the time in our everyday lives. For example, what is the chance it will rain tomorrow? What is the chance that you will go to HSSP this summer? What is the chance that you will get your desired birthday present? In this course, we will quantify these ideas and develop mathematical machinery to work with them and use them to produce hopefully beautiful results.


Prerequisites
Some knowledge of or a strong aptitude for calculus

Want to learn how to keep secrets from your little sister or a well-funded intelligence agency? Why 19 is a happy number, but 20 isn't? How to count to infinity, and then some? Then sign up for this whirlwind tour of math! You'll learn about something completely different each week from a series of 7 speakers. The exact list of topics is TBD and may depend on class interests.

Are you interested in how your body works? Sign up to learn about the fascinating mechanisms that lead to basic functions of the cells, tissues, and organs that make up who we are!


Prerequisites
AP biology and chemistry strongly recommended (alternatively, molecular biology or biochemistry background may be very helpful). AP physics (mechanics and electromagnetism) recommended.

Learn about current developments across math, science, and computing! Every week, a different guest speaker will talk about their current research. Find out some of the cool things that MIT students spend their time working on.

Understanding the relationship between developing tumors and the immune system has lead to groundbreaking cancer immunotherapies. The importance of an immune response in different types of cancer is clear, and the field of cancer immunology has expanded rapidly in the past decade. But many questions are still unanswered: how do tumors escape immune surveillance? Is the immune response against the tumor or tumor-mediated immunosuppressive actions more important in cancer? This course will provide a background in cancer biology and immunology, explore the discoveries made within the past decade, and detail the current immunology research aimed at conquering cancer.


Prerequisites
A strong background in Biology, seniors who have taken AP Biology preferred.

Some parts of Physics require high level math. Some don’t. We’ll be focusing on the latter. Come learn about quantum uncertainty and the nature of wave-particle duality to start, and then we’ll get into the statistical nature of gasses. We’ll finish (depending on time) with relativity and other cool things (optics, cosmology, etc.). Moreover, we’ll do all of this with minimal math. We should never go beyond calculus 1, and most things will be understandable with algebra 2. If logistics and time permit, we’ll also try to give some lab tours of Physics labs at MIT (eg. Gravitational Wave detector LIGO, Nuclear and Particle Physics labs and Atomic labs.)


Prerequisites
Algebra Basic Calculus

This course is designed for the enthusiastic high school students who wish to explore exciting topics in electricity and have not had formal instruction in the subject. We will start
from the very basic ideas of electric charges and conclude with fundamental applications to
electric circuits and beyond. In between, we will study electrostatic interactions, conductors,
insulators, and capacitors. Along the way, we will emphasize applications so that students
can see the profound practicality of what they learn. Some of the potential applications that
we will cover include superconductors and semiconductors. To further enforce the course
content, we will spend a portion of the class getting students' hands dirty by constructing an
automatic LED nightlight. This way, each student walks away with a little demonstration of
electricity to show his or her friends.


Prerequisites
We will use basic algebra and trigonometry extensively. Whatever mathematics used beyond algebra and trigonometry will be introduced in the course. Thus, students without prior exposure to the more advanced mathematics will not be at a disadvantage. Students should also be familiar with basic concepts of forces (Newton's laws) and energy.

Would you be surprised if I told you that Spiderman and the X-Men have a lot in common with us? Although you may never stick to walls, control metal, or be able to will yourself to look different, the study of genetics gets us closer every day to curing diseases and even creating the best versions of ourselves. So if our genes are so similar (we're all Humans after all) – about 99% between individuals – why is it that we look so different and where do we separate science and science-fiction? Don't just ask why, ask how, and learn about the diversity of life on the molecular level! This course will introduce how scientists manipulate the underlying mechanisms of gene expression and regulation to better understand and cure diseases, and explore the historical and ethical background of genetics. Topics include synthesis, cell division, genetic engineering, diseases and disorders, bioethics, variations in genetics between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, as well as an overview of current research goals and aims in the field.


Prerequisites
Introductory Biology (required), Honors or AP Biology (recommended)

A brief introduction to the world of physics from the point of view of squirrels. We will start from the ground, see how our squirrel moves around and finish by looking to see how we would find squirrels on other parts of our universe.

Learn about current developments across math, science, and computing! Every week, a different guest speaker will talk about their current research. Find out some of the cool things that MIT students spend their time working on.

Parents, teachers, and countrymen prepare us for college, but what happens afterwards? Some assume we instantly become adults, suddenly know how to do taxes, and solve the complex problems where duct tape is not an answer. Sure, you can find answers to everything on the internet these days, but you can never be sure whether the answers come from a bridge troll or a reputable scholar in the field.

What to expect:
Discussion, laughter (either yours or mine), honest self-assessment, delayed sudden realizations, "homework", overcoming fear of the unknown.

Tentative topics:
1) Improper parenting
2) Giving advice to friends (who don't listen)
3) How to treat yourself like everyone else treats everyone else. Or not.
4) Strangers and the song of your people
5) Taxes, credit, money, and Why do you need my Social Security number?
6) The path to becoming a dinosaur-riding-ninja-coder/engineer/etc.
7) Cooking, romance, and red solo cups


Prerequisites
Come with questions and an open mind! (The type where you don't spill blood everywhere)

Take a variety of classes over the 7 weeks of Summer HSSP! Every week, you'll have the option to choose from several different one-shot classes offered during the Sprinkler time block. Class subjects are anything from ballroom dancing to introductory programming to how to land on the moon. Every week the class options are different, so you'll get a chance to learn about a lot of different topics. It's like a mini-Splash within HSSP!

Learn how to fold origami models, different types of origami, applications of origami, origami techniques, and how to design your own origami!

Crossing deadly rivers of molten chocolate, escaping explosive minefields, and constructing great pyramids. Now what does all this have to do with Leadership? Come and find out…

Do you like games, teamwork, creative problem solving, or having fun? Want to know how this can help you become a better leader? Come and participate in fun interactive activities, and maybe learn a thing or two about leadership.

The Leadership Training Institute (LTI) is a high school mentoring program right here at MIT, and we will be sending mentors to lead what will surely be a jam-packed session of excitement, fun, and thoughtful conversation.


Prerequisites
Energy and a positive attitiude

Do you like to laugh? Do you like to make other people laugh? Well if so then this is the class for you. Learn from the "best" (a guy who watches a lot of comedy and got 4th place at his school's last comic standing). You will learn how to deliver punch lines, practice public speaking and do improv games!


Prerequisites
A funny bone! Ha! Get it? Because the funny bone is a nerve and not actually a bone and also, this class is about comedy.

Have you ever wondered how to turn an idea for a consumer product into reality?

Want to spend your summer vacation learning how alongside a MIT start-up developing hardware for emerging markets?

'How to Launch a Hardware Startup' is an Introductory Course for middle school and high school students who are interested in learning how start-ups conduct product design and development, customer validation, rapid prototyping, and manufacturing of hardware.

Listen to the Founder and Aspiring Founder stories of young MIT Undergraduate/Graduate Students, Social Entrepreneurs, and Tech Entrepreneurs on various topics related to launching a hardware start-up.

Participants will also have the opportunity to not only learn the basics of turning their start-up product ideas into reality through guest lectures...but will work alongside with a social start-up, Mbadika (http://mbadika.org), in developing their very own prototype DIY (do-it-yourself) kit, such as a Solar USB Charger for Mobile Devices, in order to teach product design and development to aspiring young innovators and entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa in our Summer Design Competition.

Interested? What are you waiting for? Sign up!

There are no course prerequisites and all levels are welcomed. :)


Prerequisites
None