MIT Educational Studies Program
84 Massachusetts Avenue, Room W20-467
Cambridge, MA 02139 Email: esp@mit.edu FAQ | contact us | donate | instagram
Cambridge, MA 02139 Email: esp@mit.edu FAQ | contact us | donate | instagram
Splash 2014
Course Catalog
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Visual and Performing Arts
A8673: Listening to Bach
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Rob Speer
Let's listen to some Bach music. Not for some utilitarian purpose like learning about music history or music theory, studying an instrument, or "training your brain", whatever that means. No, let's listen to Bach for the sheer enjoyment of it, because lots of people agree that the music he composed was really, really good.
I'll tell you about what to listen for, the different styles of pieces Bach wrote, and how to find great performances to listen to. There will be a bit of history and music theory to provide context, but the main focus is the music.
Prerequisites
If you ever listen to classical music, you should be all set.
I'll tell you about what to listen for, the different styles of pieces Bach wrote, and how to find great performances to listen to. There will be a bit of history and music theory to provide context, but the main focus is the music.
Prerequisites
If you ever listen to classical music, you should be all set.
A8713: Rock Music Performance Technology Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Chris Ward
A8644: Digital Art is Fun Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Carolyn Lu
A8630: Nail Art Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Mary Spanjers
A8897: Extreme Origami
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Rachel Han,
Molly Mullen
Ready to go beyond cranes and frogs? Come discover modular origami and construct a polyhedron of folded-paper awesomeness!
Appropriate for all levels, from beginners to origami ninjas.
Prerequisites
Opposable thumbs.
Appropriate for all levels, from beginners to origami ninjas.
Prerequisites
Opposable thumbs.
A8842: Impressionism
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Bryce Hwang
Who were the Impressionists? What's the difference between Manet and Monet? And why is Impressionism, a 19th-century movement, still so appealing in the 21st?
To find out, join us for an introduction to one of the most famous artistic movements in history!
To find out, join us for an introduction to one of the most famous artistic movements in history!
A9030: Close Looking: Examining Art
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lucy Megan,
Daniel Richman
Ever leave an art museum feeling like you didn't see anything cool? Fact: if you know more about how people have cranked out art through the centuries (yes, at multiple times in history that's a pretty accurate description), then you'll notice more about it. We'll do some drawing exercises and take a whirlwind tour of art over the last thousand years.
A8864: Physics and Ballet Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elise Bickford
A8727: Printmaking! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Clio Macrakis,
Mikayla Murphy
A8850: Crochet: Amigurumi! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jasmine Lennert
A9112: Learn bhangra!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Christie Jiang,
Sahiba Singh
Bhangra is a high energy South Asian folk dance, spreading across college campuses throughout the US! Come learn a few moves, get a great workout, listen to awesome music, and wow your friends on the dance floor! BRUUUUUAHHH!
A8535: DJs and Producers
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jugraj Singh
Learn the art of mixing, producing, listening to music. We'll have all kinds of equipment to play with and get hands-on experience or just party with me for a class.
Prerequisites
Open to all kinds of music. Ears.
Prerequisites
Open to all kinds of music. Ears.
A8854: Performance Theory as envisioned by Schechner
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jesus Leyva
The purpose of this course is to explore the many ideas that go into defining what performance is. Is it acting? Is it play? Students will be presented with theory and examples (e.g, videos and demonstrations). There are no requirements other than curiosity. There are no wrong answers!
A8566: How to Make Exciting Cards
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Maria Ruiz
Want to spice up your birthday/greeting/anniversary cards? Learn to make 2 basic moving cards! Whether you are a cardmaking master or are limited to stick figures on white paper, you are welcome.
A8896: So You Wanna Be a Hipster?
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Elyse Jackson
Come learn what it takes to be a hipster - or at least learn what hipsters listen to! We will mainly focus on learning Indie music (folk, rock, electronica and pop), as well as its Eurpean origins. This class will also help aspiring songwriters. No previous musical experience is necessary!
A9135: DSLR Photography for Dummies
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Peng Hui How,
Vivienne Shen
Want more control over your photographs
In this class, we introduce the Digital Single Reflex Lens (DSLR) Camera and how it opens up a myriad of possibilities in photography.
We will introduce the notion the "Exposure Triangle" (i.e. ISO, shutter speed, and aperture), and how they affect the quality of the captured image. We will also explain how a DSLR camera works. Last but not least, practice makes perfect, if time permits, let us take a tour around the beautiful campus to capture remarkable photos with your newly acquired skills!
In this class, we introduce the Digital Single Reflex Lens (DSLR) Camera and how it opens up a myriad of possibilities in photography.
We will introduce the notion the "Exposure Triangle" (i.e. ISO, shutter speed, and aperture), and how they affect the quality of the captured image. We will also explain how a DSLR camera works. Last but not least, practice makes perfect, if time permits, let us take a tour around the beautiful campus to capture remarkable photos with your newly acquired skills!
A8723: Write a Parody Song
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ethan Goldstein
Be Weird Al for a day!
At the beginning of this class, we'll choose a major song from the last few years, and then spend the next two hours parodying it to turn it into something new, wonderful, and hilarious. In the process, we'll learn about how lyrics work, including rhyming, meter, and scansion. Anyone with an interest in lyrics or pop music should show up!
At the beginning of this class, we'll choose a major song from the last few years, and then spend the next two hours parodying it to turn it into something new, wonderful, and hilarious. In the process, we'll learn about how lyrics work, including rhyming, meter, and scansion. Anyone with an interest in lyrics or pop music should show up!
A8703: Intro to Polyrhythms/Polyrhythms and Improv
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Samuel Van Cise
In this class we will first introduce and practice various polyrhythms (more than one rhythm at the same time) and then seek to use them in improv situations. We will improv in a variety of styles, basically whatever we're feeling as a group. Bring your instruments, of all shapes and sizes!
A8643: How to Learn How to Draw
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Carolyn Lu
Art can be hard. Art classes can be stupid. Let's break down what it really takes to learn how to draw and how to do it on your own.
We'll go over some of the theory behind learning art (why your middle school art teacher may have told you to draw something upside down or with a grid and why that only works up to a point) and then we'll go over online resources and helpful exercises.
We'll go over some of the theory behind learning art (why your middle school art teacher may have told you to draw something upside down or with a grid and why that only works up to a point) and then we'll go over online resources and helpful exercises.
A8943: The Sonatas of Beethoven
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
This class discusses the variety and evolution of Beethoven's musical style through the thirty-two sonatas that he wrote.
Prerequisites
An understanding of the ideas of classical music: Understand an outline of the history of European music from 1700-1900. Understand the common sonata forms.
Prerequisites
An understanding of the ideas of classical music: Understand an outline of the history of European music from 1700-1900. Understand the common sonata forms.
A8958: Beginning Tap Dance
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amelia Bryan
This course provides an introduction to tap dance, no prior dance experience is necessary. Come in clothes you can move in and ready to have fun! No tap shoes required.
A8924: Round Singing: Beyond "Row, Row, Row, your Boat" Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ruth Byers
A8658: knitting cables Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
jill Pelavin,
Lisa Winer
A8657: introduction to knitting
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
jill Pelavin,
Lisa Winer
ever wanted to knit a hat, scarf, or sweater?
tired of things in colors you don't like that don't fit?
well: you can knit it yourself!
by the end of this class you will have learned to knit and purl, the building blocks for all knitted garments.
This class is expected to run over one hour but under two hours, so try not to schedule another class after this one.
Prerequisites
a desire to learn knitting! patience for being frustrated at the beginning.
tired of things in colors you don't like that don't fit?
well: you can knit it yourself!
by the end of this class you will have learned to knit and purl, the building blocks for all knitted garments.
This class is expected to run over one hour but under two hours, so try not to schedule another class after this one.
Prerequisites
a desire to learn knitting! patience for being frustrated at the beginning.
A8642: How to Draw People
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Carolyn Lu
Want to stalker-sketch people on trains with increased accuracy? Been meaning to make that comic but can only draw stick figures?
In How to Draw People you will learn how to draw people. We'll go through the basics of drawing faces and figures and then get down to anatomy and foreshortening and tricks for constructing people on paper quickly and accurately.
Prerequisites
If you've doodled at all you're probably good. Otherwise take "How to Learn How to Draw."
In How to Draw People you will learn how to draw people. We'll go through the basics of drawing faces and figures and then get down to anatomy and foreshortening and tricks for constructing people on paper quickly and accurately.
Prerequisites
If you've doodled at all you're probably good. Otherwise take "How to Learn How to Draw."
A8690: Cead Mile Failte: An Introduction to Irish Dance
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Kathryn Buggs
Everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day (and during SPLASH)! Come learn a little bit about the origins and evolution of Irish dance, a few handy Gaelic words, the difference between a jig and a reel, and more! We will learn a beginner jig, a few ceili figures, and perhaps a bit of hornpipe or treble reel.
A8949: Room for Improv'ment
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Tal Scully
Ever wonder how actors can make up a scene on the spot without any planning? Come play lots of improv and theater games and learn how to expand your abilities as an actor and a person!
Prerequisites
Everyone is welcome - from experienced professional actors to people who have never set foot on a stage in their life!
Prerequisites
Everyone is welcome - from experienced professional actors to people who have never set foot on a stage in their life!
A8659: Knitting: Colorwork! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
jill Pelavin,
Lisa Winer
A8524: Chain Mail Armor
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Miranda Gavrin
Learn how to weave your own aluminium armor!
Prerequisites
None, we'll start with the basics.
Prerequisites
None, we'll start with the basics.
A8681: Ballroom Dancing: Samba
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Francesca Majluf
Ballroom samba is a lively partner dance involving the mastery of your innate body rhythm and its connection to colorful music. Come and bring alive your long forgotten African roots through the acquisition of the basics of this beautiful dance.
Workout pants and close-toed shoes recommended.
Workout pants and close-toed shoes recommended.
A8606: Performers' Practice Circle
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Abigail Walzer
Tell a story. Sing a song. Give a soliloquy. Recite a poem.
Perform for practice, in front of other performers. Your voice is your instrument, so take this opportunity to use it.
There are two rules:
1. You get six minutes.
2. Everyone must perform at least once.
Other than that, the sky's the limit. We'll offer up critiques if we have time and if you ask for it, and there's no shame in just wanting to show us what you can do without any critique at all. If you've never performed before, come anyway and try it for your first time in a low-pressure setting!
Perform for practice, in front of other performers. Your voice is your instrument, so take this opportunity to use it.
There are two rules:
1. You get six minutes.
2. Everyone must perform at least once.
Other than that, the sky's the limit. We'll offer up critiques if we have time and if you ask for it, and there's no shame in just wanting to show us what you can do without any critique at all. If you've never performed before, come anyway and try it for your first time in a low-pressure setting!
A8775: Sewing Stuffed Animals Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniela Ganelin
A8944: Graphic Design 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jessica Wang
Interested in design? This workshop will give an introduction to the basics of design and how to think like a designer. You'll also learn useful design skills and tips and get to try your hand at making a graphic of your own! No prior experience necessary - just an interest in digital design. :)
A8901: Cross-Step Waltz
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alioth Drinkwater,
Katarina Dutton
Think innovation in waltzing ended in the 1800s? Think again! Come learn the basics of cross-step waltzing, a dance form that might even be younger than you are! No experience or partner required, please wear shoes and clothing you can dance in!
A9018: Random Debates
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Filsan Hussein
You and your group will be given a random subject to debate about ( topics chosen by another group) and you will be given no more than 3 minutes to speak . In these three minutes you will not be able to use the words " Umm ,and uh " you are also not allowed to take more than a 3 second break between your sentences .
Languages and Literatures
B8600: Languages of Middle Earth
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ryker Reed
Love Lord of the Rings? Ever wondered where all the names in Middle Earth come from? Come find out more about the complex linguistic systems underlying Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. For instance, did you know that Tolkien was a linguist and actually invented an entire Elvish language before even writing the Lord of the Rings books? Learn about some of the real world languages that inspired and influenced Tolkien’s invented languages. And find out more about the history of Middle Earth and how its languages came to be what they are now.
Prerequisites
None, if you've taken this class last year, it will be the same material.
Prerequisites
None, if you've taken this class last year, it will be the same material.
B8624: Basics of Essay Writing Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Cynthia Jackson
B8870: Fake Girlfriends, Infinite Kisses, etc: The Thoughts of a Roman Poet
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Emma Drewry,
Costanza Rasi
Check out one of Roman's craziest poets-- from mourning the death of a sparrow to love poetry dedicated to his fake (married) girlfriend, Catullus was frankly a little nuts. We'll look at his life (not a lot -- he died when he was 30), his girlfriend, and his poetry. A little bit of history and a little bit of Latin! Plus, your teachers may or may not be wearing togas and may or may not throw candy at you.
This class will cover the basics of Catullus's life and literature, and dissect a (simplified) version of a Catullus poem in Latin.
Prerequisites
Any previous knowledge of Latin could be helpful, but is by no means required.
This class will cover the basics of Catullus's life and literature, and dissect a (simplified) version of a Catullus poem in Latin.
Prerequisites
Any previous knowledge of Latin could be helpful, but is by no means required.
B8626: Personal Ingenuity: An Exploration through Creative Writing
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Katie Lawrence
Love reading fanfiction, but struggle when it comes to writing your own? Constantly
hitting writer's block, and waiting to be inspired? Come explore what you need to keep
in mind when creating compelling fiction, and work with your peers on some cool writing
exercises. We will be taking a general look into how you can get readers hooked onto your constructed universes, and how to populate said universes with well-developed characters.
hitting writer's block, and waiting to be inspired? Come explore what you need to keep
in mind when creating compelling fiction, and work with your peers on some cool writing
exercises. We will be taking a general look into how you can get readers hooked onto your constructed universes, and how to populate said universes with well-developed characters.
B8721: Intro to Morphology: Linguistics for Sherlock Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ray Lardie
B8950: How to Create a Language
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kelvin Jackson
Have you even read Tolkien's books, and wondered what it would be like to create languages for a fantasy world, as he did? Do you wonder what went into the design of Dothraki, or Klingon? Well, now you can find out!
We will spend the first part of this class going over the basics of what you need to know to design a language −−− some phonology, morphology, and syntax, as well as a brief overview of natural languages that are worth emulating. Then, we will use the second part of the class to create a conlang sketch of our own. You will go home with a taste of what conlanging is about, and the beginnings of a brand-new language!
We will spend the first part of this class going over the basics of what you need to know to design a language −−− some phonology, morphology, and syntax, as well as a brief overview of natural languages that are worth emulating. Then, we will use the second part of the class to create a conlang sketch of our own. You will go home with a taste of what conlanging is about, and the beginnings of a brand-new language!
B8805: How to Be Estonian
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Eva-Lotta Kasper
Would you like to learn a language that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike English? Or find out more about the quirky little country that is home to its whopping 1.1 million speakers? Or perhaps even meet one from this rare breed?
If “none of the above”, there will also be Estonian chocolate.
If “none of the above”, there will also be Estonian chocolate.
B8991: Greek Mythology 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Botong Ma
Learn about the Greek myths and gods, and their associated mythology. We'll talk about the big things, like Kronos and him eating all the children before his wife got him, Hercules doing his Twelve Tasks, etc. We'll also talk about other things. Like the things Zeus did in his spare time, and that time Demeter accidentally ate someone's shoulder, or why Sisyphus was sentenced to rolling that stone up that hill for all eternity. Also learn about some of the literature these myths inspired. Basically, you'll get an introduction to the myths and he literature they inspired.
B8601: Learn Elvish!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ryker Reed
Ever wanted to speak Elvish? Write Dwarvish runes? Now is your chance! Come take this interactive class and learn the basics of spoken and written Elvish! This class will focus on the Elvish language Sindarin, and we will also cover a bit of the other languages, such as the Elvish language Quenya and the Dwarvish language. We will practice speaking Elvish and also how to write the Elvish script and Dwarvish runes. No prior knowledge necessary, just enthusiasm!
Prerequisites
None, but if you took this class last year, it will be the same material.
Prerequisites
None, but if you took this class last year, it will be the same material.
B8714: Poetry Recitation - How to make this stuff sound good
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amelia Trainer
Poetry is fun
When it's recited quite well
It makes people smile
Not all are haikus,
But do come appreciate
And maybe recite
These wonderful creations
That school might teach you to hate
But please don't hate them.
When it's recited quite well
It makes people smile
Not all are haikus,
But do come appreciate
And maybe recite
These wonderful creations
That school might teach you to hate
But please don't hate them.
B8808: Introduction to Poetry
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Emily Tang
An introduction to poetry through the ages with examples of poems and copious amounts of poetry reading. There will also be tea and refreshments. Come prepared to explore and discover!
B8670: Hungarian for dummies
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Gergely Odor
Are you interested in being able to speak a language that is unlike any other (maybe Finnish, but not really)? Come to Hungarian for dummies and learn about one of the most complicated grammars and to pronounce strange new phonemes from a native Hungarian MIT student. Besides the basics of language we are also going to play games and learn about Hungarian culture.
B8637: Dramatic Reading: The Importance of Being Earnest
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
David Rolnick,
Sarah Wharton
"I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone."
Join us for a seriously whimsical reading of Oscar Wilde's classic play. We will take turns portraying different characters, with occasional intervals for tea and muffins. We'll probably be finished after two and a half hours.
Prerequisites
It will be helpful to have read the play beforehand.
Join us for a seriously whimsical reading of Oscar Wilde's classic play. We will take turns portraying different characters, with occasional intervals for tea and muffins. We'll probably be finished after two and a half hours.
Prerequisites
It will be helpful to have read the play beforehand.
B8765: The Naughty Bit
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Miles Morgan
Have you ever wondered why Shakespeare has endured so long after his time? Sure, his characters are layered and complex, and his stories are beautifully written, compelling evaluations of the human condition. But the real reason we still read the Bard are his naughty jokes. Soliloquies aside, Shakespeare's magic comes in the form of some crude humor. Come for a lesson in naughty wordplay and learn how it functions for the greater good of some of the world's most canonical dramas.
B8763: How to Learn Languages (Without Actually Learning Languages) Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Peter Gao
B8927: Introductory Odawa
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Dmetri Hayes,
Emily Kellison-Linn
Odawa or Nishnaabemwin is a dialect of one of the most widely spoken Native American languages today. We'll talk about the basic grammar and then look at a traditional story. Come learn about this fascinating language!
B8972: How to Read Hebrew Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sherri Green
B8745: The World's Most Famous Useless Language (AKA Esperanto 101)
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Robert Knighton,
Sophie Mori
Esperanto is an auxiliary language invented purely to be easy (also for world peace and stuff).
Due to the language's ease and simple grammar, students will be able to hold basic conversations and express themselves using the world's most famous made-up language after minimal practice and a two hour class.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this class, however having previously studied a language would come in handy.
Due to the language's ease and simple grammar, students will be able to hold basic conversations and express themselves using the world's most famous made-up language after minimal practice and a two hour class.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this class, however having previously studied a language would come in handy.
B8604: Quirky Linguistics
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ryker Reed
Like linguistics or just enjoy thinking about language? Ever noticed how weird language can be? Come learn about some of the quirkier aspects of language. We'll discuss things ranging from infixation (putting words inside other words) to semantic implication (things we say without actually saying them), and semantic satiation (that thing that happens when you say a word too many times and it stops meaning anything). Come enjoy the strangeness of language!
B9069: Arthurian Legend Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Cathleen Nalezyty
B8503: Poetry Workshop
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nathaniel Mathews
Come chill and write poetry. You don't need to have a lot of poetry experience, but do expect to write poetry, and share some of what you've written with the rest of us. Writing and listening are both vital to helping us all grow as poets. All styles are welcome!
B8822: "Superman/woman" and Science Fiction/Fantasy
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Josh Shaine
Science Fiction and Fantasy have many characters who stick out compared to others because they have more magic, different powers, unique abilities.
We will look at how these characters are treated by the worlds in which they are set and reflect on what, if anything, this says about the society in which we live.
We will look at how these characters are treated by the worlds in which they are set and reflect on what, if anything, this says about the society in which we live.
B8578: Making it in Moscow: A Splash! Course in Introductory Russian
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Marcella Lusardi
Take a journey east to learn the mysterious language of the czars, the Soviets, and the modern-day natives of the largest country in the world—Russia! An introductory course in conversational Russian. No prior knowledge of the Russian language, Cyrillic alphabet, or Russian culture/history needed.
B8558: Introduction to Phonetics: Chinese vs English
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Steven Keyes
Come be entertained by my terrible Chinese! Phonetics is the study of sounds in speech and how people produce them. This class will introduce you to this branch of linguistics and be informative for learners and native speakers of Chinese and English alike!
B8676: Introduction to Creative Writing
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alexander Cronis
We're going to be working with a style of writing which doesn't use an outline and applying it to most mediums of creative writing (graphic novels, short stories, novels, etc). We'll talk about great artists who use/used this process (Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, the creative team behind the Katamari games and others) listen to music, do some free writing and generally talk about how to write.
B8963: Korean that your mother probably doesn't want you to learn
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Harlin Lee
Come learn Korean! But not the things you will learn in textbooks. We'll talk about Korean spoken in the streets, in the text messages (or kakao talk), swear words, games, how to interpret the oh so many 'ㅋ's on your friend's Facebook status. If you have requests (i.e. what does my crush actually mean to say when they say [insert words here]?) please send them my way :)
B8568: A Brief History of the English Language
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Megan Belzner
Did you know that differences between the name of an animal versus the name of its meat (cow, beef) are the result of the Norman conquest of 11th century England? Or that the pronunciation of some vowels changed dramatically between the 14th and 18th centuries, in an event known as the Great Vowel Shift? Learn about these and many other fascinating events in the history of English, and get a glimpse into the ways all languages evolve with time.
B8639: Introduction to Arabic Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Saheela Ibraheem
B9037: The Elian Script
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
Learn a cool way to represent letters that turns English words into visually appealing text!
B8537: Spectrograms: What Does Sound "Look" Like?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Chelsea Voss
What is sound? How do our ears hear the information in sound and send it to our brain to be processed into language? And how might we teach a computer to do the same thing?
We'll investigate all of this by diving into phonology and phonetics, the study of the audible components of language.
In the first half, we'll talk about all of the different sounds that human languages can use, in English and beyond.
In the second half, we'll look at patterns in sounds by converting them into pictures called "spectrograms". With this tool at our disposal, we can actually think about how both computer systems and human brains might tackle the problem of speech recognition.
Come learn what you never knew you never knew about sounds!
Prerequisites
None.
We'll investigate all of this by diving into phonology and phonetics, the study of the audible components of language.
In the first half, we'll talk about all of the different sounds that human languages can use, in English and beyond.
In the second half, we'll look at patterns in sounds by converting them into pictures called "spectrograms". With this tool at our disposal, we can actually think about how both computer systems and human brains might tackle the problem of speech recognition.
Come learn what you never knew you never knew about sounds!
Prerequisites
None.
B8987: Wallahi Wallahi you need to know Somali
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Filsan Hussein
If you want to know the definition of Wallahi, come join my class! I will teach you the basic reasons why us Somalis enjoy saying the word wallahi, and how useful it is to know basic Somali. Some of you guys may have seen Captain Phillips (starring Tom Hanks) and the infamous Somali pirates. We will go over some of the words and phrases used in the movie, so when you watch it with other family and friends you can point out what they said--no subtitles required! We will also go over the similarities found in the Somali language and many others.
[Deprecated] Computers and Programming
C9011: Learn to Use Regular Expressions Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jennifer Melot
C8707: Web Application Development (Part 1) Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
James Sullivan,
Cameron Wheeler
C8884: Inventing Numbers
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
J Adrian Zimmer
I like to think of numbers as piles of stones. As a mathematician and computer scientist I like to think of my work as inventing languages to accomplish abstract tasks. Taking the first steps in creating a number system from a pile of stones will give us chance to talk about this. Examples will be in Java because that is what is taught in high school.
Prerequisites
Be in or have taken a Java AP class!!
Prerequisites
Be in or have taken a Java AP class!!
C8985: Digital communications Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Olivia Brode-Roger
C8747: Introduction to Mathematica
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
John Bell
In this class, we will learn the basics of Wolfram Mathematica, with a focus on visualization and modeling of both pure and applied math topics. We will cover topics ranging from probability theory applications (e.g. weather forecast accuracy) to crystal structure modeling to calculus applications. The class will conclude with a surprise application challenge!
Mathematica is one of the major programming environments used for modeling in science, engineering, and pure mathematics. (For anyone who has used Wolfram|Alpha, Mathematica is the workhorse of the Wolfram system.)
Regardless of programming experience, this class is a great way for students interested in science and engineering to learn to use professional computation software, from an exploratory application-based perspective.
Prerequisites
Comfortable knowledge of precalculus topics (knowledge of calculus is helpful, but not required) Programming experience is NOT required, but would similarly be helpful.
Mathematica is one of the major programming environments used for modeling in science, engineering, and pure mathematics. (For anyone who has used Wolfram|Alpha, Mathematica is the workhorse of the Wolfram system.)
Regardless of programming experience, this class is a great way for students interested in science and engineering to learn to use professional computation software, from an exploratory application-based perspective.
Prerequisites
Comfortable knowledge of precalculus topics (knowledge of calculus is helpful, but not required) Programming experience is NOT required, but would similarly be helpful.
C8793: Javascript Game Design Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Zachary Neely
C8540: Distributed Computing for Dummies
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Felix Sun
If I give you a list of ten billion street addresses, and asked you to find the ones closest to your house, how would you do it?
Distributed computing is using a network of many computers to solve very large problems. It is essential to many things you use every day, including Google searches and GPS driving directions. We will talk about how to solve computing problems using many computers at once. The best part is, no programming experience is required.
Prerequisites
None. No programming experience is required. If you have programmed before, you will still get a lot from this class, but we aim to talk in programming-agnostic terms.
Distributed computing is using a network of many computers to solve very large problems. It is essential to many things you use every day, including Google searches and GPS driving directions. We will talk about how to solve computing problems using many computers at once. The best part is, no programming experience is required.
Prerequisites
None. No programming experience is required. If you have programmed before, you will still get a lot from this class, but we aim to talk in programming-agnostic terms.
C8990: Inception! or, How to Build a Computer in Minecraft Full!
Difficulty: *
C8752: How Websites Work, Home Networks, and Run Your Own Servers: Networking 101 in Three Parts
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Joseph Lodin
You may not realize it, but 99% of things you do on your computer require an Internet connection. Computer networking is an extremely advanced field with countless different uses, protocols, and experimental research making things faster and more reliable. To save time, I'm gonna summarize basic networking with three short topics:
-How Websites Work: When you click a link, what happens in the seconds between that click and when the next page is displayed on your screen? It's not as simple as it sounds, and often it involves a hundred (or even thousand)-mile journey happening in the blink of an eye.
-Home Networks: So you probably know about the big Internet, the World Wide Web, right? Did you know that in most of your homes/apartments/wherever, you have a mini "internet" that functions all on its own? Let's look into the setup of a normal home network, and I'll even explain how to host your very own LAN party!
-Run Your Own Server: Websites, games, databases, etc. All are hosted on servers. Maybe you're interested in hosting a Minecraft server for your friends, or a database server for a cool app you're working on. Well, turns out you've gotta know some fancy networking so you and your friends can actually connect to these from anywhere. Let's get into all that!
Prerequisites
Anybody who uses a computer can come to this class and learn something! We really won't go into too much technical detail, so if you already run your own game server or make/host your own websites, you probably won't see much new information.
-How Websites Work: When you click a link, what happens in the seconds between that click and when the next page is displayed on your screen? It's not as simple as it sounds, and often it involves a hundred (or even thousand)-mile journey happening in the blink of an eye.
-Home Networks: So you probably know about the big Internet, the World Wide Web, right? Did you know that in most of your homes/apartments/wherever, you have a mini "internet" that functions all on its own? Let's look into the setup of a normal home network, and I'll even explain how to host your very own LAN party!
-Run Your Own Server: Websites, games, databases, etc. All are hosted on servers. Maybe you're interested in hosting a Minecraft server for your friends, or a database server for a cool app you're working on. Well, turns out you've gotta know some fancy networking so you and your friends can actually connect to these from anywhere. Let's get into all that!
Prerequisites
Anybody who uses a computer can come to this class and learn something! We really won't go into too much technical detail, so if you already run your own game server or make/host your own websites, you probably won't see much new information.
C8708: Web Application Development (Part 2)
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
James Sullivan,
Cameron Wheeler
Come and experience even more in the wonderful world of web apps! What's a web app you ask? It's a fancy website that pretends to be a desktop application. Sound weird? It's actually awesome and we'd love to tell you about them. In this section, we'll focus on the frontend. We'll talk about CSS3, jQuery, Angular JS and some of the super cool features in HTML5 that make websites act like apps. We’ll go over how to make a user interface that stands out while fitting in and looks good doing it. If you didn't take part one of the class, it's still fine to come in, though you won't be able to see your project online. At the end, you'll leave with a working concept user interface (hosted on Amazon EC2 if you were in part one).
Prerequisites
Some experience with HTML will be helpful. A basic understanding of Javascript would also be useful.
Prerequisites
Some experience with HTML will be helpful. A basic understanding of Javascript would also be useful.
C9102: Intro Programming in Python
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jordan Moldow
print “Ever wanted to learn how to program?"
if your_answer == “yes”:
print “Awesome! Take this class, and learn how to program in Python"
# This is a class for students with no prior programming experience. We will cover the fundamentals of programming, using the popular language of Python. The class will be a mix of lecture, where you will learn the introductory aspect of the language, and hands-on programming. We’ll have lots of fun writing and running cool programs, and you’ll learn a lifelong skill in the process.
# No prior programming experience required. Students who have never programmed before and are interested in learning are encouraged to register.
if your_answer == “yes”:
print “Awesome! Take this class, and learn how to program in Python"
# This is a class for students with no prior programming experience. We will cover the fundamentals of programming, using the popular language of Python. The class will be a mix of lecture, where you will learn the introductory aspect of the language, and hands-on programming. We’ll have lots of fun writing and running cool programs, and you’ll learn a lifelong skill in the process.
# No prior programming experience required. Students who have never programmed before and are interested in learning are encouraged to register.
C9026: How Do Computers Add?
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Marcus Boorstin
How do computers add? What happens behind the scenes when your program runs the line "int z = x + y;"? This may seem simple for you, but it's NOT for your computer. We'll discuss the nitty-gritty of how hardware adders work, starting with transistors and working our way up to the complicated hardware and algorithms modern processors use.
C8755: Internet in the Air! How Wi-Fi Actually Works (and why it often doesn't)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Joseph Lodin
Wi-fi? More like WHY-fi, amirite???
Ever wonder exactly how your computer is actually able to get out to the Internet without a wire plugged in? Or, more likely, ever get ridiculously frustrated when you can't seem to stay connected no matter what laptop/phone you're using, how close you are to the wireless router, or how many times you restart the dang thing?
In this class, we'll delve right down into the nitty-gritty of just how your devices can communicate wirelessly, and talk a lot about why it's pretty much miraculous that it ever works at all!
Prerequisites
Experience with computers is good - we're gonna be going really fast through a lot of different concepts (some physics, some math, all over the place) so get ready for a whirlwind of info.
Ever wonder exactly how your computer is actually able to get out to the Internet without a wire plugged in? Or, more likely, ever get ridiculously frustrated when you can't seem to stay connected no matter what laptop/phone you're using, how close you are to the wireless router, or how many times you restart the dang thing?
In this class, we'll delve right down into the nitty-gritty of just how your devices can communicate wirelessly, and talk a lot about why it's pretty much miraculous that it ever works at all!
Prerequisites
Experience with computers is good - we're gonna be going really fast through a lot of different concepts (some physics, some math, all over the place) so get ready for a whirlwind of info.
C8783: How does your calculator find the answer? - Numerical Analysis
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Victor Chen,
brice lee
A computer does not automatically find answers for us. We have to guide computers along the way.
In this course, concepts of numerical methods, which are the methods that a computer uses to calculate roots of functions, will be introduced such as the midpoint method and the Newtonian method. Furthermore, application of these methods using Matlab will be taught.
Prerequisites
The course requires basic algebra and calculus. (as long as you know that first derivative is slope, it will be good enough)
In this course, concepts of numerical methods, which are the methods that a computer uses to calculate roots of functions, will be introduced such as the midpoint method and the Newtonian method. Furthermore, application of these methods using Matlab will be taught.
Prerequisites
The course requires basic algebra and calculus. (as long as you know that first derivative is slope, it will be good enough)
C8812: A Pyret's Life for Me: An Introduction to Computer Science through Functional Programming
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Zachary Zagorski
Hoist the anchor and lash the jib-boom as we venture into the world of functional programming with the Pyret language! We'll start pretty much from scratch and talk about functions, recursion (and recursive data), and much, much more!
Laptops are welcome for following along but are by no means necessary.
Prerequisites
None. Some programming experience might be slightly useful. Some idea of what recursion is might be more useful.
Laptops are welcome for following along but are by no means necessary.
Prerequisites
None. Some programming experience might be slightly useful. Some idea of what recursion is might be more useful.
C8541: Keeping Your Code Neat, Reliable, and Flexible
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
James Fleming
Once you've learned to program, one of the first difficulties you might encounter is developing large programs and dealing with the dreaded "spaghetti code". Programs with functions that comprise hundreds of lines of code, where you need to review parts multiple times just to figure out what you were working on.
Or, you might wonder if there is a neater, more intuitive way to write parts of your program -- to make it easy to understand and to develop more complex programs quickly.
Maybe you want your code to be able to do certain things, but you aren't sure how to do so without re-writing a lot of your base code.
Do you know how to properly test your code? Have you ever made a change and unintentionally broken your program?
In this class, I'll go over the basics of keeping your code neat, re-usable, and flexible. Topics include code formatting and documentation (boring, right?), helper methods, code testing, and programming patterns used in professional software engineering environments -- tools that are used in all kinds of circumstances from individual programmers to large software development teams.
My goal is to be able to instruct new and experienced programmers alike. The techniques I plan to teach can be done in any object-oriented language.
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of programming, preferably object-oriented programming.
Or, you might wonder if there is a neater, more intuitive way to write parts of your program -- to make it easy to understand and to develop more complex programs quickly.
Maybe you want your code to be able to do certain things, but you aren't sure how to do so without re-writing a lot of your base code.
Do you know how to properly test your code? Have you ever made a change and unintentionally broken your program?
In this class, I'll go over the basics of keeping your code neat, re-usable, and flexible. Topics include code formatting and documentation (boring, right?), helper methods, code testing, and programming patterns used in professional software engineering environments -- tools that are used in all kinds of circumstances from individual programmers to large software development teams.
My goal is to be able to instruct new and experienced programmers alike. The techniques I plan to teach can be done in any object-oriented language.
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of programming, preferably object-oriented programming.
C9116: Cyberespionage
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Tidor
What happens when governments get into the business of computer hacking? Back in the good old days, viruses were written by criminals out to steal your money. Nowadays, we can do more interesting things—like sabotaging a nuclear enrichment facility, for example, or spying on an entire country’s private email messages. In this class, you’ll hear about recent break-ins on the international stage while learning a bit about the everyday systems that keep us safe and secure on the Internet.
Prerequisites
Know how to use a computer.
Prerequisites
Know how to use a computer.
C9058: Learn to program by writing the AI for battling tank robots
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jacob Cole
We'll teach you to program in the Java language through the awesome game robocode, in which you program virtual battling tank robots and pit them against your friends! Robocode is fun for everyone, from beginning to advanced programmers, and free so you can continue after the class. Robocode was a big part of what launched my own passion for computer science!
Site: http://robowiki.net
Jacob's Tutorials: http://robocode.jacobcole.net/
Site: http://robowiki.net
Jacob's Tutorials: http://robocode.jacobcole.net/
C8843: How to Hack Solitaire
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Damon Doucet
Want to learn how to hack video games? Technically games (just like programs) are files on your hard drive. What's to stop us from modifying them just like you edit your Word documents?
Prerequisites
Programming experience in any of Java, C++, C#, Python, etc. Preferably a year at least
Prerequisites
Programming experience in any of Java, C++, C#, Python, etc. Preferably a year at least
C8983: Become a Bash Wizard
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Diana Hernandez
Learn to navigate your computer more quickly and effectively! Look as pro as the matrix while you do it.
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
C8794: Let's Git Started - A Brief Introduction to Version Control
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Zachary Zagorski
Do you program anything? Have you ever tried to do any programming projects with a team and had trouble coordinating? Do you think you're an expert on version control software?
If you answered 'yes' to any of those, you should take this course! We'll talk about what git is (and isn't), how you can use it to manage your code for both personal and large group projects, and some of the fancy-schmancy things you can do with it.
Oh, and you'll be able to say things like "Sure, just interactively rebase the cherry-picked commits onto your master branch before you push" and understand what they mean!
Prerequisites
You should understand what a command line (a.k.a. shell or terminal) is.
If you answered 'yes' to any of those, you should take this course! We'll talk about what git is (and isn't), how you can use it to manage your code for both personal and large group projects, and some of the fancy-schmancy things you can do with it.
Oh, and you'll be able to say things like "Sure, just interactively rebase the cherry-picked commits onto your master branch before you push" and understand what they mean!
Prerequisites
You should understand what a command line (a.k.a. shell or terminal) is.
C8497: Let's Talk About Servers And Networking
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
William Little
If you are reading this then you are on the internet. You have requested information from a server which has now sent that information to your computer that is displaying the information in the form of this very description! This class will teach you how this is done, as well as some of the basics in what servers are, how they work, how the internet works, and above all: how to host game servers and other services of your own! Minecraft, Team Fortress 2, Web Servers, database servers (MySQL), email servers, and more!
There will be a great deal of resources being shown in this class so that you can do these things on your own to get started in the world of servers and networking. I will talk about (and tell you how to get) VMware's ESXi operating system, computer-based firewall software such as Slackwall, Linux operating systems popularly used in a server environment such as Solaris, CentOS, Oracle Linux, etc. and more! We will even get a chance to work with a rack server and some networking equipment. Expect a wide range of topics from why some game servers have lag while others don't, all the way up to what it takes to make it so your home hosted website can be accessed by the outside world.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of computer hardware and software
There will be a great deal of resources being shown in this class so that you can do these things on your own to get started in the world of servers and networking. I will talk about (and tell you how to get) VMware's ESXi operating system, computer-based firewall software such as Slackwall, Linux operating systems popularly used in a server environment such as Solaris, CentOS, Oracle Linux, etc. and more! We will even get a chance to work with a rack server and some networking equipment. Expect a wide range of topics from why some game servers have lag while others don't, all the way up to what it takes to make it so your home hosted website can be accessed by the outside world.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of computer hardware and software
C9090: Word Graphs
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lawrence Wu
Computers generally store text as strings of characters, but we'd like to do a bit more with these characters. In this class, we will think of each character that we add as changing the state of our text. So if we want to find some key words in our text, we could just let our state be how close we are to finding a word. We will also interpret human speech as a series of transitions between states of conversation, and show how a computer could mimic a human's preferred states.
C8831: Monads to Melody
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Anish Athalye,
Victoria Dean
The first part of this class will provide an introduction to functional programming with Clojure, a Lisp that runs on the JVM.
In the second part of this class, we will be using Overtone, a music synthesis and sampling library, to code music.
We will provide music-related snacks!
Prerequisites
Programming experience essential. Some familiarity with functional programming recommended. Feel free to start hacking with Clojure before coming to the class. If possible, please install Leiningen (http://leiningen.org/) before coming to class.
In the second part of this class, we will be using Overtone, a music synthesis and sampling library, to code music.
We will provide music-related snacks!
Prerequisites
Programming experience essential. Some familiarity with functional programming recommended. Feel free to start hacking with Clojure before coming to the class. If possible, please install Leiningen (http://leiningen.org/) before coming to class.
C9033: Programs = Proofs
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Daniel Ziegler
Some time ago, some mathematicians named Curry and Howard noticed a strange correspondence between the rules of type theory (which explain how to write correctly typed programs) and the rules of logic (which explain how to write valid proofs). Now, mathematicians have proved more and more facts as programs that can be checked by computers, including the four-color theorem. Come learn how types can actually be logical propositions, and programs can actually be proofs.
Prerequisites
You should know about logical formulas (with ands, ors, foralls, etc) and have an idea of how type systems work as well. If you know a functional programming language such as Haskell or ML, that would make this class much easier.
Prerequisites
You should know about logical formulas (with ands, ors, foralls, etc) and have an idea of how type systems work as well. If you know a functional programming language such as Haskell or ML, that would make this class much easier.
C9043: Learning Programming Through Elm
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Kraft,
Anthony Lu
Let's say you're in math class, and you're supposed to be solving an equation, but rather than find out how old Bill is who will be twice as old as Mary in seven years you'd prefer to think about how in seven years you'll have taken over the entire world and surely equations won't get you any closer to world domination...
Enter computer programming, also known as writing equations for world domination.
This course will be a fast-paced introduction to programming. We'll be using Elm, a functional reactive programming language for web graphics with nice properties that let us reason about our programs as if they were mathematical equations. We'll learn how these properties make it a great programming language and how we can write programs in Elm that do cool things.
This is intended to serve as a first course in programming; no programming experience is necessary.
Enter computer programming, also known as writing equations for world domination.
This course will be a fast-paced introduction to programming. We'll be using Elm, a functional reactive programming language for web graphics with nice properties that let us reason about our programs as if they were mathematical equations. We'll learn how these properties make it a great programming language and how we can write programs in Elm that do cool things.
This is intended to serve as a first course in programming; no programming experience is necessary.
C9137: Programming Recursion in the TI-84 -- Blitz Edition
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Chelsea Voss
**This is a one-hour shortened version of C8538. It was not open during the lottery phase.**
You've got a TI calculator. It does math. Yet, somehow, that's always felt... unsatisfying. Only math? You want it to do more!
With only 27 basic variables available to you, TI-BASIC is one of the more Fun(TM) programming languages out there. Yet, with certain tricks, you can wield the awesome power of lists, graphing, matrices, and more in order to write your own programs for any purpose.
In this class, we will use the concept of a "stack" in order to implement recursion in your TI calculator. This is the same way recursion is done by code running on real computers! With this tool in hand, our ultimate goal will be to create a program to draw fractals on the calculator's screen.
I will teach you what you need to know, and leave you to try it out on your own time afterwards. Therefore, if you do not have a TI calculator, you will be able to participate and learn from the class just fine. However, if you do have a TI calculator, please bring it so you can get more practice.
Prerequisites
(1) You should have already taken math at the level of Geometry. (2) Basic experience with programming in any language, OR experience with using the TI-83 / TI-84 / TI-89 calculator for basic math.
You've got a TI calculator. It does math. Yet, somehow, that's always felt... unsatisfying. Only math? You want it to do more!
With only 27 basic variables available to you, TI-BASIC is one of the more Fun(TM) programming languages out there. Yet, with certain tricks, you can wield the awesome power of lists, graphing, matrices, and more in order to write your own programs for any purpose.
In this class, we will use the concept of a "stack" in order to implement recursion in your TI calculator. This is the same way recursion is done by code running on real computers! With this tool in hand, our ultimate goal will be to create a program to draw fractals on the calculator's screen.
I will teach you what you need to know, and leave you to try it out on your own time afterwards. Therefore, if you do not have a TI calculator, you will be able to participate and learn from the class just fine. However, if you do have a TI calculator, please bring it so you can get more practice.
Prerequisites
(1) You should have already taken math at the level of Geometry. (2) Basic experience with programming in any language, OR experience with using the TI-83 / TI-84 / TI-89 calculator for basic math.
C8567: How to Speak Machine
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Megan Belzner
Coders, Assemble!
What are we assembling? Why, programs of course! An assembly language is a low-level programming language with a strong (or one-to-one) correspondence with the actual machine-readable instructions. This class will cover the structure of a simplified machine instruction set by writing some small programs and exploring how they're interpreted by the machine.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with some higher-level language (Python, Java, C, etc). Knowledge of binary also useful.
What are we assembling? Why, programs of course! An assembly language is a low-level programming language with a strong (or one-to-one) correspondence with the actual machine-readable instructions. This class will cover the structure of a simplified machine instruction set by writing some small programs and exploring how they're interpreted by the machine.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with some higher-level language (Python, Java, C, etc). Knowledge of binary also useful.
C8786: The History of Operating Systems
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Michael Skuhersky
Let's go back to a time before any of us were born to learn about the formative years of operating system development! Learn why DOS dominated! Learn about the Unix family tree! Learn how the rise of personal computing forced OS designers to innovate! Emphasis on pre-1990.
C8585: The digital abstraction
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Olivia Brode-Roger
"Computers only understand 0s and 1s"
You've probably heard this and might have wondered why that was. And you might have that it's "on" and "off", but then wondered why nothing happens when you turn off the switch.
Come and learn why this all actually makes sense and see how we can build some computers with this!
You've probably heard this and might have wondered why that was. And you might have that it's "on" and "off", but then wondered why nothing happens when you turn off the switch.
Come and learn why this all actually makes sense and see how we can build some computers with this!
C9073: Bits and Bytes: How to Build a Computer Processor
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Quentin Smith
We'll take a whirlwind tour of the foundations of computing. Starting from the humble electron, we'll introduce transistors, logic gates, binary numbers, and instruction sets, and then we'll show how you can put them together to make a very basic computer processor out of the building blocks.
Prerequisites
A basic interest in electronics and math is helpful, but not required. If you know what a "volt" is, and how to add and subtract numbers, you're good!
Prerequisites
A basic interest in electronics and math is helpful, but not required. If you know what a "volt" is, and how to add and subtract numbers, you're good!
C8751: Not Everyone's a Programmer! Computer Majors/Careers in an Hour
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Joseph Lodin
So, you're a high school student who's interested in computers, right? You know you want to study them, but every counselor you talk to just tells you the same thing, "go into computer science!" 5 minutes of research online and you realize that no, computer science isn't right for you, you want to build and run servers, or sanitize databases, or work as a security analyst, or whatever!
In an hour, we're gonna go over a bunch of different majors and possible careers for computer hobbyists like you, so maybe now you can do your own research instead of letting your counselor or someone else tell you that CS is the only way to go.
Prerequisites
Having an interest in computers
In an hour, we're gonna go over a bunch of different majors and possible careers for computer hobbyists like you, so maybe now you can do your own research instead of letting your counselor or someone else tell you that CS is the only way to go.
Prerequisites
Having an interest in computers
C8682: Dynamic Programming and other Algorithms
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Letitia Li
Imagine on Halloween, some grouch only lets you keep a certain weight in loot. How would you optimize your candy-induced happiness for the next year, while you plot revenge against that grouch? Ever wonder how google's pagerank works? Learn optimization algorithms, map-finding and other algorithms.
C8920: Splay Trees (and other search tree fun)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Carlos Cortez,
Hunter Lang
Learn about splay trees: the elegant and effective self-adjusting binary search tree! Topics covered include the construction of the data structure, runtime analysis, and discussion of performance in practice. Also will briefly discuss the dynamic optimality conjecture if time allows.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with binary search trees recommended. Programming experience helpful.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with binary search trees recommended. Programming experience helpful.
C8848: Creating Your First Web Page
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kathryn Siegel
Have you ever wondered how websites are created? Have you ever wanted to make your own web page? In this class, you will learn how to make your own personal page from scratch, no prior programming experience required. We will cover HTML, CSS, and a small amount of Javascript. By the end of this class, you will have a live personal website that you can access from anywhere!
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
C8885: Promiscuous Mode-Network Protocol Analysis
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Harvey Yee
Do you want to be in Promiscuous (Monitor) mode? You may if you are a network engineer. Join us in learning what is involved in Network Protocol analysis, and along the way learn about network architecture and protocols. Depending on what is available in the classroom, a demonstration of a wired or wireless network session will be provided. A free copy of Linux LiveCD will be provided so that you can continue your learning of network protocol analysis after this class.
Prerequisites
just come with a sense of curiosity
Prerequisites
just come with a sense of curiosity
C9075: Web application security
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Favyen Bastani
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. Then we'll see how modern technologies prevent these attacks by design, but why they continue to be a problem.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of how websites work. Knowing what GET and POST mean is useful but not required.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of how websites work. Knowing what GET and POST mean is useful but not required.
C9015: UNIX Operating System Architecture
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Gurtej Kanwar
Ever wonder what goes into making operating systems like Linux or Mac work? How can you run 50 different programs on one processor? Why can't I write a program which steals all of your passwords?
The "kernel" is the lowest-level piece of software which sets up a structure for other programs to run on your computer in an isolated way, in parallel, and safely. In this class we'll talk about the principles behind one of the many possible kernel designs: UNIX.
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of the components of a computer will help in understanding, but this class should be accessible to all students who have worked with computers before!
The "kernel" is the lowest-level piece of software which sets up a structure for other programs to run on your computer in an isolated way, in parallel, and safely. In this class we'll talk about the principles behind one of the many possible kernel designs: UNIX.
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of the components of a computer will help in understanding, but this class should be accessible to all students who have worked with computers before!
C8918: Write a Sudoku Solver
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ziv Scully
There's this really cool programming language called Haskell. We could spend a while going over all of its features, slowly and rigorously introducing the language. Alternatively, we could jump in and write a Sudoku solver.
I like being alternative, but we'll have to move real fast. It's gonna be wild.
Prerequisites
Programming experience helpful but not required.
I like being alternative, but we'll have to move real fast. It's gonna be wild.
Prerequisites
Programming experience helpful but not required.
C9061: A Bit about Logic
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lars Johnson
Ever wondered how computers can do so much with only those 1s and 0s you see in movies? Come learn about how your computer works at the lowest level!
Prerequisites
Basic logic
Prerequisites
Basic logic
C8551: How to Make Your Own Website and Learn about the Internet at the Same Time Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Abhishek Nagaraj
C9047: Your First Website!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jennifer Zhang
Never coded anything before? Learn basic web development languages (HTML, CSS, and Javascript) to make your first website!
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
C8886: Wireshark Workshop
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Harvey Yee
Here is follow-up course to Promiscuous Mode-Network Protocol Analysis. In this course, we will hone our knowledge and skills in understanding and decoding network traffic.
Come prepared to get a deep dive into network protocol analysis by bringing a laptop so you can participate in a course discussion of some of the problems that we will uncover and solve.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of Networking Protocols
Come prepared to get a deep dive into network protocol analysis by bringing a laptop so you can participate in a course discussion of some of the problems that we will uncover and solve.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of Networking Protocols
C8952: Intro Programming for Newbs
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Wilson Louie,
Allen Park
Don't know programming? Excited to learn? We'll try to help out! Warning: expect no pity. No seriously, you won't remember anything =D!
Prerequisites
no programming experience
Prerequisites
no programming experience
C9077: Consensus
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Favyen Bastani
You and your friend have been captured by an evil computer scientist. She puts you into separate rooms and assigns each of you a number, either 0 or 1. Each of you can send one number back to her; if you and your friend both send the same number, and that number is one of the two you and your friend were assigned, then she lets you free. Otherwise, you will be locked in the room forever. To make this more interesting, the scientist also offers you a means of communication. She keeps track of an unlimited set of slots, and you and your friend can each request to read a value from or write a value to a specific slot at any time; she will respond saying that the write has completed or with the result of the read operation, after which you can make another request. She also may arbitrarily delay the requests from one of you, as long as she continues to respond to the other's requests immediately (this means she does not need to respond to one person's request until the other person also makes a request).
Unfortunately, there is no way for you to guarantee that you will both send the same valid number in a finite amount of time. Come to learn more about consensus, why it's not possible with only atomic read/write registers, and its enormous implications for multithreaded programming and concurrent computability.
Unfortunately, there is no way for you to guarantee that you will both send the same valid number in a finite amount of time. Come to learn more about consensus, why it's not possible with only atomic read/write registers, and its enormous implications for multithreaded programming and concurrent computability.
C8818: Intro to Graphics Programming with Processing
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Daniel Richman
Always wanted to do computer programming, but didn't know how to get started? We'll learn how to think the way computers do. Then we'll program some cool graphics/animation programs in Processing.
Not for you if you have substantial programming experience.
Prerequisites
Basic trigonometry. Please know what the unit circle is! That's it.
Not for you if you have substantial programming experience.
Prerequisites
Basic trigonometry. Please know what the unit circle is! That's it.
C8855: Sorting a List of Numbers
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
Did you know there's way too many ways to sort a list of numbers? Did you know that the way you probably sorted them is probably not the most efficient way to do so if you were a computer? Come to this class to learn about all the sorting algorithms (ways of sorting) you wanted or did not want to know.
C8631: Introduction to Programming in Microsoft Excel
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alex LaGrassa,
Eric Mannes
Learn to code with an application you already know!! We will cover using message boxes to interact with the user, take in data,and automate data manipulation and formatting.
Intended for complete beginners, but can benefit anyone. The language is Visual Basic for Applications.
Intended for complete beginners, but can benefit anyone. The language is Visual Basic for Applications.
C8586: How do computers do math?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Olivia Brode-Roger
Have you ever wondered how to write 42 so that a computer would understand it? How about −42? How do you compute 42+17? or 42−17?
In this class we'll see how numbers are represented by computers, and then go on to build a simple adder to do some basic arithmetic. If we have time we'll try to make our adder even faster by modifying it.
Prerequisites
An understanding of basic logical operations might make this a bit (pun intended) more understandable, but is not required.
In this class we'll see how numbers are represented by computers, and then go on to build a simple adder to do some basic arithmetic. If we have time we'll try to make our adder even faster by modifying it.
Prerequisites
An understanding of basic logical operations might make this a bit (pun intended) more understandable, but is not required.
C8826: Put Together The Pile of Junk!
Difficulty: **
Ever wondered how to build a computer, or what all of those random parts do? Help us put together computers that are older than you are, and learn about the innards in the process!
Prerequisites
Interest in computer hardware, patience.
Prerequisites
Interest in computer hardware, patience.
C8876: Intro to 3D Graphics with WebGL and Dart
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Harry Stern
You know Notch, the creator of Minecraft? He made this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVbPf0aJnbk a while ago using Dart and WebGL.
Dart is a language which compiles to Javascript, so it can run in the browser. WebGL is a browser API for 3D graphics based on modern OpenGL. Together, you can use them to do graphics programming in the browser without having to deal with Javascript.
We'll be doing a brief overview of how OpenGL works and then do a basic WebGL tutorial using Dart.
Prerequisites
Know how to multiply matrices and vectors. Some programming experience, not necessarily Dart.
Dart is a language which compiles to Javascript, so it can run in the browser. WebGL is a browser API for 3D graphics based on modern OpenGL. Together, you can use them to do graphics programming in the browser without having to deal with Javascript.
We'll be doing a brief overview of how OpenGL works and then do a basic WebGL tutorial using Dart.
Prerequisites
Know how to multiply matrices and vectors. Some programming experience, not necessarily Dart.
C8612: Programming Concepts
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Aaron Dunbrack
Learn how to write a program, at least in theory. Note that this course will not use any particular language, because languages have syntax, and syntax is annoying. Instead, we are going to learn conceptually how to program in any language, which you can then use in any language you want, whether it’s Python, C, Java, or something else entirely.
Prerequisites
None - if you have some experience with programming (in fact, if you know how to program in just about any language) then this course will probably be too easy.
Prerequisites
None - if you have some experience with programming (in fact, if you know how to program in just about any language) then this course will probably be too easy.
C8538: Stack Hacking: Programming Recursion in the TI-84
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Chelsea Voss
You've got a TI calculator. It does math. Yet, somehow, that's always felt... unsatisfying. Only math? You want it to do more!
With only 27 basic variables available to you, TI-BASIC is one of the more Fun(TM) programming languages out there. Yet, with certain tricks, you can wield the awesome power of lists, graphing, matrices, and more in order to write your own programs for any purpose.
In this class, we will use the concept of a "stack" in order to implement recursion in your TI calculator. This is the same way recursion is done by code running on real computers! With this tool in hand, our ultimate goal will be to create a program to draw fractals on the calculator's screen.
In class, I will teach you what you need to know, and leave you to try it out on your own time afterwards. Therefore, if you do not have a TI calculator, you will be able to participate and learn from the class just fine. However, if you do have a TI calculator, please bring it so you can get more practice.
Prerequisites
(1) You should have already taken math at the level of Geometry. (2) Basic experience with programming in any language, OR experience with using the TI-83 / TI-84 / TI-89 calculator for basic math.
With only 27 basic variables available to you, TI-BASIC is one of the more Fun(TM) programming languages out there. Yet, with certain tricks, you can wield the awesome power of lists, graphing, matrices, and more in order to write your own programs for any purpose.
In this class, we will use the concept of a "stack" in order to implement recursion in your TI calculator. This is the same way recursion is done by code running on real computers! With this tool in hand, our ultimate goal will be to create a program to draw fractals on the calculator's screen.
In class, I will teach you what you need to know, and leave you to try it out on your own time afterwards. Therefore, if you do not have a TI calculator, you will be able to participate and learn from the class just fine. However, if you do have a TI calculator, please bring it so you can get more practice.
Prerequisites
(1) You should have already taken math at the level of Geometry. (2) Basic experience with programming in any language, OR experience with using the TI-83 / TI-84 / TI-89 calculator for basic math.
C9097: How This Website Works
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jordan Moldow
Ever wonder what was actually going on when Splash registration opened? Find out how the ESP website (or any website) works behind the scenes.
We’ll cover, very briefly, the basics of all the major concepts of web design, including HTML, CSS, client-side scripting, and server-side scripting. Time permitting, we'll also talk about databases, version controlling, and caching. All examples will be taken from the ESP website.
If time allows, we’ll take a look at some of the administrative portions of the website - the pages that help the Splash directors administer the program.
This class will be an overview of many different concepts of web design, and how they interact. It will not be an in-depth look at any one concept, though links to resources for additional learning will be provided.
No computer experience is required. In fact, if you have a lot of computer experience, you’ll probably be bored. But if you don’t already know most of the terms listed in the description, then you’re encouraged to register for this class!
We’ll cover, very briefly, the basics of all the major concepts of web design, including HTML, CSS, client-side scripting, and server-side scripting. Time permitting, we'll also talk about databases, version controlling, and caching. All examples will be taken from the ESP website.
If time allows, we’ll take a look at some of the administrative portions of the website - the pages that help the Splash directors administer the program.
This class will be an overview of many different concepts of web design, and how they interact. It will not be an in-depth look at any one concept, though links to resources for additional learning will be provided.
No computer experience is required. In fact, if you have a lot of computer experience, you’ll probably be bored. But if you don’t already know most of the terms listed in the description, then you’re encouraged to register for this class!
C8730: Find the Shortest Path! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Varot Premtoon
C9062: Demystifying the Command Line
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lars Johnson
Unleash your computer's hidden power by using the UNIX command line that underlies the Linux and Mac operating systems. Learn command-line syntax to speed up common tasks such as file management, data entry, and text manipulation. We will explore Unix from the ground up, starting with the basics of the command line and ending with powerful, advanced tools.
You will be able to search your computer using regular expressions, quickly compare what has changed between two files, create simple secret codes, quickly convert units, and even write your own simple program, all using only a few commands on the terminal.
Prerequisites
Basic surface understanding of the computer filesystem (filepaths, directories, etc.)
You will be able to search your computer using regular expressions, quickly compare what has changed between two files, create simple secret codes, quickly convert units, and even write your own simple program, all using only a few commands on the terminal.
Prerequisites
Basic surface understanding of the computer filesystem (filepaths, directories, etc.)
C8893: Software Engineering: Building Big Programs
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Louis Wasserman
If you’ve ever worked on a program for longer than a week, you know it can start to run away from you, and become a tangled morass of code.
We’ll talk about how big software engineering companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook avoid these problems and manage hundreds of thousands of lines of code without their programs degenerating into spaghetti.
Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of programming in any language.
We’ll talk about how big software engineering companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook avoid these problems and manage hundreds of thousands of lines of code without their programs degenerating into spaghetti.
Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of programming in any language.
C9036: Quantum Computation
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Gaurav Singh
Have you heard that Quantum Computers can "try all the possibilities at once"? Do you want to know why people are spending so much effort trying to make quantum computers? Do you want to know why people are excited that they built a computer that could factor 15? If you come here, you will learn about how it really works.
C8913: Concurrency and Multithreaded Programming
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Dan Noe
I started teaching this course in 2006 when dual core processors were a newfangled thing. Now even cell phones have multicore processors! Programming to take advantage of today’s multicore processors is tricky and filled with pitfalls. We’ll talk about Amdahl’s law and how it defines the the performance increases from adding processors. I’ll discuss how programming language locks are actually implemented by operating systems and language designers. And I’ll talk about different ways computer scientists like to abstract concurrency to make it easier to design complex systems for processing large amounts of data in parallel.
Prerequisites
You should know the hardware parts of a computer (Processor, RAM, etc) and have some experience with any programming language.
Prerequisites
You should know the hardware parts of a computer (Processor, RAM, etc) and have some experience with any programming language.
C8546: Computer Architecture: Speed Run!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ziv Scully
We're going to start with transistors—electrical components that act kind of like switches—and build up from there to get as close to a designing a real live computer as we can. We're going to create structures that can make complicated logical decisions. We're going to draw a circuit on the board that can add numbers. We're might even go over the design of a fully functional processor. It'll be a party. No experience required!
Prerequisites
You should know about writing numbers in binary. If you don't know about binary yet, look it up! If you don't want to look it up, you'll still get a lot of the class, but there'll be one chunk that will probably be confusing.
Prerequisites
You should know about writing numbers in binary. If you don't know about binary yet, look it up! If you don't want to look it up, you'll still get a lot of the class, but there'll be one chunk that will probably be confusing.
C8756: Intro to Java Robots
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Steven Homberg
The computer programming you might be used to probably involves some computation and arithmetic and prints some answers to the screen, or maybe even draws some pretty pictures. But what if instead the program's output was actually mouse movements or key presses?
The Java Robot class lets you do just that! The applications are endless. You can do something as simple as trolling your friends with random mouse movements and typing while they're trying to work. You can also do more complicated things like writing a software bot to play flash games for you, get high scores and impress your friends! Whichever it is, the java.awt.Robot class has you covered.
Come learn some basic programming techniques with java Robots and see cool examples I've coded.
Prerequisites
Basic programming knowledge. Java in particular is useful but not required.
The Java Robot class lets you do just that! The applications are endless. You can do something as simple as trolling your friends with random mouse movements and typing while they're trying to work. You can also do more complicated things like writing a software bot to play flash games for you, get high scores and impress your friends! Whichever it is, the java.awt.Robot class has you covered.
Come learn some basic programming techniques with java Robots and see cool examples I've coded.
Prerequisites
Basic programming knowledge. Java in particular is useful but not required.
C8785: Introduction to Parallel Computing
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Michael Skuhersky
Have a lot of computer hardware? Link it together to make your calculations go faster! This class will explain the philosophical approaches to coarse and fine-grained parallelism, go over how different types of hardware are utilized by software and programming techniques, and include some real world examples of how researchers use parallel methods. Half the class will focus on multi-CPU methods, the other half will focus on advances in GPU methods. You will also learn the basic steps of building your own cluster.
Prerequisites
Some programming knowledge
Prerequisites
Some programming knowledge
C8771: Graphics with JavaScript
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ben Sena
A quick intro into using the HTML5 canvas element to produce graphics and animations in JavaScript. I will lead a quick demo for you to follow along, and then will answer questions as the class experiments. Interactivity will be encouraged for those that make sufficient progress.
C9096: Logic gates!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
William Navarre
Logic gates are electronic components that abstract the zero's and one's of computing into the ideas of "True" and "False" and allow you to do boolean operations on them. (In their not, "NOT AND", "NOT OR", "NOT", and "XOR").
We will be designing some simple logic-gate circuits that will do things you probably didn't know could be done with just the three operations above. We will also play with some real-life logic gates to see how they really work.
Goals of the class will be to play with some logic (something you already know how to do but probably don't do very often) and to get a feel for circuits (which is less scary than you think).
Prerequisites
You should be able to understand the following equality, but do not need to have already known it: a XOR b = (a OR b) AND NOT(a AND b) This course is intro-level. If you are comfortable with breadboards and logic gates already, you are not the target of this course.
We will be designing some simple logic-gate circuits that will do things you probably didn't know could be done with just the three operations above. We will also play with some real-life logic gates to see how they really work.
Goals of the class will be to play with some logic (something you already know how to do but probably don't do very often) and to get a feel for circuits (which is less scary than you think).
Prerequisites
You should be able to understand the following equality, but do not need to have already known it: a XOR b = (a OR b) AND NOT(a AND b) This course is intro-level. If you are comfortable with breadboards and logic gates already, you are not the target of this course.
C8914: Real Software Engineering
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Dan Noe
What is it really like to be a professional software engineer? Thinking about it as a career/major but you're not sure? I've been a full time software engineer since 2008 in both big and small companies. In this class we'll chat informally, answer questions, etc, about exactly what to expect if you go into a career in software engineering. We'll talk about some of the different types of software from web and mobile app development to operating systems and languages. Finally, we'll discuss some of the differences between "Computer Science" and "Software Engineering" and the parts of the software development process that universities often don't teach.
C9100: Painting with Computers: Recent Advancements in Magic
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniel Ron,
chase lambert
Learn to paint like Van Gogh through the wizardry of programming. Guaranteed probably the best class that you’ll ever take ever. We’ll dive into how you can make photographs from your phone look like impressionist paintings.
“Amazing”
“I just painted a picture of my dog instantly!”
“Wow holy wow that was great wow”
real testimonies (from you)
“Amazing”
“I just painted a picture of my dog instantly!”
“Wow holy wow that was great wow”
real testimonies (from you)
C8759: Machine Learning & Audio Analysis with Python
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Daryl Sew
Machine learning is a field of computer science that concerns writing programs that can make and improve predictions or behaviors based on some data. The applications of machine learning are very diverse - they range from self driving cars to spam filters to autocorrect algorithms and much more. Using scikit-learn, an open source machine learning library for Python, we'll cover reinforcement learning (the kind used to create artificial intelligence for games like chess), supervised learning (the kind used in handwriting recognition), and unsupervised learning (the kind eBay uses to group its products). We'll then cover audio analysis through Fourier transforms with numpy, an open source general purpose computational library for Python, and we'll use our newfound audio analysis and machine learning skills to write very basic speech recognition software.
Applications of machine learning to the fields of multitouch gesture recognition and computer vision will also be discussed, drawing from my work at Tesla and research on self driving cars & autonomous submarines.
Prerequisites
Prior programming experience strongly recommended.
Applications of machine learning to the fields of multitouch gesture recognition and computer vision will also be discussed, drawing from my work at Tesla and research on self driving cars & autonomous submarines.
Prerequisites
Prior programming experience strongly recommended.
C8878: Rants on Programming Languages
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Pravi Samaratunga
Hey there, do you like programming? Yeah, well you're probably wrong. All programming languages are awful in their own special ways. Rants will come in many flavors, such as C, Java, Python, web development languages, and whatever your favorite programming languages are.
Prerequisites
Some basic familiarity with programming is helpful, but not explicitly required. You can still have fun with this class even if you have never coded before.
Prerequisites
Some basic familiarity with programming is helpful, but not explicitly required. You can still have fun with this class even if you have never coded before.
C8508: Introduction to Linux
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anne LoVerso
Have you heard of Linux? Wondered what it's about? Why you should use it? How you use it? Look no further, and take this introductory class on the merits of open-source software, command-line usage, development environments, and more!
C8951: Sorting sensations
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kayla Meduna
Come learn all about how you would sort items in a list! We have fast, slow, and strange options. Ones that will make perfect sense and ones that will leave you baffled. You will leave this class knowing almost everything about your sorting needs! (there will be some math too)
C8934: Calculating Pi with a Coconut
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Haley Cope
If you're on a desert island with a coconut and a stick, would you be able to calculate pi? We'll look at this question, figure out how to do it, and then see how we can generalize this process (formally called "Monte Carlo Method") to other applications.
Prerequisites
I'll be showing Python code, but you don't have to be able to code in it (I'll explain it/it's really easy to read)
Prerequisites
I'll be showing Python code, but you don't have to be able to code in it (I'll explain it/it's really easy to read)
C8629: Algorithms of the Dummies, by the Dummies, for the Dummies
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Akshay Padmanabha,
Raja Selvakumar
Ever do excess work when it can be done more efficiently? What/who/when/where/how is efficiency? This class will teach you the tricks, shortcuts, and everything you need to know about algorithms: who they are, why they be, and what they want, etc etc. So much knowledge that we can't even: only odd!
C8505: Intro to MATLAB/Octave: Why Programming Shouldn't Scare You
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Akshara Thejaswi
Have you ever wanted to learn programming, but just found it too intimidating? Are the only languages you know ones that involve vocal cords and signing? Well, in this class you'll learn a different way to communicate with your hands - through programming!
(It's nowhere near as scary as it looks.)
In this class, you'll learn about MATLAB, a technical computing language that can be used in many different ways: data analysis, scripting, object-oriented programming, image processing, app development, and more...
... but we'll be going the slightly less scientific route, and making text-based games.
I'll be teaching you how to get started with MATLAB and Octave, and also answering any questions you might have about programming, computer science, or engineering in general. :)
Prerequisites
None, just be curious about programming! No laptops or computers required, we will be in a computer lab!
(It's nowhere near as scary as it looks.)
In this class, you'll learn about MATLAB, a technical computing language that can be used in many different ways: data analysis, scripting, object-oriented programming, image processing, app development, and more...
... but we'll be going the slightly less scientific route, and making text-based games.
I'll be teaching you how to get started with MATLAB and Octave, and also answering any questions you might have about programming, computer science, or engineering in general. :)
Prerequisites
None, just be curious about programming! No laptops or computers required, we will be in a computer lab!
C8605: Introduction to Programming with Python Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Vineel Adusumilli,
Andres Perez
C8845: An Introduction to Java and Object Oriented Programming
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Marco Crippa,
Ryan Jerue
Do you like Computers?
Do you like Programming?
Are you signed up for or thinking of taking AP Computer Science?
If so, this class is for you! The object of this course is to teach new programmers with little to no experience how to make a small Java program using objects.
Do you like Programming?
Are you signed up for or thinking of taking AP Computer Science?
If so, this class is for you! The object of this course is to teach new programmers with little to no experience how to make a small Java program using objects.
C8846: Writing BOTS: how to destroy your friends at any computer game
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kevin Chen
Have a game that you really want to beat your friends at? Well, you can either
spend countless hours of practice clicking and mashing keys. Or, you can write a BOT that does everything for you!
Learn how to write a program that can type and move the mouse for you, giving
you insanely high scores in any game.
Prerequisites
You MUST know Java.
spend countless hours of practice clicking and mashing keys. Or, you can write a BOT that does everything for you!
Learn how to write a program that can type and move the mouse for you, giving
you insanely high scores in any game.
Prerequisites
You MUST know Java.
C8899: AI and Board Games
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jin Pan
Ever wonder how computer AI works in video games and reality? In this course, we'll show you how to write your own AI code for tic tac toe and at the end, we'll have a checkers AI tournament!
Prerequisites
Programming background, python preferred
Prerequisites
Programming background, python preferred
C9040: Command Line One-liners
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Changping Chen
Ever need to scape gazillion lines of data from a webpage? Want to manipulate a text file like an SQL database or Excel sheet? Need to organize files but drag and drop is too tedious? You may be a Python master, and sure you can get these jobs done using your favorite language in an hour. BUT wouldn't it be nice if you don't have to code? Come learn all the command line tools you need to structure that perfect one-liner!
C9113: Learn Haskell
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jason Schuchardt
Haskell is awesome. Haskell is a purely functional programming language http://xkcd.com/1270/.
Prerequisites
Some programming experience preferred but not mandatory.
Prerequisites
Some programming experience preferred but not mandatory.
[Deprecated] Engineering
E8840: Dip Into the Charles
Difficulty: *
Learn more about the measures used to determine water quality in the Charles river and other bodies of water. Then take a trip outside to the river to perform some simple tests yourself. (Make sure to bring warm clothes!)
Prerequisites
Ability to plot points on a graph
Prerequisites
Ability to plot points on a graph
E8887: How Combination Locks Work Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Harvey Yee
E8939: The History of the T
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
DW Rowlands
Have you ever wondered why each line on the T uses a different,
incompatible, type of train? Or why the Red Line goes around such a
slow, horribly squealing curve between Central and Harvard? What
about why there are four tracks at JFK/UMass, or why there's a
"High-Speed Line" attached to the Ashmont end of the Red Line? Did
you know that the Orange Line used to directly connect North and South
Stations? We'll cover 115 years of the building and rebuilding of
Boston's rapid transit system.
incompatible, type of train? Or why the Red Line goes around such a
slow, horribly squealing curve between Central and Harvard? What
about why there are four tracks at JFK/UMass, or why there's a
"High-Speed Line" attached to the Ashmont end of the Red Line? Did
you know that the Orange Line used to directly connect North and South
Stations? We'll cover 115 years of the building and rebuilding of
Boston's rapid transit system.
E8510: Engineering Design Challenge!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anne LoVerso
Work on a team to design and build a solution to a challenge using only given materials! Will be fun, fast-paced, and involve likely failure. Good luck!
E9084: Introduction to Biomechanics Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kristi Oki
E8573: Modern Heat Engines Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brandon Zoss
E9111: Arduino - Open Source Hardware
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ali Shaik
Arduino is "Open Source Hardware" .. an inexpensive microprocessor board with digital/analog inputs/outputs that you can program and use to build electronic gadgets. I will bring a few boards with me and show how to program the board as well as connect it to other electronic stuff.
This class is for beginners to electronics and programming.
This class is for beginners to electronics and programming.
E8803: Mechanics and Materials: Introduction to Statics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jacob Fisher,
Mary Hwang
Introduction to statics and the mechanics of deformable solids. Stress and its relation to force and moment.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of Newtonian physics.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of Newtonian physics.
E8715: Evaluation of Products Designed for the Developing World
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Gaurav K
This course introduces students to evaluation theory and models, as well as their application and planning, with a focus on appropriate technologies designed for developing world use. We will discuss how to evaluate such technological solutions, from the perspectives of suitability, scalability, and sustainability, and also draw on specific case studies from Africa, Asia and/or Latin America. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to develop a simple, yet reliable framework for evaluating technological products (esp. designed for the developing world), and can also apply the concepts while pursuing more focused applications within the areas that are of interest to them.
E8724: Racecar Design 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jared Hecht
An introductory course in racecar design, covering aspects of aerodynamics, brakes, tires, steering, transmission, suspension, chassis, and powertrain concepts. Students will get a look into the design and optimization of various vehicle subsystems.
E8697: Build a Mini Aeroponic Farm!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Elaine Kung,
Camille Richman
Interested in the future of farming? Aeroponics is a soilless method of growing plants, in which roots are suspended in air and sustained with a nutrient mist. Learn about aeroponic farming technology and its applications to sustainable farming. Tour the Media Lab's aeroponic urban farm. Then build your own mini aeroponic farming system to take home!!!
E9028: Introduction to Feedback and Control Systems
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Daniel Kramnik
Learn the basic math and science that allows thermostats to regulate temperature, satellites to hold precise orbits, and supermaneuverable aircraft to perform turns that would normally be impossible. We'll start off by covering some basic topics in signals and systems and introducing the Laplace transform as a powerful technique for solving differential equations. Then, we'll define what a feedback system is and learn to rigorously analyze whether a control system built with feedback is stable. Along the way, we'll investigate various examples of physical and electronic systems with feedback such as the polarization of water molecules, electric motor speed controllers, and operational amplifiers.
Prerequisites
Be familiar be with complex numbers and Euler's formula (the complex exponential function). Have enough background in physics to know what an electric field and a mass-spring oscillator are. Know what an integral and derivative are and how to take some basic ones, including improper integrals. If you can figure out how to evaluate ∫∞11(x+2)2dx and would be comfortable with me doing it in 30 seconds, you'll be all set for this class.
Prerequisites
Be familiar be with complex numbers and Euler's formula (the complex exponential function). Have enough background in physics to know what an electric field and a mass-spring oscillator are. Know what an integral and derivative are and how to take some basic ones, including improper integrals. If you can figure out how to evaluate ∫∞11(x+2)2dx and would be comfortable with me doing it in 30 seconds, you'll be all set for this class.
E9107: Puzzles and Physics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
chase lambert
Puzzles are wonderful, especially when the answer can be seen in real life. Come learn a bit of physics through puzzles!
Prerequisites
Maybe a bit of a physics class, although not totally needed
Prerequisites
Maybe a bit of a physics class, although not totally needed
E8998: All about Nuclear Science and Engineering!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Maximillian Major
Does the idea of nuclear energy excite you? Do you want to gain a better understanding of radiation and its applications? Then come join this class! You'll learn the difference between fission and fusion, all about binding energy and radioactive decay, the basics of how a reactor functions, and more!
Prerequisites
Basic Chemistry, Basic Understanding of Classical Mechanics
Prerequisites
Basic Chemistry, Basic Understanding of Classical Mechanics
E8936: Rockets!
Difficulty: **
Love things that fly? Love things that go boom? Well... come learn about rockets! MIT's Rocket Team will be teaching about how rockets work and sharing some of their experience as a team.
E8787: Modern Rapid Fabrication
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Michael Skuhersky
Suppose you designed some cool 3D model and wanted to hold it in your hand. Or say you are making a prototype of a product you want to bring to market, but you don't want to make an entire assembly line for it! The most visible solution is FDM 3D printing, but this has plenty of limitations. We will take a look at the history of rapid fabrication techniques, the wide range of current methods and their limitations, and options being developed for the future. Examples of many different fabrication processes will be present.
E8705: Why the MBTA is so slow
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Joshua Fabian
Ever wonder why the [insert color] Line is always delayed at rush hour, or why buses appear to come in bunches?
Come make sense of these questions by learning the basics of queuing theory and traffic modeling, as well as how they apply to everyday operations on the T - dealing with situations such as disabled trains, schedule adjustments, bus bunching, and, yes, even headways on the Green Line branches.
Students are of course encouraged to bring their own transit-related questions or discussion.
Prerequisites
Some basic probability and statistics will be involved, but previous experience is not compulsory. Best to have previously ridden the T around Boston.
Come make sense of these questions by learning the basics of queuing theory and traffic modeling, as well as how they apply to everyday operations on the T - dealing with situations such as disabled trains, schedule adjustments, bus bunching, and, yes, even headways on the Green Line branches.
Students are of course encouraged to bring their own transit-related questions or discussion.
Prerequisites
Some basic probability and statistics will be involved, but previous experience is not compulsory. Best to have previously ridden the T around Boston.
E8506: When Life Gives You Lemons...
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Akshara Thejaswi
Imagine yourself stranded on an island. You have a near-infinite supply of lemons. What do you make with these lemons?
Not lemonade, because lemonade has been done a million times before, and it's not particularly useful when you're stranded on an island. This time you're gonna do something cool, new, and useful: circuits!
Learn how to build circuits out of things you have just lying around your house, and in the process, how circuits and batteries work!
Prerequisites
None, you don't even have to like lemons! We won't be eating any. :)
Not lemonade, because lemonade has been done a million times before, and it's not particularly useful when you're stranded on an island. This time you're gonna do something cool, new, and useful: circuits!
Learn how to build circuits out of things you have just lying around your house, and in the process, how circuits and batteries work!
Prerequisites
None, you don't even have to like lemons! We won't be eating any. :)
E9006: How to Solder (Almost) Anything
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Mitchell Gu,
Jingyi Zhao
Interested in electronics and want to make something awesome? Join us for an introduction to through-hole soldering of resistors, capacitors, jacks, and other components.
We'll be making an analog, portable headphone amplifier from scratch which you can use to power your headphones! No prior soldering experience is necessary.
Prerequisites
Mind, hand, love, and dreams.
We'll be making an analog, portable headphone amplifier from scratch which you can use to power your headphones! No prior soldering experience is necessary.
Prerequisites
Mind, hand, love, and dreams.
E8509: Engineering Design Challenge!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anne LoVerso
Work on a team to design and build a solution to a challenge using only given materials! Will be fun, fast-paced, and involve likely failure. Good luck!
E8678: Intro to Solidworks
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Mittmann
Want to learn how to make a 3d representation of an object on a computer? In this class you will get to create a Computer Aided Design (CAD) using SolidWorks software.
E8521: Building a Race Track in a City: Lessons from the Singapore Grand Prix
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Christopher Choo
We discuss some of the infrastructure considerations for building a race track in the middle of a city, and running a Formula One race at night.
We will touch on race infrastructure such as roads, barriers, fences, and lights in the context of an urban setting. What are the design considerations, and how did engineers come up with solutions to solve some of these problems?
What facilities are needed for spectators? How are these facilities serviced from an engineering standpoint, and what supporting infrastructure is required?
Lastly, we will briefly discuss the reasons for organizing a night race in the city. Who benefits? Who is adversely affected? How do we as engineers deal with these issues?
We will touch on race infrastructure such as roads, barriers, fences, and lights in the context of an urban setting. What are the design considerations, and how did engineers come up with solutions to solve some of these problems?
What facilities are needed for spectators? How are these facilities serviced from an engineering standpoint, and what supporting infrastructure is required?
Lastly, we will briefly discuss the reasons for organizing a night race in the city. Who benefits? Who is adversely affected? How do we as engineers deal with these issues?
E8621: Factory Physics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Vrajesh Modi
This class will introduce students to the equations behind running a successful manufacturing and/or supply chain operation. Topics covered include capacity, Little's Law, queueing, inventory, economic order quantity, the Newsvendor model, safety stock, replenishment policies, quality, statistical process control, and Lean/Six Sigma.
E8892: Singular Construction Projects
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Manuel Cabello de Alba Lara
An overview of construction projects and description of six massive and complex projects in Gibraltar (UK).
Waterport Terraces ($83M)
Mid Harbour ($100M)
Gibraltar Airport ($96M)
Tunnel under runway (under sea level) ($80M)
Buena Vista Park Villas ($50M)
Aerial Farm ($125M)
Prerequisites
Students with interest in Construction/Architecture/Engineering
Waterport Terraces ($83M)
Mid Harbour ($100M)
Gibraltar Airport ($96M)
Tunnel under runway (under sea level) ($80M)
Buena Vista Park Villas ($50M)
Aerial Farm ($125M)
Prerequisites
Students with interest in Construction/Architecture/Engineering
E9110: CHDK - Canon Hack Development Kit
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ali Shaik
Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK) is free public license software that runs together with operating software of many Canon cameras. We will learn how to install it, and I will demonstrate (a) Remote triggering of a camera (b) Motion detection (c) Making time lapse videos. I will provide enough information that you can try these projects at home.
E8617: Environmentally Benign Design and Manufacturing
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Vrajesh Modi
After this class, you will be able to: (1) justify why environmentally benign design and manufacturing matters; (2) evaluate and compare the environmental impact of various products and technologies; and (3) recognize and challenge questionable environmental analysis. Format will consist of a blend of lecture on theory and discussion on current issues.
Prerequisites
Chemistry and/or Physics background encouraged but not required.
Prerequisites
Chemistry and/or Physics background encouraged but not required.
E8677: Engineering Life: Synthetic Biology
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shinjini Saha
We are now in an era where biology is no longer limited to just studying nature. As the database of knowledge about the interactions of biochemical pathways and gene interactions grows bigger, so does our ability to manipulate them.
Synthetic biology allows us ways to engineer cells to behave in ways we want them to, providing potential ways to cure the yet incurable or solve problems yet unsolvable.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites, but very basic knowledge of enzymes, genes, DNA replication or DNA to protein formation will help (we'll go over everything!)
Synthetic biology allows us ways to engineer cells to behave in ways we want them to, providing potential ways to cure the yet incurable or solve problems yet unsolvable.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites, but very basic knowledge of enzymes, genes, DNA replication or DNA to protein formation will help (we'll go over everything!)
E9091: Engineering for International Development
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jason Yang
Here we will learn about engineering designs and practices when engineering for developing countries. Curriculum will be largely hands on to foster a love for engineering focused towards beginning to think about the unique problems in engineering for the developing world.
E8623: Build a Bridge
Difficulty: *
Learn about bridge design from some of MIT’s Civil Engineering students, then put your knowledge to the test in a competition to build the strongest bridge. We’ll provide materials and feedback on your designs, and at the end of the class, we’ll see which bridge can hold the most weight.
E8696: Using computers to discover drug targets
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Shannon Hughes,
Anthony Soltis
Cancer is a really complicated disease. Sometimes drugs that target tumors are very effective -- but often patients become resistant to the drugs they take and their tumors come back. In this class you will try to overcome this drug resistance using your knowledge of biology and computers! We will teach you the basics of a new field called 'Cancer Systems Biology'. Join us to learn how to tackle difficult health problems using engineering!
E8841: How lithium-ion batteries (in your iPhone, laptop) work
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Chibueze Amanchukwu
If you have a smart phone (iPhone, Galaxy) or a laptop, you have certainly said this at least once: "My battery is dead." But, do you know why? Lithium-ion batteries are in our smart phones, our laptops, and are now in electric vehicles. Come learn about how they work, why they are so exciting, and what the future holds for lithium-ion batteries.
Without lithium-ion batteries, our smart phones and laptops would not even last for as long as they currently do. Can you imagine that?? And current electric vehicles would not even exist!!
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of chemistry would be helpful (ions, electrons, positive charge...)
Without lithium-ion batteries, our smart phones and laptops would not even last for as long as they currently do. Can you imagine that?? And current electric vehicles would not even exist!!
Prerequisites
Some knowledge of chemistry would be helpful (ions, electrons, positive charge...)
E8647: Signals and Systems!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jimmy Mawdsley
Come learn about the exciting mathematics and applications of signal processing! We will start by defining various systems in both continuous and discrete-time contexts before branching out to discuss signal transforms, Fourier series, convolution, filters, etc. In addition, we will talk about how the theory is used in practice for such applications as audio processing, medical analysis, the JPEG image format, and biometrics. There will be demos and interactive activities!
Prerequisites
- Calculus BC is *strongly* recommended. - A first year high school physics background would be very helpful. - Familiarity with Euler’s formula ( eiθ=cos(θ)+isin(θ) ) would be a plus.
Prerequisites
- Calculus BC is *strongly* recommended. - A first year high school physics background would be very helpful. - Familiarity with Euler’s formula ( eiθ=cos(θ)+isin(θ) ) would be a plus.
E8881: Speaker Design Crash Course
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Corey Walsh
You like wubs? I like wubs. Here's how to make more wubs.
Want to tell your friends why their 100000 watt sound system sounds worse than a dying mule? I'll explain why most cheap commercial speakers are terrible, and how you can do better.
Learn about the ups and downs of Sealed, Bass Reflex, Transmission line, MLTL, Horn, and Taped Horn enclosures. I'll walk you through the basics of acoustics design and send you off knowing more than you did an hour before.
Want to tell your friends why their 100000 watt sound system sounds worse than a dying mule? I'll explain why most cheap commercial speakers are terrible, and how you can do better.
Learn about the ups and downs of Sealed, Bass Reflex, Transmission line, MLTL, Horn, and Taped Horn enclosures. I'll walk you through the basics of acoustics design and send you off knowing more than you did an hour before.
E8969: Industrial Ventilation Systems
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Riley Drake
Is that a pipe or a duct? Why does moving air around buildings have to be so complicated? What happens if you get stuck in a positive pressure room? What about a negative pressure room?
What kinds of ducts are there, and how can you identify them from the ground level? Duck hunting is a surprisingly popular sport, considering it pales in comparison to its sister sport, duct hunting. The class will include a guided duct hunt.
What kinds of ducts are there, and how can you identify them from the ground level? Duck hunting is a surprisingly popular sport, considering it pales in comparison to its sister sport, duct hunting. The class will include a guided duct hunt.
E8689: Electric Cars: how do they work?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nick Arango,
Jarrod Smith
A deep-dive into electric vehicle technology and a comparison to the old clunky topic of gasoline cars. Gas engines are 18% efficient. Electric motors are 85%-95% efficient. It is a no brainer to use electric right? It is a bit more complicated than that.
A demonstration of a tiny electric motorcycle will introduce you to the world of electric vehicles. Then we will talk in detail about: battery technology, battery management, motor types, motor controllers, efficiency, rapid charging, and why the world isn't electric yet.
A demonstration of a tiny electric motorcycle will introduce you to the world of electric vehicles. Then we will talk in detail about: battery technology, battery management, motor types, motor controllers, efficiency, rapid charging, and why the world isn't electric yet.
E8627: Introduction to Thermodynamics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
William Livernois
An hour-long introduction to basic thermodynamic concepts with fun demonstrations. What s temperature? What is entropy? What does the Second Law of Thermodynamics *really* mean? Answer these questions and more...
Prerequisites
AP Chem level knowledge preferred. Email if you have any questions.
Prerequisites
AP Chem level knowledge preferred. Email if you have any questions.
E8496: What's The Deal With 3D Printing? (Now with LASERS!)
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
William Little
The world's media has been going crazy over 3D printers every now and then, but what's so special about them? What can you do with them, and how?
In this class I will show you the practical sides of 3D printing. I'll show you the current consumer grade printers available to the public as well as talk about the massive printers used by companies such as ShapeWays. I will also show you what some of the current issues and limitations are and how they're being improved upon, including a live demo featuring 3D printers made by Solidoodle! By the end of this class you will have a foundation to build upon to start 3D printing on your own. I will present several sources for printer control software, modeling software, 3D modeling communities, printer manufacturers, and more!
I will also go over some of the basics of 3D modeling, as well as talk a little bit about the home manufacturing revolution with laser cutters and CNC machines as well as 3D printers to make just about anything you need!
Prerequisites
A curious mind and perhaps a pair of eyes.
In this class I will show you the practical sides of 3D printing. I'll show you the current consumer grade printers available to the public as well as talk about the massive printers used by companies such as ShapeWays. I will also show you what some of the current issues and limitations are and how they're being improved upon, including a live demo featuring 3D printers made by Solidoodle! By the end of this class you will have a foundation to build upon to start 3D printing on your own. I will present several sources for printer control software, modeling software, 3D modeling communities, printer manufacturers, and more!
I will also go over some of the basics of 3D modeling, as well as talk a little bit about the home manufacturing revolution with laser cutters and CNC machines as well as 3D printers to make just about anything you need!
Prerequisites
A curious mind and perhaps a pair of eyes.
Humanities
H8938: The Origins and Writing of the Constitution Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sweet Tea Dorminy,
DW Rowlands
H8926: Geography: Science for the rest of us
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Brynna Downey
Come quiz yourself on what geographs you know and forgot existed. Maybe you think you don't need this class, but my friend asked me what the capital of Chicago was. If you are my friend, you should take this class. Maybe you also like geography because you are cool kid number one! *You* should definitely come! We'll have some geographantastic moments.
Prerequisites
Know your state capital.
Prerequisites
Know your state capital.
H8821: Pictogram introduction to philosophy of law
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrei Klishin
What is a just society? Oh, there are so many answers. Equality, freedom, greater good - where do these concepts start to contradict each other? Is it possible to build a justice system that is not self-contradictory?
Yes, and even a few such systems, choose to your taste. This class provides an overview of three big schools of thought in political philosophy and a few dilemmas to which there are different answers. We will use pictograms and schemes to illustrate the difference of approaches.
Yes, and even a few such systems, choose to your taste. This class provides an overview of three big schools of thought in political philosophy and a few dilemmas to which there are different answers. We will use pictograms and schemes to illustrate the difference of approaches.
H8571: Making of the Modern Mind
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Carol Hardick
Making of the Modern Mind is the intersection of cognitive science, philosophy of mind, humanities and critical thinking.
Section I introduces you to theories of behavior, including priming, conditioning and morality and how these concepts relate to brain physiology and functions. We also discuss how our answers differ and how they relate to the "mind-body problem" and everything from law cases, health care to education.
We'll answer questions like: Are we bodies, or do we have bodies? How much would you have to be paid to lie? Should robots have equal rights if they can think and feel?
We'll discuss famous experiments on these topics including Rebecca Saxe and her experiments at MIT.
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 class.
Section I introduces you to theories of behavior, including priming, conditioning and morality and how these concepts relate to brain physiology and functions. We also discuss how our answers differ and how they relate to the "mind-body problem" and everything from law cases, health care to education.
We'll answer questions like: Are we bodies, or do we have bodies? How much would you have to be paid to lie? Should robots have equal rights if they can think and feel?
We'll discuss famous experiments on these topics including Rebecca Saxe and her experiments at MIT.
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 class.
H8796: Palestine vs. Fox News
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Zafar Nizai,
Annalise Pforr
We've all heard of Palestine. The West Bank. Gaza. But mostly from the perspective of our own American media.
This class is going to eat some popcorn, watch some American news, some international broadcasts, and enlighten ourselves to what the media really does to the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict. It's going to be a party!
After 50 minutes of SPLASH-certified training, every one of you smart people will sound better informed than the average American news anchor. Why not, right?
This class is going to eat some popcorn, watch some American news, some international broadcasts, and enlighten ourselves to what the media really does to the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict. It's going to be a party!
After 50 minutes of SPLASH-certified training, every one of you smart people will sound better informed than the average American news anchor. Why not, right?
H8829: Introduction to Positive Disintegration - Part 1 Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Josh Shaine
H8740: Dabrowski and Overexcitabilities
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Meri Jade Piltser,
Shannon Reilley
We will talk about the implications of heightened sensitivity for everyday living in gifted people and take a quiz to see which Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities manifest in us.
"Overexcitabilities are inborn intensities indicating a heightened ability to respond to stimuli. Found to a greater degree in creative and gifted individuals, overexcitabilities are expressed in increased sensitivity, awareness, and intensity, and represent a real difference in the fabric of life and quality of experience. Dabrowski identified five areas of intensity-Psychomotor, Sensual, Intellectual, Imaginational, and Emotional. A person may possess one or more of these. “One who manifests several forms of overexcitability, sees reality in a different, stronger and more multisided manner” (Dabrowski, 1972, p. 7) - See more at: http://www.sengifted.org/archives/articles/overexcitability-and-the-gifted#sthash.SVDb8uHh.dpuf
"Overexcitabilities are inborn intensities indicating a heightened ability to respond to stimuli. Found to a greater degree in creative and gifted individuals, overexcitabilities are expressed in increased sensitivity, awareness, and intensity, and represent a real difference in the fabric of life and quality of experience. Dabrowski identified five areas of intensity-Psychomotor, Sensual, Intellectual, Imaginational, and Emotional. A person may possess one or more of these. “One who manifests several forms of overexcitability, sees reality in a different, stronger and more multisided manner” (Dabrowski, 1972, p. 7) - See more at: http://www.sengifted.org/archives/articles/overexcitability-and-the-gifted#sthash.SVDb8uHh.dpuf
H9070: Experimental Writing
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Cathleen Nalezyty
Have you heard of blackout poems? Erasure text? Concrete poetry? Have you ever played Exquisite Corpse or Syllogism?
In this class, we'll talk about some forms of "experimental" writing and have some fun coming up with our own forms of experimental writing. We'll play some collaborative word games and, at the end, hopefully you'll come away with some new ideas about what constitutes "writing".
In this class, we'll talk about some forms of "experimental" writing and have some fun coming up with our own forms of experimental writing. We'll play some collaborative word games and, at the end, hopefully you'll come away with some new ideas about what constitutes "writing".
H9089: Arabic 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Annalise Pforr
Learn to speak and write Arabic in 50 minutes!
Seriously. No experience necessary.
We'll learn the alphabet, how to write your name, and some useful phrases.
Prerequisites
None
Seriously. No experience necessary.
We'll learn the alphabet, how to write your name, and some useful phrases.
Prerequisites
None
H9071: Greek Pottery
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Cathleen Nalezyty
Let's delve into the world of Greek pottery! In this class, we'll look at a couple of pieces of Greek pottery and explore them both as art pieces and as records of myth. We'll spend some time talking about the design elements of the pottery, the main techniques in pottery making of the time, and a little bit about the depiction of the mythology on the pieces.
H8700: Making of the Modern Mind: Topic #2
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Carol Hardick
Making of the Modern Mind is the intersection of cognitive science, philosophy of mind, humanities and critical thinking.
The topic for Section II will be group theories, identity, morality and the problem of good and evil, and how these concepts relate to the physiology of the brain and the"mind/body problem." We also discuss how our ideas on this connect to everything from the law to ethics to health care. We'll discuss famous experiments on these topics.
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 class. I hope you join us for some interesting debate!
The topic for Section II will be group theories, identity, morality and the problem of good and evil, and how these concepts relate to the physiology of the brain and the"mind/body problem." We also discuss how our ideas on this connect to everything from the law to ethics to health care. We'll discuss famous experiments on these topics.
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 class. I hope you join us for some interesting debate!
H8902: Ethical and Environmental Food Issues
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Berg
If you carefully stroll through the supermarket, you'll notice that everything is plastered with a variety of labels: Organic, Natural, Fair Trade, non-GMO. What do all of these words mean, and why should you care? In this class, we'll learn about and discuss both sides of many contemporary food issues.
H9072: History of Art in 50 Minutes Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Cathleen Nalezyty
H8722: The Fun Parts of History
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Robert Rusch
Who was the 23rd president? When was the Battle of Thermopylae? What was the socioeconomic reasons responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire?
BORING!
Instead, you will hear the tales of mighty men and women as they live out their exceptional, fascinating and occasionally incredibly dumb lives.
In addition, any student that would like to share a favorite historical story of theirs is welcome to speak during the class.
BORING!
Instead, you will hear the tales of mighty men and women as they live out their exceptional, fascinating and occasionally incredibly dumb lives.
In addition, any student that would like to share a favorite historical story of theirs is welcome to speak during the class.
H9120: Autism, Aspergers and the spectrum
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Joshua Frisch
Autism, Asperger's syndrome, and related conditions, are some of the fastest growing mental health challenges in the country. In this class I will give firsthand knowledge about living with Autism, its effects on socialization and intelligence, and the importance and success that early occupational and social therapy can have to alleviate social and communicative difficulties.
H8986: Battle School
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kevin Yue
Have you ever wanted to conquer the world? Ever wondered if you could if you had the chance?
Well, here it is. Come, face down like-minded individuals! Vanquish them on the field of battle! Win eternal glory*
Oh, and learn some military history while you're at it.
*For the duration of 1 class period. Actual results may vary.
Prerequisites
Willingness to read the game rules in advance
Well, here it is. Come, face down like-minded individuals! Vanquish them on the field of battle! Win eternal glory*
Oh, and learn some military history while you're at it.
*For the duration of 1 class period. Actual results may vary.
Prerequisites
Willingness to read the game rules in advance
H9123: History of Homosexuality
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Joshua Frisch
Gays, Lesbians, and alternate sexualities have existed for thousands of years and controversies and opinions about them for nearly as long. We will discuss same gender relationships, different societies reactions and tolerance to them, and the affect that individuals had in a variety of places and times, modern and ancient, foreign and familiar. We will discuss issues ranging from the silly to the striking with, hopefully, a healthy dose of humor.
H8592: Is belief in god reasonable?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Michael Denigris
This class will provide a very basic introduction to the academic discussion of whether or not god exists, and in what ways one can attempt to establish a justified answer to that question.
We will address philosophically rigorous arguments both for and against the existence of god, and attempt to find flaws in their reasoning.
The format of the class will be a mix between lecture and discussion. I'll present the arguments, the justifications for the arguments' premises, and some possible objections for consideration, and invite the class to make their own objections or ask questions.
Topics:
-Burden of proof and the construct of the null hypothesis
-Positions one can have on the question of god's existence
-Arguments for the existence of god: Teleological Argument, Kalam Cosmological Argument, Moral Argument
-Arguments against the existence of god: Problem of Evil, Hume's argument against miracles, the Omnipotence Paradox.
Prerequisites
>An open mind. >Willingness to have your beliefs changed by others. >Basic understanding of philosophical arguments (validity and soundness - will be quickly reviewed). >Cursory knowledge of the Big Bang Theory.
We will address philosophically rigorous arguments both for and against the existence of god, and attempt to find flaws in their reasoning.
The format of the class will be a mix between lecture and discussion. I'll present the arguments, the justifications for the arguments' premises, and some possible objections for consideration, and invite the class to make their own objections or ask questions.
Topics:
-Burden of proof and the construct of the null hypothesis
-Positions one can have on the question of god's existence
-Arguments for the existence of god: Teleological Argument, Kalam Cosmological Argument, Moral Argument
-Arguments against the existence of god: Problem of Evil, Hume's argument against miracles, the Omnipotence Paradox.
Prerequisites
>An open mind. >Willingness to have your beliefs changed by others. >Basic understanding of philosophical arguments (validity and soundness - will be quickly reviewed). >Cursory knowledge of the Big Bang Theory.
H8856: "Cogito, Ergo Machina?": Topics in Machine Thought
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Arnav Sood
On January 14, 2008, IBM's Watson won a million dollars on Jeopardy; since then, it's studied complex diseases and landed a job with Boeing, but can it even think?
This course uses Watson, and other hypothetical machines, to explore problems in machine thought. Topics might include the Turing Test, the Blockhead, Searle's Chinese Room, and the functionalist and behavioralist approaches to intelligence, based on seminar participants' choices. Time permitting, we will also discuss the computational nature of human thought.
Prerequisites
Students of all backgrounds, and all levels of familiarity with AI, are welcome! The class should be rewarding to all, since we will spend most of our time exploring the ideas we introduce in class.
This course uses Watson, and other hypothetical machines, to explore problems in machine thought. Topics might include the Turing Test, the Blockhead, Searle's Chinese Room, and the functionalist and behavioralist approaches to intelligence, based on seminar participants' choices. Time permitting, we will also discuss the computational nature of human thought.
Prerequisites
Students of all backgrounds, and all levels of familiarity with AI, are welcome! The class should be rewarding to all, since we will spend most of our time exploring the ideas we introduce in class.
H8726: Philosophy and Morals in Anime Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yini Qi,
Charlene Xia
H9080: Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
John Gregg
What is a mind, and why is it so special? Is it special? How could it possibly work? Won't brain science, psychology and/or cognitive science answer any questions anyway? What do we need philosophy for? Do I have to wear a toga? No to that last one, but for the rest, sign up for this class. A brief history, and a primer on the current debates in this contentious field.
H9014: Why they "hate us"? A brief history of the Middle East
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Malte Ahrens
A brief dive into the history, religion and people of the Middle East; why the maps are as they are today, why wars are still being fought to this day, and what our involvement is.
Grab onto your seats, this is one wild and fascinating ride through history!
Grab onto your seats, this is one wild and fascinating ride through history!
H9049: Islam 101: Religion of Peace or Terror ?
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mehmet Efe Akengin
We will first make a short introduction to Islam: What does Islam mean, is that something similar to Christianity?
Then we will dive into controversial topics and stereotypes about Islam such as terrorism and universal moral values. Can someone killing innocent people claim to be a real Muslim? Does Islam promote their actions?
We will try to answer all our questions by using the fundamental sources of Islam such as Quran and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed.
At the end, we will answer your questions ANYTHING about Islam.
Prerequisites
Being open-minded and eager to overcome biases
Then we will dive into controversial topics and stereotypes about Islam such as terrorism and universal moral values. Can someone killing innocent people claim to be a real Muslim? Does Islam promote their actions?
We will try to answer all our questions by using the fundamental sources of Islam such as Quran and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed.
At the end, we will answer your questions ANYTHING about Islam.
Prerequisites
Being open-minded and eager to overcome biases
H8530: The Roman Empire
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Diptarka Hait
Follow the Roman Empire over the course of 1480 years from Antiquity to the Medieval Era. Learn how the Empire survived despite barbarians, inflation, political instability, corruption, plagues, religious divisions and even the brief loss of its Capital. Witness the cyclical rise and fall of fortunes, until the last Emperor casts down his crown and rushes to attack the invaders who had breached the walls of his city, never to be seen again.
And finally, understand how the Roman national identity survived despite the loss of the Empire, and still affects the world today. As you admire the bones of the Empire, do not forget the shadow it still casts, whether for good or for evil.
Prerequisites
Nothing other than interest in history.
And finally, understand how the Roman national identity survived despite the loss of the Empire, and still affects the world today. As you admire the bones of the Empire, do not forget the shadow it still casts, whether for good or for evil.
Prerequisites
Nothing other than interest in history.
H9078: Thinking About Religion
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Amy Estersohn
Come with questions, leave with even more questions! This class is a discussion-intensive tour de force of thinking through questions about religion that you and your classmates have. You may also realize that people who have been long dead have asked similar questions.
H8945: The User Experience - An Intro to UI/UX Design
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jessica Wang
Ever wondered how people use things? From physical objects in our daily lives, to websites we browse, the user experience plays a large part in determining the success of the product. UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) designers work hand-in-hand to design and optimize how people use things. The field as a whole is an interdisciplinary mix of visual design, psychology and user behavior, and computer science. Learn about exactly what UI/UX is, and gain insights into how to craft beautiful experiences.
H8732: Do We Have a Purpose? Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
John Bell,
Annika Rollock
H8709: Intro to Humanistic Psychology
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ben Carton
Could psychology serve a bigger role than just diagnosing "what's wrong" with people and offering to "fix" them? Humanistic psychology emphasizes each person's dignity, creativity, and potential for growth. It holds that people should be valued for, and understood through, their experience of the world and themselves. Humanistic psychology in practice tries to create conditions - in therapy, in the classroom, in the workplace - which help each individual's unique potential unfold. This class will cover the basics of humanistic philosophy and how it is put into practice. A special focus will be put on the work of Carl Rogers, an incredibly influential figure who is seen as one of the founders of humanistic psychology.
Prerequisites
Recommended, but NOT required: Read "A Way of Being" by Carl Rogers
Prerequisites
Recommended, but NOT required: Read "A Way of Being" by Carl Rogers
H8916: Robots! Space! Time! Stories!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Bianca Homberg
Interested in science fiction, futuristic engineering, artificial intelligence or interplanetary empires? Ever wondered what would happen if people lived forever? What would happen if the world split in two every time you had to make a choice, and both options happened? What would happen if there was a center of time where time stood still?
Come read a few of the short stories of Isaac Asimov, one of the most prolific science fiction writers of all time and excerpts from the book Einstein's Dreams, which describes numerous different ways in which time could work. Come spend an hour devouring tales of robots, space, and time!
Come read a few of the short stories of Isaac Asimov, one of the most prolific science fiction writers of all time and excerpts from the book Einstein's Dreams, which describes numerous different ways in which time could work. Come spend an hour devouring tales of robots, space, and time!
H8947: Classpect!
Difficulty: *
Explanation and discussion of the heroic titles system used in Andrew Hussie's Homestuck.
H8569: Dreams, Dreaming and the Subconscious
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Carol Hardick
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.
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.
H8937: Topics on International Development
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jose Esparza
Do you want to save the world? We will discuss the current issues around the world that can be addressed by international development work such as poverty, global health issues, education, waste management, etc. And how to address these issues effectively in our modern society through policy and projects. Case studies will focus on Africa, India, and East Asia.
H8589: Once Upon a Time, The End
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
A L
A tear formed in my eye as I watched him pick out the peas from his carrots. He learned it from her.
That's it. A complete work of fiction in two sentences. Inventive writers are now crafting really short stories that can be surprising, intriguing and delightful. The fascinating genre of flash/sudden/micro fiction is all around us. In the form of cell phone stories, TV/radio commercials, web videos and other manifestations, highly compact stories can be humorous, thought-provoking, informative and much more. Come sample some microfiction and write your own in this workshop! Bring writing materials!
That's it. A complete work of fiction in two sentences. Inventive writers are now crafting really short stories that can be surprising, intriguing and delightful. The fascinating genre of flash/sudden/micro fiction is all around us. In the form of cell phone stories, TV/radio commercials, web videos and other manifestations, highly compact stories can be humorous, thought-provoking, informative and much more. Come sample some microfiction and write your own in this workshop! Bring writing materials!
H8735: Sociobiology, Leadership, and Ethics Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
James Rowan
H8776: Introduction to Socionics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Roan LaPlante
In this class we will review Socionics, a personality typology and branch of Jungian analytical psychology developed by a Lithuanian woman named Ausra Augustinavicitue in the 1970s. Socionics is moderately well popularized in Eastern Europe and almost unheard of in Western Europe or America.
Socionics is an abstract philosophical model and language for describing people and their social interactions, which attempts to answer the question, "How are different people different?" More concisely, it is a system of personality types. In this class, we will simultaneously review the conceptual foundations of this typology, and in doing so, we will address the problem of knowledge and numerous issues in practice. Specifically we will point out the problems and vagueness of the topic of personality types in itself, how it relates to science (socionics is *not* science) and ask what understanding personality types is actually useful for.
Prerequisites
a desire for self-knowledge and a willingness to think critically. familiarity with MBTI is potentially helpful but also potentially detrimental. Some background in psychology is helpful but not needed.
Socionics is an abstract philosophical model and language for describing people and their social interactions, which attempts to answer the question, "How are different people different?" More concisely, it is a system of personality types. In this class, we will simultaneously review the conceptual foundations of this typology, and in doing so, we will address the problem of knowledge and numerous issues in practice. Specifically we will point out the problems and vagueness of the topic of personality types in itself, how it relates to science (socionics is *not* science) and ask what understanding personality types is actually useful for.
Prerequisites
a desire for self-knowledge and a willingness to think critically. familiarity with MBTI is potentially helpful but also potentially detrimental. Some background in psychology is helpful but not needed.
H8877: False Memories: When What You Remember Never Happened
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Laura Eckman
Memories aren't perfect - in fact, almost all of your memories, especially the ones that seem particularly vivid, are markedly different from what you would see if you watched a video tape of the original incident. We'll be looking into different instances of fallacious memories, from alterations to entire false creations. We will also discuss what the unreliability of memory means in a larger context, specifically legal issues with potentially inaccurate eyewitness testimony.
H8701: Obamacare and Global Health
Difficulty: **
How does healthcare work in the United States and how do systems globally compare? What are some ways that we can change the services that provide healthcare, and what problems are tech companies trying to solve?
H8628: A Brief History of Architecture
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ciera Gordon
Architecture shapes our world, affecting and reflecting how we live our lives. This course will highlight a sampling of buildings from different eras throughout history. Everything from the Pantheon to the Stata Center is fair game! Learn to identify architectural styles and build an understanding of how architecture has changed over the years. Based on the past, what can we expect from the future?
H8688: Economics of Professional Sports
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jordan Ross
Learn about the theory behind professional sports. We'll discuss business and economics concepts and end with physical activity including kickball and soccer.
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
H8977: Women's role in religion
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Filsan Hussein
A chance for students to intermingle in other religions . Students who want to know how it feels to wear the hijab and try cultural foods (YES THERE WILL BE FOOD) are welcome . You will find out the MAJOR differences of how the easterners feel about the westerners ( 'MERICA) and vice versa . We will also connect the major roles women played in each religion .
Prerequisites
Come prepared to have fun ! And try new things
Prerequisites
Come prepared to have fun ! And try new things
Lunch
L9130: Lunch Period
Difficulty: None
Teachers:
Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.
L9131: Lunch Period
Difficulty: None
Teachers:
Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.
Mathematics
M8742: 18.00C: Cryptography for People Without a Computer
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Peter Duerst,
Micah Gale
Ever wanted to create a secret code? Want to know how to break them? This class will teach you how to do both, with only the aid of a four-function calculator. Covered materials include: the concept of modulus, the use of affine, Vigenere, and Hill ciphers, and basic strategies for decryption, primarily frequency analysis.
Prerequisites
Basic matrix knowledge might be helpful towards the end of the covered material.
Prerequisites
Basic matrix knowledge might be helpful towards the end of the covered material.
M8556: The Math of Guarding Things: The Art Gallery Problem
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yonah Borns-Weil
Mathematician Paul Erdös talked a lot about "The Book," where God supposedly kept perfect proofs to all mathematical theorems. Us mathematicians can't claim to have seen this book, but we do generally agree on some proofs that would definitely be there. A popular choice is Steve Fisk's solution to "The Art Gallery Problem."
Basically, given a (not necessarily convex) polygonal art gallery, we want to place guards at the vertices so they can see the entire interior. How many guards do we need?
If there's time, I'll also discuss the Fortress Problem, in which we want to see the outside of a polygon, and the Prison Yard Problem, where we want to see both, as well as talking about some trickier cases like art galleries in space.
Prerequisites
Despite having been proven within the last 40 years, this class has no prerequisites beyond a good comfort with proofs. You should be familiar with proofs by induction and by contradiction.
Basically, given a (not necessarily convex) polygonal art gallery, we want to place guards at the vertices so they can see the entire interior. How many guards do we need?
If there's time, I'll also discuss the Fortress Problem, in which we want to see the outside of a polygon, and the Prison Yard Problem, where we want to see both, as well as talking about some trickier cases like art galleries in space.
Prerequisites
Despite having been proven within the last 40 years, this class has no prerequisites beyond a good comfort with proofs. You should be familiar with proofs by induction and by contradiction.
M8501: Calculus in Number Theory
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kevin Yang
Let π(x) be the number of prime numbers <x∈Z. Studying the asymptotics of π(x) already asks how it grows as x goes to infinity. Euclid gave an answer to this but didn't finish the story. Analysis, the study of functions, convergence, and calculus, plays a big role in number theory, from finishing Euclid's story to proving Dirichlet's theorem on arithmetic progressions, and even another proof of quadratic reciprocity. We'll introduce how analysis becomes an essential tool, and talk about problems that are still out there for people to solve. Any remaining time will be allotted for questions about any math.
Prerequisites
Calculus and a rapport for abstract mathematics. Complex analysis will be used, but the tools will be developed.
Prerequisites
Calculus and a rapport for abstract mathematics. Complex analysis will be used, but the tools will be developed.
M8905: It's back: 2hr Cram Session of Undergraduate Mathematics Full!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Felix Wong
M8610: Conceptual Calculus
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Aaron Dunbrack
Learn what it means to take the limit, the derivative, or the integral! Also learn how to apply these concepts in some pretty cool ways. Note: this class will be almost entirely conceptual - very few actual derivatives will be taken, although some of the more interesting ones may be used.
Prerequisites
Understand basic algebraic manipulations. Familiarity with polynomial functions, exponentials and trigonometry will help with understanding examples, but are not required for basic understanding.
Prerequisites
Understand basic algebraic manipulations. Familiarity with polynomial functions, exponentials and trigonometry will help with understanding examples, but are not required for basic understanding.
M8799: May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Denise Che,
Laura D'Aquila
Have you ever wanted to learn how to rip off your friends (completely legitimately)? This class will teach you the mathematics behind becoming rich and powerful (okay, maybe it won't do quite that). But it will lay down the mathematical foundation that you will need so that you can challenge your friends to bets in which the odds be ever in your favor. During this course, we'll expose you to discrete math tools including probability, expected value, counting, and more through fun and interactive demos. We'll show you cool mathematical tricks that you can use to impress your friends (and maybe make a few bucks in the process).
Prerequisites
Basic probability knowledge helpful
Prerequisites
Basic probability knowledge helpful
M8797: The Schläfli Symbol
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Herng Yi Cheng,
Emmett Krupczak
What do floor tiles, wallpaper and honeycombs have in common? They are formed by repeating a fixed pattern in an orderly fashion, which adds to their beauty. That beauty is shared by some symmetric 3D shapes formed from repetition, such as cubes.
As it turns out, the prettiest shapes that are full of symmetry can be cleanly described using just a few numbers. In this lecture We'll also look at some interesting patterns within those numbers.
As it turns out, the prettiest shapes that are full of symmetry can be cleanly described using just a few numbers. In this lecture We'll also look at some interesting patterns within those numbers.
M9063: Curved Spaces - An Introduction to Surface Topology
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lars Johnson
Come play tic-tac-toe on a bagel (edible torus!) and learn about the fascinating topic of surface topology - the study of two dimensional surfaces. We will use computer simulations to learn about how we create, transform, and classify surfaces as well as several applications, and even get a glimpse into some ideas about the topological shape of our universe.
Prerequisites
Geometry, Ability to visualize in 3D - for instance bending a strip of paper to form a mobius strip.
Prerequisites
Geometry, Ability to visualize in 3D - for instance bending a strip of paper to form a mobius strip.
M8957: Intro to Graph Theory Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Cristina Mata
M8576: Primes and the Riemann Zeta Function
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Matt DeCross
Since ancient times, mathematicians have been incredibly intrigued by prime numbers: integers greater than or equal to two that are only divisible by themselves and one.
At first, there are many prime numbers, and they are packed closely together: 2,3,5,7,11,13, and so on. We know that later, however, the primes become much less closely packed, so much that we have to use supercomputers to find very large primes!
The study of the distribution of prime numbers has as a result been a very involved subject of study in mathematics, and one which is used in applied fields like cryptography.
We'll show, using only high-school level techniques, how an interesting function called the Riemann Zeta function can tell us many useful things about the distribution of prime numbers. We will also mention connections to the Riemann hypothesis, one of the greatest unsolved problems in math today.
This class is similar in spirit to M8501, but covers a more focused topic and will not require previous exposure to abstract math.
Prerequisites
BC Calculus or equivalent (should know Taylor series).
At first, there are many prime numbers, and they are packed closely together: 2,3,5,7,11,13, and so on. We know that later, however, the primes become much less closely packed, so much that we have to use supercomputers to find very large primes!
The study of the distribution of prime numbers has as a result been a very involved subject of study in mathematics, and one which is used in applied fields like cryptography.
We'll show, using only high-school level techniques, how an interesting function called the Riemann Zeta function can tell us many useful things about the distribution of prime numbers. We will also mention connections to the Riemann hypothesis, one of the greatest unsolved problems in math today.
This class is similar in spirit to M8501, but covers a more focused topic and will not require previous exposure to abstract math.
Prerequisites
BC Calculus or equivalent (should know Taylor series).
M9032: Polynomials are basically computers. What?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Colin Aitken
About fifty years ago, Julia Robinson, Yuri Matiyasevich, Hilary Putnam, and Martin Davis together proved a theorem that doesn't make any sense: any set of integers that a computer can understand is the set of positive outputs of some polynomial.
What does this mean? It means there's a polynomial whose positive outputs are all prime (and, in fact, are all the primes). There's a polynomial that only outputs Fibonacci numbers. There's another that can output any positive integer except for those whose english spellings contain an even number of vowels.
How does that work? Why does that even make sense? Who cares? Come find out with me!
Prerequisites
High school algebra! Be comfortable with polynomials :D
What does this mean? It means there's a polynomial whose positive outputs are all prime (and, in fact, are all the primes). There's a polynomial that only outputs Fibonacci numbers. There's another that can output any positive integer except for those whose english spellings contain an even number of vowels.
How does that work? Why does that even make sense? Who cares? Come find out with me!
Prerequisites
High school algebra! Be comfortable with polynomials :D
M8543: 2x2 = 4: The Hard Way Full!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Ziv Scully
M9054: Infinity and You
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniel Epelbaum
I bet someone at some point told you that 2 times infinity equals infinity. And then your brain hurt a little bit.
And maybe now you know that that isn't quite true and if you just don't think about it everything will be okay. If an answer to "how do 2∗∞=∞?" is something that you would really like, then come take this class. In not a lot of time we will introduce the concept of infinity and show how reasoning about infinity leads to huge implications about the foundations of mathematics.
If you like learning a lot of really cool higher math in not a lot of time then this is the class for you.
Prerequisites
Your brain.
And maybe now you know that that isn't quite true and if you just don't think about it everything will be okay. If an answer to "how do 2∗∞=∞?" is something that you would really like, then come take this class. In not a lot of time we will introduce the concept of infinity and show how reasoning about infinity leads to huge implications about the foundations of mathematics.
If you like learning a lot of really cool higher math in not a lot of time then this is the class for you.
Prerequisites
Your brain.
M8928: Zero to Infinity
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Bianca Homberg
Suppose I have a hotel with infinitely many rooms all in a row, all of which are full. If another person shows up, can I find away to rearrange people so that the newcomer has a room? What if I have infinitely many new people who need rooms?
Are there more integers or natural numbers? More real numbers or natural numbers?
Are there multiple sizes of infinity, or just one?
Interested in infinity? Ever wondered about questions like these? Want to spend an hour learning cool stuff to stretch your mind? Then come take this class! (We'll cover definitions and some proofs, but the focus will be on gaining a more intuitive understanding of mind-blowing math versus mathematical rigor.)
Are there more integers or natural numbers? More real numbers or natural numbers?
Are there multiple sizes of infinity, or just one?
Interested in infinity? Ever wondered about questions like these? Want to spend an hour learning cool stuff to stretch your mind? Then come take this class! (We'll cover definitions and some proofs, but the focus will be on gaining a more intuitive understanding of mind-blowing math versus mathematical rigor.)
M8994: The Futurama Theorem
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Simon Zheng
Suppose you have a machine that can switch two people's bodies but each pair of bodies can enter the machine at most once. You and your friends keep switching bodies until everyone is in someone else's body. Is it possible to restore everyone to their original bodies? We'll be using MATH (in particular, cycles and permutations) to find out. The writers of the TV show "Futurama" actually proved that the answer is yes, using at most two extra people. If there's time, we will solve other silly improbable puzzles using cycles.
***
Prof. Farnsworth (in Bender's body): Now then Amy, we'll simply switch bodies, and then we'll…no, I'd be back in my body, but then you and Bender would be switched. And the Amy and Bender bodies can't trade minds again, since they just did!
Amy (in Prof. Farnsworth's body): Oh no! Is it possible to get everyone back to normal using four or more bodies?
Prof. Farnsworth: I'm not sure. I'm afraid we need to use…[dramatic music] MATH!
Prerequisites
Familiarity will cycle notation will help but is not required.
***
Prof. Farnsworth (in Bender's body): Now then Amy, we'll simply switch bodies, and then we'll…no, I'd be back in my body, but then you and Bender would be switched. And the Amy and Bender bodies can't trade minds again, since they just did!
Amy (in Prof. Farnsworth's body): Oh no! Is it possible to get everyone back to normal using four or more bodies?
Prof. Farnsworth: I'm not sure. I'm afraid we need to use…[dramatic music] MATH!
Prerequisites
Familiarity will cycle notation will help but is not required.
M8782: The Euclidean Algorithm
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lane Gunderman,
Victor Lopez
Have you ever wanted to find the greatest common divisor between two numbers? How about finding it quickly? How about really, really quickly? In this class, we aim to prove the Euclidean Algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers!
Prerequisites
Preferably a knowledge of what the greatest common divisor of two numbers is, as well as familiarity with prime factorization. In addition you are hopefully excited about number theory, but that is not a prerequisite.
Prerequisites
Preferably a knowledge of what the greatest common divisor of two numbers is, as well as familiarity with prime factorization. In addition you are hopefully excited about number theory, but that is not a prerequisite.
M9016: Fun With Group Theory!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yoa Clifton
What can you do with just one operation (multiplication) ? Apparently, a whole lot! Come be amazed by groups and group actions. We will build from the ground up and work towards proving the Sylow theorems and Burnside's lemma!
Prerequisites
Familiarity with proofs and strong interest in math. No group theory background required,
Prerequisites
Familiarity with proofs and strong interest in math. No group theory background required,
M9109: What's up with the cross product?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yasha Berchenko-Kogan
You've learned the formula for the cross product, but where does that formula come from? We'll see how the cross product naturally pops out when we look at rotations and angular velocity in three dimensions. Then, we'll put on our 19th century hats and visit the cross product's parents, the quaternions. We'll learn what quaternions are and see that, just like 2D rotations can be described with complex numbers, 3D rotations can be described with quaternions, making quaternions useful for computer graphics. If we have time for dessert, we'll talk about what happens to these ideas in higher dimensions, how the determinant expression for the cross product is more than just a mnemonic device, or why 3D rotations are the same as lines in 4D space.
Prerequisites
Matrices: You should be able to write down a matrix that represents a 90 degree counterclockwise rotation in the xy-plane. Complex numbers: You should be able to write down a complex number that represents a 60 degree counterclockwise rotation in the complex plane.
Prerequisites
Matrices: You should be able to write down a matrix that represents a 90 degree counterclockwise rotation in the xy-plane. Complex numbers: You should be able to write down a complex number that represents a 60 degree counterclockwise rotation in the complex plane.
M9122: Information. Computation, and provability
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Joshua Frisch
In early 1930s Godel proved two shocking theorems, firstly that there are true mathematical statements which can not be proven and secondly, that you can never prove your axiom system consistent. 30 years later Kolmogorov introduced a notion of how "complex" a number which allows 1000000000000000000000000000000000000 to be seen as less complex then 239340934238409238490237432480 despite being longer. We will use this idea in order to prove the first two incompleteness theorems and, on the way give some shockingly unprovable problems, in particular we will describe a property satisfied by over 99.9999% of numbers which it's impossible to prove any particular number satisfies.
Prerequisites
You should be very comfortable with difficult, abstract mathematics and in particular absolutely must know what mathematical proof is. Knowing what a turing machine is would be very helpful but is not absolutely necessary if you are willing to take some things on faith.
Prerequisites
You should be very comfortable with difficult, abstract mathematics and in particular absolutely must know what mathematical proof is. Knowing what a turing machine is would be very helpful but is not absolutely necessary if you are willing to take some things on faith.
M8791: Primes and primes and primes, oh my!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
Prime numbers are both fundamental and mysterious in mathematics. Let's look at properties of primes, different types of primes, and eye-opening mathematical results relating to primes.
Prerequisites
Algebra 2 Pre-Calculus recommended
Prerequisites
Algebra 2 Pre-Calculus recommended
M8680: The Birthday Problem
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Amy Prager
How many people do you need in a room to have the probability of having 2 people in the room having the same birthday be greater than one half?
Prerequisites
basic math
Prerequisites
basic math
M8613: Ordinary Differential Equations
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Aaron Dunbrack
Learn how to solve the simplest of differential equations - separable differential equations and linear ordinary differential equations. We will mainly cover homogeneous cases, but I will try to briefly discuss inhomogeneous cases at the conclusion of the class.
Prerequisites
A solid conceptual knowledge of calculus and familiarity with complex numbers (e.g., know Euler's formula).
Prerequisites
A solid conceptual knowledge of calculus and familiarity with complex numbers (e.g., know Euler's formula).
M8780: How to Keep a Secret: The History and Practice of Cryptography
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kristofer Siy
DBO ZPV DSBDL UIJT DPEF? From Caesar shifts in Ancient Rome to the Enigma in World War II and RSA in the 21st century, we’ve used codes and ciphers to protect our information. However, you might not know that there's quite a bit of powerful mathematics behind these codes.
In this class, we'll talk about the history of cryptography from Greek scytales to quantum cryptography and beyond. Along the way, we'll look at some number theory, the foundation of many codes throughout history, and finish by showing mathematically how RSA - the cryptosystem used to encrypt much of the information sent over the Internet - works.
Prerequisites
Algebra I is required. This is a beginner-level class and will start from basic concepts, but some exposure to proofs will help with the last part of the class. If you have taken number theory, the math portion of this class will be a review for you.
In this class, we'll talk about the history of cryptography from Greek scytales to quantum cryptography and beyond. Along the way, we'll look at some number theory, the foundation of many codes throughout history, and finish by showing mathematically how RSA - the cryptosystem used to encrypt much of the information sent over the Internet - works.
Prerequisites
Algebra I is required. This is a beginner-level class and will start from basic concepts, but some exposure to proofs will help with the last part of the class. If you have taken number theory, the math portion of this class will be a review for you.
M9025: Dissection problems
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Dhroova Aiylam,
Carlos Cortez
Can you cut a square in pieces and rearrange them to form an equilateral triangle of equal area? Of course!
Can you cut a cube in pieces and rearrange them to form a regular tetrahedron? Of course not!
Come to this class to learn: why you can cut and rearrange any polygon into another of equal area, but you can't do the same with polyhedra; why you can evenly cut sandwiches with as many as n ingredients in n dimensions in two equal parts with a single cut; and maybe even why you can cut one 3-D ball into two identical copies of it.
For a demonstration, we may even have ham-sandwiches. They'll be 3-dimensional, we promise!
Prerequisites
Some group theory may come in handy for the latter part.
Can you cut a cube in pieces and rearrange them to form a regular tetrahedron? Of course not!
Come to this class to learn: why you can cut and rearrange any polygon into another of equal area, but you can't do the same with polyhedra; why you can evenly cut sandwiches with as many as n ingredients in n dimensions in two equal parts with a single cut; and maybe even why you can cut one 3-D ball into two identical copies of it.
For a demonstration, we may even have ham-sandwiches. They'll be 3-dimensional, we promise!
Prerequisites
Some group theory may come in handy for the latter part.
M9021: Generating Functions
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Gunby
What's a good way to efficiently contain and describe an infinite sequence? What about as coefficients of a power series? We'll see some benefits of considering a sequence in this form. For example, we'll find a (relatively) simple expression for the terms of the Fibonacci sequence and other sequences. We'll also talk about how these expressions help us manipulate sequences that are otherwise hard to get a handle on. For example, how many ways can you write a positive integer as the sum of other positive integers, where order doesn't matter? Surprisingly, there's no (simple) great answer--but using generating functions, we can deal with them anyway!
Prerequisites
Knowledge of sigma notation for sums, preferably familiarity with calculus.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of sigma notation for sums, preferably familiarity with calculus.
M8692: Discrete Calculus
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Rahul Sridhar
If you've ever taken a calculus course, you know that integration acts a lot like a sum. We have a lot of rules and theorems for dealing with integrals, so can we transfer some of them over to help us deal with sums? In this class we'll define discrete analogs for the derivative and the integral, and in the process we'll learn about the discrete product rule, the fundamental theorem of discrete calculus, and the discrete version of the number e.
Prerequisites
You should be familiar with basic calculus.
Prerequisites
You should be familiar with basic calculus.
M8609: Multivariable/Vector Calculus
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Aaron Dunbrack
Learn what comes after "regular" calculus. We'll start with vector fields, partial derivatives and multiple integrals and end with an explanation of the gradient, divergence, curl, flux and curvature. Warning: This class will be very fast-paced and it will be likely (expected, in fact) that many things you will feel like you fully understand in-class and then be unable to go back you out of class.
Prerequisites
Know what a vector is. Know single-variable calculus, at the very least conceptually, either through my earlier course or through your own knowledge - i.e., know what a limit is, what a derivative is, and what an integral is. A knowledge of matrices would be ideal, but for our purposes matrices will just be tools and won't be required for understanding, so you don't necessarily need them.
Prerequisites
Know what a vector is. Know single-variable calculus, at the very least conceptually, either through my earlier course or through your own knowledge - i.e., know what a limit is, what a derivative is, and what an integral is. A knowledge of matrices would be ideal, but for our purposes matrices will just be tools and won't be required for understanding, so you don't necessarily need them.
M9056: The Math Hatters
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jonathan Uesato
Come solve math puzzles with hats! We have red hats, blue hats, top hats, triangle hats, and infinitely many of all them!
M8993: Efficient Algorithms with a Time Machine
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Patrick Liscio,
Katherine Nazemi
What would you do if you suddenly came across a time machine?
What if we told you that you could use it solve some of the most difficult problems known to humankind in the time it takes to read them?
You may have heard of the P vs.NP problem, and the idea that some problems take longer to solve than the universe gives you. In this class, we'll cover basic algorithms and then work our way up to those NP-hard problems that take longer than the age of the universe to solve.
And then we'll ask: but what if you had a time machine?
Prerequisites
Some algebra (exposure to logarithms) will be helpful.
What if we told you that you could use it solve some of the most difficult problems known to humankind in the time it takes to read them?
You may have heard of the P vs.NP problem, and the idea that some problems take longer to solve than the universe gives you. In this class, we'll cover basic algorithms and then work our way up to those NP-hard problems that take longer than the age of the universe to solve.
And then we'll ask: but what if you had a time machine?
Prerequisites
Some algebra (exposure to logarithms) will be helpful.
M8548: Donuts Aren't Spheres
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ziv Scully
Do you know that a donut isn't a sphere? Probably. Can you prove that there's no way to squish a sphere into a donut without tearing it? After this class you will! Come get a taste of an exciting field of math: algebraic topology! We'll use the same techniques we develop studying donuts to prove a few other cool results. One example: if you drop a world map on the ground, there is some point on the map that is at the same location on the map and in real life.
Prerequisites
You should know the quadratic formula. You won't actually need it, but a general familiarity of math will help. If you know what the fundamental group of a torus is, this class will be too easy.
Prerequisites
You should know the quadratic formula. You won't actually need it, but a general familiarity of math will help. If you know what the fundamental group of a torus is, this class will be too easy.
M9027: How to have infinitely big numbers without breaking math: a nice introduction to P-adics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Colin Aitken
What if we had infinitely big numbers? We could write things like ....99999 = -1, which would make ...11111 = -1/9.
Is this ok? Does this break math? Would geometry change? Come find out!
Prerequisites
High school algebra
Is this ok? Does this break math? Would geometry change? Come find out!
Prerequisites
High school algebra
M9010: Problem Solving
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Erjona Topalli
Solving problems and getting to appreciate the beauty of mathematics.
Prerequisites
Wanting to learn about problem solving and mathematics :)
Prerequisites
Wanting to learn about problem solving and mathematics :)
M9052: The Ways of Bayes: Applying Probability Theory in Everyday Life
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Connor Duffy,
Lane Gunderman
Having a worse quality of living. Suffering financial harm. Being manipulated and robbed of personal autonomy. Having your society collapse. Ending up falsely accused or imprisoned. Ending up dead. What do all of these things have in common? They are the potential costs, according to one source, of a poor comprehension of Bayes' Theorem. In this class, we'll teach an intuitive understanding of Bayes' Theorem and rational decision-making through real-world examples, and show how applying Bayes' Theorem in social situations can allay awkwardness, generate key inferences, and disrupt social hierarchies, allowing, in many cases, the question-asker to be empowered as the effective decision-maker.
Prerequisites
Good understanding of high school algebra
Prerequisites
Good understanding of high school algebra
M9001: Over 9000: Really Big Numbers
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Eric Mannes
9000? The number of atoms in the universe? A googolplex? Those are tiny. You'll learn how to write down numbers bigger than you've ever dreamed of--some so large that they're uncomputable.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with using exponents.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with using exponents.
M8930: Can We Build It? Math Edition
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ziv Scully
You fancy schmancy kids have so much technology: fractions, exponential functions, coordinate planes, and all that mumbo jumbo. Back in my day we had the empty set and a few axioms of set theory, and we managed just fine with that. That's right: we built all of mathematics out of sets, and you know what? If you come to this class, I just might show you how....
M8529: The Geometry of Paper Folding
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Gabriel Davis
In high school, you learned to do geometric constructions using the traditional compass and straightedge. But there's nothing really special about those tools; they just happened to be the ones Euclid described in his axioms. Let's try using a different tool: folding paper! In this class, we will develop a set of "axioms for origami," and then challenge ourselves to solve various construction problems using paper folding-- and some of their solutions might surprise you!
Prerequisites
High school geometry, including experience with compass-and-straightedge constructions, strongly preferred
Prerequisites
High school geometry, including experience with compass-and-straightedge constructions, strongly preferred
M8837: Dissection Puzzles
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Herng Yi Cheng,
Emmett Krupczak
Given two shapes of the same area, can one be cut into pieces and rearranged into the other? For a century, puzzlemakers have challenged each other to solve such "dissection puzzles" using the fewest number of pieces. Try your hand at one! http://www.herngyi.com/blog/geometric-dissection-puzzle
This lecture will cover basic techniques to create and solve dissection puzzles, some of the math behind them, and special types of dissection puzzles like 3D or hinged dissections.
This lecture will cover basic techniques to create and solve dissection puzzles, some of the math behind them, and special types of dissection puzzles like 3D or hinged dissections.
M8581: Computational Cubing
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Arkadiy Frasinich,
Jerry Wu
Have you ever wanted to learn how to solve a Rubik's Cube but didn't want to memorize algorithms from the Internet? Did you know that you can figure out exactly what a certain type of algorithm will do before you do it? In this class, I will teach you two sets of techniques, one of which will allow you to solve most of the cube relatively quickly, and the other of which will allow you to solve the rest of the cube, and neither of which requires looking anything up online. Both of these methods extend to larger cubes. If you have your own Cube, you should bring it.
Prerequisites
Experience in chess or related board games (specifically, being able to look a few moves ahead) may be helpful but very much not required.
Prerequisites
Experience in chess or related board games (specifically, being able to look a few moves ahead) may be helpful but very much not required.
M8684: What is equality?
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jason Gross
What does it mean for two things to be equal? What does this have to do with string and the foundations of mathematics? When are two proofs of equality themselves equal? Come to this class to discover these things for yourself!
We'll begin with a discussion of the nature of equality, seguing with the presentation of a particular definition of equality that turns out to be surprisingly powerful and interestingly structured. Following that, you'll learn how to reason about equality, using this definition, in the proof assistant Coq, and explore the nature of equality.
Prerequisites
It would be helpful to be familiar with sets, functions, and bijections. (Understanding the first few paragraphs of the relevant Wikipedia articles should suffice.)
We'll begin with a discussion of the nature of equality, seguing with the presentation of a particular definition of equality that turns out to be surprisingly powerful and interestingly structured. Following that, you'll learn how to reason about equality, using this definition, in the proof assistant Coq, and explore the nature of equality.
Prerequisites
It would be helpful to be familiar with sets, functions, and bijections. (Understanding the first few paragraphs of the relevant Wikipedia articles should suffice.)
M8853: The Fourier Transform
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Peter Schmidt-Nielsen
The Fourier transform revolutionized mathematics and engineering, and has many interesting properties. We will define it, discuss it, and talk about applications to solving problems like heat diffusion, the wave equation, statistics, and engineering problems like speech recognition. Includes pretty pictures!
Prerequisites
An understanding of calculus and complex numbers.
Prerequisites
An understanding of calculus and complex numbers.
M8788: Binet's formula
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Victor Lopez
Do you know the fibonacci sequence? Do you know how to find the nth term? What if I told you, you weren't allowed to compute any of the previous values? In this class, we aim to prove the Binet's Formula - a closed formula for the fibonacci sequence!
Prerequisites
Other than basic algebra skills, not much.
Prerequisites
Other than basic algebra skills, not much.
M8608: Partial Differential Equations
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Aaron Dunbrack
One of the hardest topics in mathematics is the study of partial differential equations. However, they describe a variety of mechanisms which depend on both position and time, such as fluids, quantum particles, and various biological population models. We will start out looking at transport (including nonlinear transport) and the method of characteristics and move on to diffusion and waves on both bounded and unbounded domains.
Prerequisites
A solid understanding of calculus. Recommended that you have multivariable calculus, although partial derivatives will be described at the beginning of the class. Knowledge of (Linear) Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) recommended, as at several points I will say "this ODE has this known solution," but if you're willing to bypass the technical details in those areas and just aim for a conceptual understanding you should still get that out of this class without ODEs.
Prerequisites
A solid understanding of calculus. Recommended that you have multivariable calculus, although partial derivatives will be described at the beginning of the class. Knowledge of (Linear) Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) recommended, as at several points I will say "this ODE has this known solution," but if you're willing to bypass the technical details in those areas and just aim for a conceptual understanding you should still get that out of this class without ODEs.
M9031: What if absolute values were all wonky? A hard, miserable introduction to p-adics
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Colin Aitken
Want to learn about p-adics, but are you worried the other class will make too much sense?
Prepare to have your mind blown as we explore:
- Balls where every point is the center
- Expanding i as an infinitely big integer
- Nonzero numbers that you can multiply to make 0
- The best convergence test ever
...and anything else we have time for!
Prerequisites
Knowledge of modular arithmetic would be nice.
Prepare to have your mind blown as we explore:
- Balls where every point is the center
- Expanding i as an infinitely big integer
- Nonzero numbers that you can multiply to make 0
- The best convergence test ever
...and anything else we have time for!
Prerequisites
Knowledge of modular arithmetic would be nice.
M8706: Solving Games
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kristofer Siy
Ever wonder how games like Connect Four, Checkers and Go have been "solved", in that an optimal strategy has been found for how to play them? In this course, we'll be exploring the roots of the theory of two-player strategy games by playing and analysing several games ourselves.
Along the way, we'll learn how to make sure you hold onto the Immunity Idol (and not make yourself look like an idiot) on Survivor, do some cool math, and eat M&Ms.
TL;DR: We'll play some games. Then, we'll learn how you can beat your friends at them every time.
Prerequisites
Algebra I is required, but this is a beginner-level course: If you know anything about combinatorial game theory or know how to prove the winning strategy for Nim, this class will probably be too easy for you.
Along the way, we'll learn how to make sure you hold onto the Immunity Idol (and not make yourself look like an idiot) on Survivor, do some cool math, and eat M&Ms.
TL;DR: We'll play some games. Then, we'll learn how you can beat your friends at them every time.
Prerequisites
Algebra I is required, but this is a beginner-level course: If you know anything about combinatorial game theory or know how to prove the winning strategy for Nim, this class will probably be too easy for you.
M9035: Just Enough Math to Pretend You're a Math Major
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Matt DeCross,
Ziv Scully
Maybe you don't like math in school. Maybe you think math in school is pretty okay but haven't seen much more than that. Maybe you have an intimidatingly clever friend who knows a thing or two about
* how many prime numbers there are (hint: a lot),
* how many real numbers there are (hint: even more),
* figuring out the day of the week an arbitrary date was on,
* simple-sounding math questions that literally no computer ever can or will answer,
* saving infinitely many prisoners from guessing their hat color incorrectly by using some controversial set theory,
and maybe even a few other things. Maybe there's a Splash class you can take that will introduce some of that stuff and give you a taste of what math outside of high school is like. Maybe you should take it. Maybe it will be fun.
Prerequisites
Know what a real number is. If you know Cantor's diagonal argument to prove uncountability of the real numbers, you might be bored.
* how many prime numbers there are (hint: a lot),
* how many real numbers there are (hint: even more),
* figuring out the day of the week an arbitrary date was on,
* simple-sounding math questions that literally no computer ever can or will answer,
* saving infinitely many prisoners from guessing their hat color incorrectly by using some controversial set theory,
and maybe even a few other things. Maybe there's a Splash class you can take that will introduce some of that stuff and give you a taste of what math outside of high school is like. Maybe you should take it. Maybe it will be fun.
Prerequisites
Know what a real number is. If you know Cantor's diagonal argument to prove uncountability of the real numbers, you might be bored.
M8523: How mathematicians study symmetry to better understand the universe
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Devin Murray
You can find symmetry in physics, chemistry, biology, anthropology, quantum mechanics and just about every other field you can think of. Symmetry is often used to simplify problems in all of these fields, it allows you to study the simpler parts of a system and piece them together to understand the whole picture. Group theory is the mathematical study of symmetry. We will discuss some natural places where groups of symmetries appear in mathematics and the natural sciences and then we will move on to discuss how mathematicians like to think about and study groups of symmetries in general.
Prerequisites
Some basic algebra and geometry will be helpful, but not strictly necessary.
Prerequisites
Some basic algebra and geometry will be helpful, but not strictly necessary.
M8547: Calculate Pi with Trains!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ziv Scully
It turns out that you can calculate pi to very high accuracy by bouncing a small train and a big train into a wall. Come on a journey through Freshman Physics Land (where there's no friction and all collisions are perfectly elastic) to see how it works!
Prerequisites
You should know what the law of cosines, conservation of momentum, and conservation of energy are.
Prerequisites
You should know what the law of cosines, conservation of momentum, and conservation of energy are.
M8561: Induction for beginners
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Cristina Martinez Acha,
Fernando Varela
We will cover the basics of what you need in order to make a formal proof by induction. By the end of the class, we should be able to prove simple theorems by using induction.
M8593: Introduction to Calculus from an overly enthusiastic student Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alex Sludds
M9067: Math by Storytelling
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Lawrence Chiou
Sometimes, if you're doing it the hard way, you're doing it wrong. In math, oftentimes we can get away with very few equations and calculations, if any at all. Instead, we can rely on another powerful tool at our disposal: storytelling. We will examine how we can do some difficult combinatorics problems simply by interpreting what the math means.
M8539: Arithmetic, Ancient Egyptian Style
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Chelsea Voss
This class will be a blast from the past.
Okay, sure, we're traveling back in time to find out how things were done in Ancient Egypt. But that's not all. In this class, we'll also be traveling back in time -- to when you were in first grade.
Imagine that you are a young Ancient Egyptian scribe-to-be, going through the equivalent of Ancient Egyptian elementary school. You need to learn reading, writing, and ... arithmetic.
What happens when two separate cultures independently discover the ideas of mathematics? Are there other ways we can multiply numbers, other ways we can think about decimals? The answer is yes, and the details are strange and fascinating!
Through a variety of hands-on exercises, we will cover how the Ancient Egyptians wrote down their numbers, carried out addition and subtraction, represented multiplication and division, and manipulated fractions.
Inspired by the book "Count Like an Egyptian" by David Reimer.
Prerequisites
None.
Okay, sure, we're traveling back in time to find out how things were done in Ancient Egypt. But that's not all. In this class, we'll also be traveling back in time -- to when you were in first grade.
Imagine that you are a young Ancient Egyptian scribe-to-be, going through the equivalent of Ancient Egyptian elementary school. You need to learn reading, writing, and ... arithmetic.
What happens when two separate cultures independently discover the ideas of mathematics? Are there other ways we can multiply numbers, other ways we can think about decimals? The answer is yes, and the details are strange and fascinating!
Through a variety of hands-on exercises, we will cover how the Ancient Egyptians wrote down their numbers, carried out addition and subtraction, represented multiplication and division, and manipulated fractions.
Inspired by the book "Count Like an Egyptian" by David Reimer.
Prerequisites
None.
M8743: Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Alexandra Churikova
Strange attractors. Hopf bifurcations. Poincaré maps. What do all of those things have in common besides cool names?
Why does the equation
˙v=σ(y−x)˙y=rx−y−xz˙z=xy−bz
describe a butterfly?
Come learn about what nonlinear dynamics is, where is it found, and why we want to study it!!
Prerequisites
Calculus would be VERY helpful!
Why does the equation
˙v=σ(y−x)˙y=rx−y−xz˙z=xy−bz
describe a butterfly?
Come learn about what nonlinear dynamics is, where is it found, and why we want to study it!!
Prerequisites
Calculus would be VERY helpful!
M8557: Formulas you were Never Meant to Know
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Yonah Borns-Weil
Ever wondered what the Taylor series for tangent was? The general formula for sin(nx)? The sum of the first n kth powers, for arbitrary k? If you ask your teacher any of these, he or she will probably say they're really, really ugly.
So will I. And then I'll show them to you anyway.
Come to this class to learn all the fantastically nasty general formulas that have been kept from your tender eyes.
Prerequisites
Calculus up to Taylor Series, and basic knowledge of complex numbers
So will I. And then I'll show them to you anyway.
Come to this class to learn all the fantastically nasty general formulas that have been kept from your tender eyes.
Prerequisites
Calculus up to Taylor Series, and basic knowledge of complex numbers
M8817: Non-Standard Analysis
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Forest Tong
What if dx were a number? Well, it can be! In this class we will explore the basics of the hyperreal number system, which provides an alternative framework for understanding calculus without all those nasty deltas and epsilons.
Prerequisites
Calculus, basic set theory
Prerequisites
Calculus, basic set theory
M8544: The Banach-Tarski Paradox: Speed Run!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Ziv Scully
Have you ever found yourself with a sphere, a very sharp knife and an Axiom of Choice when all you wanted was a second sphere? Have you ever wondered why everyone's favorite anagram of "Banach-Tarski" is "Banach-Tarski Banach-Tarski"? Come learn about and prove this surprising theorem: a ball can be split into a finite number of pieces that can be rearranged to make two copies of the original ball!
We're covering a few hours' worth of material in 50 minutes, so if that's your idea of fun, then this class is for you!
Prerequisites
A certain degree of mathematical maturity. For example, you should understand the difference between countably infinite and uncountably infinite sets. If you've seen a bit of group theory it will come in handy.
We're covering a few hours' worth of material in 50 minutes, so if that's your idea of fun, then this class is for you!
Prerequisites
A certain degree of mathematical maturity. For example, you should understand the difference between countably infinite and uncountably infinite sets. If you've seen a bit of group theory it will come in handy.
M9138: Introduction to Theoretical Computer Science
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Bianca Homberg
Suppose I'm a donut salesman, and I want to sell my donuts to a bunch of different cities. I know travel times between pairs of cities -- how can I calculate the most efficient path to sell donuts at all of the cities?
Suppose I'm a thief, and I just tripped an alarm. I have five minutes before the police get here to fill my knapsack. I know the values and sizes of all of the possible objects I can steal. How do I make off with the most value in my small knapsack?
Suppose I have a bunch of strange dominos, with different letter combinations on top and on bottom. Each domino has a set orientation. Suppose I want to set up the dominos so that the top line reads the same as the bottom line. Can I do it?
In this class, we'll talk about problems like these, and more generally, what sort of problems computers can and can't solve, starting with DFA's and working our way up to Turing machines!
Prerequisites
If you've seen the proof of the Halting Problem before or know much about P v NP, you'll probably be bored.
Suppose I'm a thief, and I just tripped an alarm. I have five minutes before the police get here to fill my knapsack. I know the values and sizes of all of the possible objects I can steal. How do I make off with the most value in my small knapsack?
Suppose I have a bunch of strange dominos, with different letter combinations on top and on bottom. Each domino has a set orientation. Suppose I want to set up the dominos so that the top line reads the same as the bottom line. Can I do it?
In this class, we'll talk about problems like these, and more generally, what sort of problems computers can and can't solve, starting with DFA's and working our way up to Turing machines!
Prerequisites
If you've seen the proof of the Halting Problem before or know much about P v NP, you'll probably be bored.
M8685: Counting Past Infinity with Ordinal Arithmetic
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jason Gross
Did you ever have arguments about whether or not ∞+1=∞? Have you ever wondered how to define numbers, rigorously? Come learn how to count past infinity, graphically! We'll then go over the formal definition of numbers as sets, and talk a little bit about ordinal arithmetic.
Prerequisites
You should know how to count. You should know what sets are, and how to take the union of two sets and the intersection of two sets.
Prerequisites
You should know how to count. You should know what sets are, and how to take the union of two sets and the intersection of two sets.
M8836: Counting Cards and Martingales
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Felipe Hernandez
Can you predict the future? If not, this is the class for you. In this class we go over a simple card game where you can try to use you knowledge of the cards you've seen to know what's coming next. We'll talk about strategies for this game, and what probability has to say about making predictions about random events.
Prerequisites
Algebra, familiarity with mathematics and mathematical thinking.
Prerequisites
Algebra, familiarity with mathematics and mathematical thinking.
M9082: Complex Numbers: Math That Will Freak You Out (at least a little bit)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
John Gregg
I promise this math will freak you out at least a bit. We will explore the existence or non-existence of nonsensical things called complex numbers, or, less scarily, imaginary numbers (aren’t they all?). We will end up deep, deep inside a certain blob called the Mandelbrot set, which is made of these “imaginary” numbers.
Prerequisites
algebra: basic polynomials
Prerequisites
algebra: basic polynomials
M8813: Stretch, Twist, Squash
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lotta Blumberg,
Herng Yi Cheng
Ever heard of the joke that mathematicians can't tell the difference between a donut and a coffee mug? Well, now you have. Believe it or not, a mug made of *very* elastic rubber can be bent into a donut. Draw it out and see!
Topology is the study that bends shapes into one another. In this lecture we'll look at the bending of sheetlike objects called "surfaces". We'll conjure up and scrutinize some strange surfaces. Some surfaces appear to be different but are fundamentally the same; how do we classify them?
Prerequisites
Geometry (interior and exterior angles of polygons)
Topology is the study that bends shapes into one another. In this lecture we'll look at the bending of sheetlike objects called "surfaces". We'll conjure up and scrutinize some strange surfaces. Some surfaces appear to be different but are fundamentally the same; how do we classify them?
Prerequisites
Geometry (interior and exterior angles of polygons)
M8778: Fun With Integer Partitions!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Yoa Clifton
5 can be written as 5, 4+1, 3+2, 3+1+1, 2+2+1, 2+1+1+1, and 1+1+1+1+1. Why is this cool? Why did legendary mathematicians like Ramanujan care about stuff like this? We'll explore many types of partitions, learn about Young Tableaux and Generating Functions, practice finding bijections and then prove some machinery to automatically generate correspondences between different types of partitions.
Prerequisites
High comfort level with proofs. (Decently similar to the Integer Partitions lecture at Summer HSSP.)
Prerequisites
High comfort level with proofs. (Decently similar to the Integer Partitions lecture at Summer HSSP.)
M8598: Fractals and Dimension
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Victor Lupi
A line is one-dimensional, and a plane is two-dimensional. Makes sense, right? What if I told you there are objects that are 1.5 dimensional? Would you believe me? How about if I generated them on a computer screen? In this course, we will study the tricky concept of dimension and its various definitions. Along the way, we will encounter fractals, curious objects that are both exceedingly simple and breathtakingly complex. Expect lots of pretty pictures. If time permits, we’ll take a look at the surprisingly simple software needed to generate these beautiful geometric objects.
M8766: Infinites!!!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yuliya Klochan
Does infinity exist? And, if so, how many infinities exist? Find out in this crash course of pure mathematical madness.
M8858: Superhuman Integration Techniques
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Andre Kessler
How can you determine the exact value of ∫π/20√sinθdθ or ∫10ln2xln2(1−x)dx by hand? What about ∫∞0e−x2lnxdx or other similar integrals? The answer lies in series expansions and some really wacky special functions. We will go from infinite product expansions of entire functions to the Gamma function, and learn how this can be applied to things you didn't know you could integrate. Learn to evaluate stuff that doesn't even appear to converge -- and how to beat your computer to it! Along the way, you'll find out what sorts of implications the Riemann hypothesis has for the prime numbers, why 1+2+3+4+5+⋯=−1/12, what the volume of an n-dimensional hypersphere is, and how to get rid of infinity when you need him out of your calculations.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of calculus, experience with series, and love of math!
Prerequisites
Knowledge of calculus, experience with series, and love of math!
M9059: I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Ordinals!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Arkadiy Frasinich,
Jerry Wu
What's the highest you can count? Is there any way to make ∞∞ make any sense at all? Could Hercules ever actually kill the hydra? It turns out that all of these questions can be answered using ordinal numbers. In this class, we'll define these numbers and look at some of the things we can do with them.
Prerequisites
To get the most out of this class, it would be useful to know what a set is, as well as how to take unions of sets. You should also know what induction is and how to use it in proofs.
Prerequisites
To get the most out of this class, it would be useful to know what a set is, as well as how to take unions of sets. You should also know what induction is and how to use it in proofs.
M8522: Functional Programming and the Lambda Calculus
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Siddharth Trehan
Interested in the theoretical foundations of computing? Want to learn about what makes a computer a computer? Wondering what the heck functional programming is, anyway? This class covers everything from the Church-Turing thesis to the fix-point combinator, with some hands-on Haskell programming as a motivator. This is a primarily a math class aimed at understanding how computers work at the theoretical level.
Prerequisites
Some programming background (ability to solve simple programming problems using code, no knowledge of functional programming is necessary)
Prerequisites
Some programming background (ability to solve simple programming problems using code, no knowledge of functional programming is necessary)
M9048: The Best Polynomial Approximations
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jonathan Warneke
How good can Taylor polynomials get to approximating transcendental functions? Given n∈Z>0 and f(x), can we find better polynomial approximations to f(x) than the nth degree Taylor polynomial? Come find out why the answer is yes and how to compute these better approximations.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of vectors (dot product, etc.) and Taylor series.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of vectors (dot product, etc.) and Taylor series.
M9101: Live Action Cryptography
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jordan Moldow
Send secure messages to your friends, in such a way that I can't possibly figure out the message you are sending.
We will do some exercises to demonstrate various real-life cryptographic systems. Though these concepts are heavily used in modern day security, they are also very simple to implement, and can be done with paper, pen, and calculator, as we shall do.
We will cover:
- One Time Pads
- Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange
- ElGamel Public Key Encryption
- RSA Public Key Encryption
We will do some exercises to demonstrate various real-life cryptographic systems. Though these concepts are heavily used in modern day security, they are also very simple to implement, and can be done with paper, pen, and calculator, as we shall do.
We will cover:
- One Time Pads
- Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange
- ElGamel Public Key Encryption
- RSA Public Key Encryption
M9124: The almost prime number theorem
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Joshua Frisch
The prime number theorem says that the chance of a number N being prime is roughly 1/(ln(N)). The prime number theorem is really hard to prove. The almost prime number theorem says that the chance of a number N being prime is between .5/(ln(N)) and 2/ln(N), the almost prime number theorem is much easier to do, in this class we will prove it.
Prerequisites
Being comfortable with binomial coefficients and being familiar with math at a precalculus level will be useful. Some infinite sums will show up.
Prerequisites
Being comfortable with binomial coefficients and being familiar with math at a precalculus level will be useful. Some infinite sums will show up.
M9053: P vs. NP
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniel Epelbaum
One of the deepest questions in mathematics that is still open today is whether or not P=NP. In non-math-speak this basically asks whether or not being able to check whether or not an answer to a question is correct is the same as being able to come up with an answer yourself.
Take this class to learn what that means, why it's important, and why it has implications for everyone, not just nerdy math researchers.
Take this class to learn what that means, why it's important, and why it has implications for everyone, not just nerdy math researchers.
M8932: More Game Theory Than Your Body Has Room For
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Haley Cope
Ever wondered what a Nash equilibrium is? How about a Bayesian game? If you are interested in learning about formal definitions in game theory, we will be starting from the bottom up and covering all of the major components of game theory.
Prerequisites
Some basic understanding of sets; I will be briefly explaining set notation, though.
Prerequisites
Some basic understanding of sets; I will be briefly explaining set notation, though.
M8792: Large Numbers
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
Oh no, we're not even stopping at a googolplex.
Prerequisites
Algebra 1
Prerequisites
Algebra 1
M8635: Graph theory
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
David Rolnick
This course will present a rapid introduction to graph theory, a rich and fascinating branch of mathematics that has applications to many other fields, such as computer science and biology. We’ll start with the definition of a graph, discuss fundamental concepts like bipartite graphs, cliques, and colorings, and then use these tools to examine important problems of graph theory, like the four-color theorem.
Prerequisites
Some experience with mathematical problem-solving and proofs.
Prerequisites
Some experience with mathematical problem-solving and proofs.
M9013: Why the earth looks flat, map-making, and Archimedes' greatest discovery
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Peter Haine
Not so long ago almost everybody thought that the world was flat. Indeed, the earth looks flat locally, but we know today that the earth is round. How can our round world be made out of flat pieces? We'll use that language of calculus and take a tour through the wonderful world of differential geometry to answer this question, as well as others like how to make a flat map of the world. We'll also use differential geometry to rigorously explain an observation that Archimedes made which he thought was so great, it was even engraved on his tombstone.
Prerequisites
Basic differential and integral calculus would be extremely helpful.
Prerequisites
Basic differential and integral calculus would be extremely helpful.
M9046: Generalized Functions
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jonathan Warneke
Are functions not cool enough for you anymore? If you want to learn about the Dirac-δ and the likes, this is the course for you!
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of differential and integral calculus. Some statistics might help too, like knowing what the probability density function of a normal distribution is.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of differential and integral calculus. Some statistics might help too, like knowing what the probability density function of a normal distribution is.
M8686: Linear Logic
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jason Gross
It's a well-known fact of logic that if from P you can get Q, then from P you can also get Q AND Q (see example below). So since you can get two dimes and a nickel from a quarter, you can get two dimes and a nickel and two dimes and a nickel from a single quarter.
Come learn about linear logic, which is a version of logic which doesn't claim that you can get infinite amounts of money from a quarter.
EXAMPLE: For example, since n=2 implies that n=1+1 then, n=2 implies that n=1+1 and also n=1+1.
Prerequisites
You should know about truth tables, and the "and", "or", "not", and "implies" logical connectives.
Come learn about linear logic, which is a version of logic which doesn't claim that you can get infinite amounts of money from a quarter.
EXAMPLE: For example, since n=2 implies that n=1+1 then, n=2 implies that n=1+1 and also n=1+1.
Prerequisites
You should know about truth tables, and the "and", "or", "not", and "implies" logical connectives.
M8976: In(tro)duction to Induction
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lane Gunderman
How can we ever be sure that something in math is true? We prove it! Mathematical induction is a powerful tool for PROVING hypothesized formulas for patterns. This class will convey the rudiments of inductive thinking, and give multiple examples of inductive methods of solving problems.
Prerequisites
Students are required (not just suggested) to have strong comfort with algebra and formula manipulation, but should not already know how induction works, otherwise this class will be somewhat boring.
Prerequisites
Students are required (not just suggested) to have strong comfort with algebra and formula manipulation, but should not already know how induction works, otherwise this class will be somewhat boring.
M9023: Theory of Computation / Computational Complexity
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Charlotte Chen,
Calvin Huang
Come to our class to learn about the mathematical background behind what computers do, why computers simply cannot solve some problems, why computers can't solve some problems quickly, and how that relates to things like bitcoin, cryptography, and optimization problems.
M8634: Geometry
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
David Rolnick
We will present a whirlwind tour of Euclidean geometry - mostly triangles and circles. Topics covered shall include cyclic quadrilaterals, power of a point, triangle centers, and geometric constructions.
Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the concepts of angles, parallel lines, and area.
Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the concepts of angles, parallel lines, and area.
M8801: Proofs from THE BOOK
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Saarik Kalia
Do you wonder why some people dedicate their life to math, why that kid you copied off of in Algebra II liked that bore of a class, or why anyone in their right mind would waste a perfectly good weekend by signing up for a Splash class about math? Come and see some of the proofs that have been giving mathematicians their jollies for for the past several centuries. By the end, I'm sure even the film majors will like math a little more than they used to.
M8545: Demockracy
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ziv Scully
Having a fair election with two candidates is pretty simple: everyone votes for their favorite candidate and whoever gets the most votes wins. However, as anyone who was around for the presidential elections in 2000 (or 1912... or 1860) will tell you, things get complicated with three or more candidates. It's sometimes the case that you should vote for a candidate you think is likely to win instead of a fringe candidate you agree with more. We can think of different voting systems that try to get around this and other problems, but as we'll explore in class, no voting system avoids all potential flaws. You might ask: is there a "perfect" voting system out there?
Actually, it turns out there is one. It's called a dictatorship. And unless you have an infinite number of voters, no other system is "perfect". Come find out why!
Prerequisites
If you know how to prove there are infinitely many primes, you're definitely ready. Even if you can't, just come ready to think hard about voting :).
Actually, it turns out there is one. It's called a dictatorship. And unless you have an infinite number of voters, no other system is "perfect". Come find out why!
Prerequisites
If you know how to prove there are infinitely many primes, you're definitely ready. Even if you can't, just come ready to think hard about voting :).
M9121: Math, Games, and Puzzles
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Joshua Frisch
Games are fun. Puzzles are tricky. Math is mysterious. This class will discuss the interrelationship between all three. In this game and puzzle centered course various games and puzzles with deep and non-obvious mathematical structure will be played. We will play with, discuss, and discover a variety of games and puzzles including impossible puzzles, seemingly impossible puzzles, games where we know who should win but not how they should win, games which are used to model nuclearwarfare, and games which can be used to represent every other game, if time permits we will also discuss computers, games, and a million dollar math problem.
Prerequisites
Understanding basic algebra will be helpful. Expect to have to think hard.
Prerequisites
Understanding basic algebra will be helpful. Expect to have to think hard.
M9133: The Checkmate Club
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Sara Freed Sussman
Chess. Math. Logic.
Can you solve problems in all three disciplines at once?
Use your whole brain in this demanding course.
Play the great game of chess! Solve logic and mathematics problems that have stumped Harvard students!
No chess experience required.
*Note: This class is small for a reason. You will not be asked to stay seated. You will not be asked to quiet down.
www.thecheckmateclub.com
Prerequisites
Independent Thought (Yes, *your* independent thought)
Can you solve problems in all three disciplines at once?
Use your whole brain in this demanding course.
Play the great game of chess! Solve logic and mathematics problems that have stumped Harvard students!
No chess experience required.
*Note: This class is small for a reason. You will not be asked to stay seated. You will not be asked to quiet down.
www.thecheckmateclub.com
Prerequisites
Independent Thought (Yes, *your* independent thought)
Pop (and not-so-pop) Culture
P8645: TETRIS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Lilly Chin
P9136: Meditation to increase Emotional Intelligence
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Robin Goldberg
Did you know that by controlling your breathing you can train yourself to be more relaxed, more energetic, more focused, more creative or more detail oriented? Did you realize that this can help you deal with annoying people? It can also help with the agony of falling in love, and the chore of falling out of love. Meditation can help you be more persuasive, more attractive, and better at sensing other people's needs. Meditation can raise your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) That's why Google has it's own in-house guru - http://www.wired.com/business/?p=82267
Come experience Meditation techniques to see for yourself why Meditation is so popular in Silicon Valley. We sit in chairs so no Lotus Pose needed.
Come experience Meditation techniques to see for yourself why Meditation is so popular in Silicon Valley. We sit in chairs so no Lotus Pose needed.
P8921: Perception of Russia in Modern American Culture Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ekaterina Kryuchkova
P8502: A History of Middle Earth: The First Age
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nathaniel Mathews
Learn all about the "Legendarium" of Tolkien: Who are the Valar; where do the Elves come from; what's this kinslaying everybody keeps talking about? Tolkien scholars of all experience levels are welcome -- perhaps you've read The Silmarillion, perhaps you've only seen The Hobbit movies. We can all learn stuff about Middle Earth!
P8664: The Evolution of Kendrick Lamar
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
nathaniel garcia
Born and raised in southern California, I was listening to Kendrick Lamar way back in 2005. Discovered by Punch of Top Dawg Ent, K dot joined Jay Rock and later teammate Ab Soul, and eventually Schoolboy Q. From Training Day to Good Kid Maad City I have watched his rise and growth. Come explore the evolution of one of Hip Hop's brightest stars.
Prerequisites
no formal. Familiarity with Hip Hop and Kendrick Lamar helpful
Prerequisites
no formal. Familiarity with Hip Hop and Kendrick Lamar helpful
P8962: Pokemon: I Wanna Be the Very Best
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Vincent Kubala
In this course you will learn how to make your very own competitive pokemon team. We will cover mainly the gen 6 metagame but if there is interest, we can delve into previous gens.
P8925: Baldur's Gate to Skyrim - The Western RPG in the early 21st Century
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Samuel Angelo Crisanto
An exploration of the design paradigms of the open-world western RPG spanning the period between the late 1990's and the early 2010's. This was a transformative period for the cRPG, and this course explores the game mechanics of several key titles, from the DnD roots of the immense and sprawling infinity engine games like Baldur's Gate to the beautifully crafted Skyrim.
Prerequisites
A love of videogames and a passing familiarity with some western RPG's
Prerequisites
A love of videogames and a passing familiarity with some western RPG's
P8919: How to be Friends with Asra
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Brynna Downey
Who is Asra? Like, have I met her before? Why do I care?
Prerequisites
You do *not* need to have met Asra to take this class or have wanted to have met her.
Prerequisites
You do *not* need to have met Asra to take this class or have wanted to have met her.
P8582: Introduction to Art History through comics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lucy Campana
What made Picasso so special? Why are Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup cans in museums?
In this class we will go back in time and examine art history in relation to comics, advertising and graffiti.
We’ll start in the twenties with Cubism and go all the way to the present day. You’ll leave with an appreciation of art history and an understanding of contemporary art.
In this class we will go back in time and examine art history in relation to comics, advertising and graffiti.
We’ll start in the twenties with Cubism and go all the way to the present day. You’ll leave with an appreciation of art history and an understanding of contemporary art.
P8736: An Introduction to Sabermetrics
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
James Rowan
Baseball is full of statistics. Some are better than others. For instance, batting average doesn't reward taking walks, and RBIs depend on other batters. This class will explore the question of how we measure the value of baseball players and explain the methodology behind advanced metrics like wOBA and WAR
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the rules of baseball is important.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the rules of baseball is important.
P8504: History of Middle Earth: The Second and early Third Ages
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nathaniel Mathews
We'll talk about the rise and (tragic) fall of Numenor, Isildur, and lots of other neat things! You don't need to know anything at all about Tolkien's world before coming in -- you might have read The Silmarillion, or maybe you've only seen The Hobbit movies. We'll talk about it all!
P8711: A Dissertation on Disney Princesses
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Kris Kim,
Libby Koolik
Many people believe that Disney princesses represent the helplessness of women in a world where they get saved by princes.
...We happen to disagree.
Join us for an interesting discussion about many of the Disney princesses in both historical and feminist contexts!
...We happen to disagree.
Join us for an interesting discussion about many of the Disney princesses in both historical and feminist contexts!
P8695: Regulation Damnation: The formation of media self-regulatory bodies in the United States
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Trystram Spiro-Costello
This lecture offers an in-depth look at the events that caused the formation and major revisions of media self-regulatory bodies and policies in the United States over the past century. Starting with the formation of the Hollywood Code and ending with the work of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, this lecture examines the formation and evolution of self-regulatory bodies and their ratings systems. Important cultural figures and events will also be discussed and multimedia examples will be presented.
P8931: Soymilk Tasting
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
There are many brands of soymilk locally available, from Silk to "8th Continent". Come and taste the various kinds and decide which you like best!
P8669: It’s a Conspiracy! From Aliens to the XYZ Affair
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Elizabeth Parizh,
Nina Plotnikov
“Did you hear that?”
“No, what?”
“That sound, like an authority figure trying to tell me what to do.”
“Are you okay?”
“How can I be okay when the world is conspiring against me!?”
Have you ever felt like you were being lied to or cheated by the government? Have you been called crazy by your friends for sharing with them your entirely valid concerns? Do you not believe in any conspiracy theories but find them interesting/thought-provoking/hilarious? Then this is the class for you! We will go over a bunch of mainstream (and far off the mainstream) conspiracy theories, but be mindful; not all the theories we’ll talk about are real, so listen carefully to pick out the internet favorites from the ones we just made up! We will also bring food, because, as we all know, handing out free food is the best way to make people listen to you (just add a circus and it will be like Ancient Rome). So come learn what the people screaming on the streets are all about! Or maybe we’ll just drain your souls and use your bodies as puppets to serve our own nefarious purposes, you really can’t be sure.
“No, what?”
“That sound, like an authority figure trying to tell me what to do.”
“Are you okay?”
“How can I be okay when the world is conspiring against me!?”
Have you ever felt like you were being lied to or cheated by the government? Have you been called crazy by your friends for sharing with them your entirely valid concerns? Do you not believe in any conspiracy theories but find them interesting/thought-provoking/hilarious? Then this is the class for you! We will go over a bunch of mainstream (and far off the mainstream) conspiracy theories, but be mindful; not all the theories we’ll talk about are real, so listen carefully to pick out the internet favorites from the ones we just made up! We will also bring food, because, as we all know, handing out free food is the best way to make people listen to you (just add a circus and it will be like Ancient Rome). So come learn what the people screaming on the streets are all about! Or maybe we’ll just drain your souls and use your bodies as puppets to serve our own nefarious purposes, you really can’t be sure.
P8890: The Politics of Skyrim
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Gabriel Davis
Sure, slaying dragons while wearing quasi-Viking armor is fun, but the fifth entry in Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series has been acclaimed as much for its realistic and nuanced depiction of civil war as for its fantasy storyline. We will explore how Skyrim deals with topics such as imperialism, nationalism, racism, and political economy, and conclude with a mock debate between leaders of the Imperial and Stormcloak factions.
Prerequisites
You should probably have played Skyrim at some point (some background info will be provided)
Prerequisites
You should probably have played Skyrim at some point (some background info will be provided)
P8867: How to sound like you understand sports
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Colin Aitken
Can I put my food in a super bowl? Is March Madness some sort of disease? Are the Red Sox an article of clothing?
In college life and the real world, one of the central points of social interaction is professional sports, and it's helpful in making friends and career connections to be able to hold up your end of a sporting conversation. Come learn how!
In college life and the real world, one of the central points of social interaction is professional sports, and it's helpful in making friends and career connections to be able to hold up your end of a sporting conversation. Come learn how!
P8738: Awkward Dance of Gender Performance
Difficulty: *
Gender performance is the set of behaviors that we use to communicate gender to the outside world. It comes in as many types as there are gendered expectations of behavior -- everything from clothing and hair styles to how much space one takes up when seated in a public space. While gender identity encompasses one's internal feelings about one's gender, performance centers around behaviors that communicate something about gender to the outside world.
People who do not think of themselves as transgendered may still feel deeply uncomfortable with the gender performance that society expects of them. This class will be a small group discussion of the dissonance between personal identities and gendered behaviors, and how to go through life as a person who may not fit well into any set of gender norms.
People who do not think of themselves as transgendered may still feel deeply uncomfortable with the gender performance that society expects of them. This class will be a small group discussion of the dissonance between personal identities and gendered behaviors, and how to go through life as a person who may not fit well into any set of gender norms.
P8866: Intro to Circular Gallifreyan
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Loren Sherman
Come learn the writing system of the Time Lords! Perfect for any whovian, or anyone who enjoys cool and unique alphabets. Taught by the inventor of the alphabet.
P8660: History of Video Game Music
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Rob Speer
Video game music has evolved over three decades from simple blips and bleeps into a genre of its own. This genre has been influenced by the technological limitations of its roots, and also by numerous crossovers from popular music, electronic music, film soundtracks, and anime.
In this class, I’ll give a tour of the history of video game music and the programmers and musicians who made it what it is, and we’ll take time to appreciate some of the most significant technological and artistic accomplishments along the way.
In this class, I’ll give a tour of the history of video game music and the programmers and musicians who made it what it is, and we’ll take time to appreciate some of the most significant technological and artistic accomplishments along the way.
P8588: Intellectual games: finding answers to questions you have never heard before
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sergei Vavilov
Based on several intellectual games, such as 'Jeopardy!' and 'What? Where? When?', this course will involve students solving tricky questions and trivia quizzes with the help of their knowledge, intuition, logic and imagination. You will discover that you can come up with an answer in one minute or less, even if you know nothing about the topic of the question.
Before reading further, here's a sample question for you: Where does the main character in the British movie 'A zed and two noughts' work?
Obviously, we don't require you to know the details of each British film by heart, so the answer should be hidden in plain sight. Writing down the title of the film, we get some hint towards the answer. Yes, he works in a zoo.
Everyone is welcome to come, the only requirement is the desire to learn something new.
Before reading further, here's a sample question for you: Where does the main character in the British movie 'A zed and two noughts' work?
Obviously, we don't require you to know the details of each British film by heart, so the answer should be hidden in plain sight. Writing down the title of the film, we get some hint towards the answer. Yes, he works in a zoo.
Everyone is welcome to come, the only requirement is the desire to learn something new.
P8507: Satire: Snarkiness and Sarcasm Explained
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Olivia Zhao
A class fit for the budding stand-up comic, the witty, the sarcastic, the Colbert Report fan, or anybody interested in laughing while learning more about the art of satire.
Satire, the use of wit to ridicule and criticize, is an integral part of our language and has been for millennia. Whenever you use that sarcastic tone so familiar to most teenagers, you're using satire. For this class, we'll talk about the history of satire, from Ancient Egypt to present day society. Satiric examples from art, literature, music, and pop culture might make you laugh. They might make you stop and think. Ultimately, you'll be able to see how important satire has been to the development of our culture and learn how to effectively use satire to get your point across.
Satire, the use of wit to ridicule and criticize, is an integral part of our language and has been for millennia. Whenever you use that sarcastic tone so familiar to most teenagers, you're using satire. For this class, we'll talk about the history of satire, from Ancient Egypt to present day society. Satiric examples from art, literature, music, and pop culture might make you laugh. They might make you stop and think. Ultimately, you'll be able to see how important satire has been to the development of our culture and learn how to effectively use satire to get your point across.
[Deprecated] Science
S8834: What is life? A biophysics perspective Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrei Klishin
S8909: Derp Sea Creatures
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sara Sinback
"When I was a kid, whenever I'd feel small or lonely, I'd look up at the stars. Wondered if there was life up there. Turns out I was looking in the wrong direction. When alien life entered our world, it was from deep beneath the Pacific Ocean." That quote's from Pacific Rim, which is a movie that is kind of not really related to this class at all because it's about real aliens. But it turns out that the life that teems way below the surface of our oceans is pretty fascinatingly bizarre. Come look at pictures of some really weird fish and help hypothesize and learn about why they look as strange as they do.
S8839: We all live downstream: flow and transport of pollutants in the environment Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Follett,
Ying Pan
S9106: Wizardry through Cooking with Science Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
chase lambert
S8710: You Stressed Bro?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
gianna hatch
Yo, dude, are you feeling stressed? Our bodies handle stress in different ways, whether we miss out on sleep, put on weight, or become next level jerks, there are long lasting and on-going effects on your brain, and dude, stress is only the beginning! Think of the ways that depression, anxiety and other common illnesses effect you in your life, bro! Don’t you sometimes feel like Atlas holding up the world? In this course, we will delve into the dark corners of your mind while combining neuroscience and psychology to explain what happens to your brain and how you can help stop the effects of stress. We will delve into the workings of the brain and the processes that happen everyday while also relating it to the things that go on in your lives. So pump your fist and get ready for this interactive explanation of what really goes on inside your head!
S8871: Martial Arts and Physics
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Christopher Panebianco
Students will gain an introductory knowledge of theoretical physics concepts for the first half of the class. The second half of the class will be focused on applying this knowledge to the study of martial arts. Students will get hands on training in the art of kempo, and learn how to maximize the efficiency of this martial arts system through concepts of physics.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites necessary. A knowledge of basics physics and calculus would help, but is not required.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites necessary. A knowledge of basics physics and calculus would help, but is not required.
S8904: The Greenhouse Effect
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Berg
You've probably heard that emissions of greenhouse gases are contributing to global warming, but what exactly are these gases, and how do they have any affect on the earth's temperature? In this class, we'll talk about how the greenhouse effect actually works, and what impact human influences have had on the earth's climate.
Prerequisites
You should definitely have a good degree of comfort manipulating algebraic equations. Some exposure to algebra-based physics would also be useful, but not necessary.
Prerequisites
You should definitely have a good degree of comfort manipulating algebraic equations. Some exposure to algebra-based physics would also be useful, but not necessary.
S9095: When Organs Die
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Thompson
Meant to be an extension of When Cells Die, but may be taken on its own. Here, we will explore various common themes in organ failure, and how it ultimately leads to the demise of the of the individual, if no intervention is taken. The overall theme will try to argue that your immune system is not necessarily your best friend.
Prerequisites
Bring questions on specific diseases.
Prerequisites
Bring questions on specific diseases.
S8806: Metal Organic Frameworks Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tomohiro Soejima
S8802: On Black Holes, Singularities, and the Event Horizon: A Journey into the Abyss
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Michael Shaw
Back by popular demand! We’re going to dive right into the most massive objects in our universe—billions of times the mass of the sun. (Note: we won’t actually dive into a black hole—it’s hard to get out).
When small stars die, they peter out. When massive stars die, they explode in supernovas, outshining an entire galaxy, and what’s left is a black hole, a singularity of mass so dense that even light is trapped behind. We’ll tour around a few black holes and study their effect on our daily lives. I’ll venture into wormholes, white holes, and see where we end up. We’ll even bring in a sporting interest and see how Stephen Hawking lost a bet on black holes, and how it related to the ultimate demise and even death of these most mysterious of objects. (Food for thought: how does a black hole die, anyway?)
Be ready to open your minds, to be bent by the curvature of spacetime, and generally to lose yourself in the fun and beauty of the most amazing objects out there in the sky.
Prerequisites
None!
When small stars die, they peter out. When massive stars die, they explode in supernovas, outshining an entire galaxy, and what’s left is a black hole, a singularity of mass so dense that even light is trapped behind. We’ll tour around a few black holes and study their effect on our daily lives. I’ll venture into wormholes, white holes, and see where we end up. We’ll even bring in a sporting interest and see how Stephen Hawking lost a bet on black holes, and how it related to the ultimate demise and even death of these most mysterious of objects. (Food for thought: how does a black hole die, anyway?)
Be ready to open your minds, to be bent by the curvature of spacetime, and generally to lose yourself in the fun and beauty of the most amazing objects out there in the sky.
Prerequisites
None!
S8757: The Art and Science of Napping
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jordan Church
What is a power nap? How do you take a nap and not wake up more tired?
In this class we will examine sleep and napping from a number of different perspectives including environmental, neurological, biochemical, and productivity. Check out dreaming, sleep cycles, sleep apnea, and everything in between as we delve into the depths of dreamland and learn when best to nap, how best to nap, and how long is too long to nap for. Come prepared with an interest in science and a curiosity of what happens behind closed eyes.
In this class we will examine sleep and napping from a number of different perspectives including environmental, neurological, biochemical, and productivity. Check out dreaming, sleep cycles, sleep apnea, and everything in between as we delve into the depths of dreamland and learn when best to nap, how best to nap, and how long is too long to nap for. Come prepared with an interest in science and a curiosity of what happens behind closed eyes.
S8750: Experiments in Modern Physics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexandra Churikova
Come discover the secrets of modern physics experiments they don't teach in high school. Seemingly simple experiments like the Photoelectric Effect, Michelson Interferometer, Rutherford Scattering, and many other 21st century wonders are not as easy to analyze as they appear in the textbook.
When you see how hard it is to actually get any sensible data, you will understand why these breakthroughs gained their respective researchers some VERY Nobel Prizes!
When you see how hard it is to actually get any sensible data, you will understand why these breakthroughs gained their respective researchers some VERY Nobel Prizes!
S8764: Fantastic Diseases and Where to Find Them: Field Epidemiology Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Madeline Spencer
S8675: Game Theory and Emotions! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Haley Cope
S8959: Why We Need Quantum Mechanics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ryan Normandin
Quantum mechanics is hailed as the revolutionary beginning of modern science, and is indeed the foundation behind lots of today's technology, from computers to glow sticks. Come and learn why, if it wasn't for quantum mechanics, we would all be dead.
Prerequisites
Extremely comfortable with algebra.
Prerequisites
Extremely comfortable with algebra.
S8584: A love triangle: The Earth, the Sun and the Moon
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Olivia Brode-Roger
How do the Sun and the Moon affect our every day lives? We're going to talk about tides, moon phases and eclipses!
This class is small and very discussion based, you should come with an open mind and *lots* of question!
This class is small and very discussion based, you should come with an open mind and *lots* of question!
S9005: Exoplanet Excavation
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Caitlin Fischer,
Lizhou Sha
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to observe? We'll learn how, then try to discover our own planet with one of the methods we learnt about! We'll also look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are so hard to confirm.
The class will also discuss what else we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future is for the field.
The class will also discuss what else we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future is for the field.
S8961: Introduction to Special Relativity
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ryan Normandin
This is the class that will throw everything you know out the window. Time travel is not only possible, scientists actually know how to do it! The Law of Conservation of Mass is a lie. Energy Conservation is another lie. From a four-dimensional point of view, you are a strand of spaghetti. Shrinking objects and warped time sounds like science fiction, but is actually the world we live in!
Prerequisites
Algebra, Pythagorean Theorem
Prerequisites
Algebra, Pythagorean Theorem
S8531: Ultracold Atoms: The physics and optics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Sean Burchesky
So you have succeeded in making the coldest matter in the universe, now what?
You do what any child would do with a new toy: shake it, spin it, drop it, hit it, mix it with other things, etc.
Come learn about what happens when you play with a new state of matter, never before seen.
We will discuss the essential experiments that have been performed on systems of cold atoms since the realization of BEC in 1995.
Prerequisites
Some understanding of calculus. A basic understanding of quantum mechanics. (no mathematical detail necessary. I will go over most of this material with a focus on conceptual rather than mathematical understanding.)
You do what any child would do with a new toy: shake it, spin it, drop it, hit it, mix it with other things, etc.
Come learn about what happens when you play with a new state of matter, never before seen.
We will discuss the essential experiments that have been performed on systems of cold atoms since the realization of BEC in 1995.
Prerequisites
Some understanding of calculus. A basic understanding of quantum mechanics. (no mathematical detail necessary. I will go over most of this material with a focus on conceptual rather than mathematical understanding.)
S8895: Drugs and the Brain
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Dustin Hayden
What does your brain look like on drugs? Come understand the underlying biology of how and why drugs impact our brains. Includes a brief Intro to Neuroscience.
Prerequisites
Some understanding of Cell and Molecular Biology as well as chemical properties of the cell.
Prerequisites
Some understanding of Cell and Molecular Biology as well as chemical properties of the cell.
S8823: Disney and Pixar Films Debunked
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Catherine Liou,
Allen Park
Ever wondered how well Disney and Pixar movies hold up to real scientific principles? Come and apply real SCIENCE to your favorite animated films and see what shenanigans ensue!
S8492: The Magical Beauty of Parasitic Wasps
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Peter LoVerso
Parasites have gotten a bad rap over the past couple centuries. They’ve been looked down upon as inferior, broken organisms that deserve to be objects of disgust, rather than study. But because of attitudes such as this, some of the most wondrous and complex biological pathways we know of have been left by the wayside. Here, we will look at the intricacies of mind control, neurosurgery, and symbiotic viruses through the study of Ampulex compressa and Cotesia congragata.
Warning: this class will be looking at pictures and videos of parasitization. This includes videos and pictures of wasp larvae eating caterpillars, spiders, and other organisms alive. If pictures like this make you feel squeamish: http://i.imgur.com/RWBI8.jpg (Warning, it’s a picture of some larva emerging from a caterpillar)
then this may not be the class for you.
Warning: this class will be looking at pictures and videos of parasitization. This includes videos and pictures of wasp larvae eating caterpillars, spiders, and other organisms alive. If pictures like this make you feel squeamish: http://i.imgur.com/RWBI8.jpg (Warning, it’s a picture of some larva emerging from a caterpillar)
then this may not be the class for you.
S8683: Your classical intuition is wrong!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jason Gross
Do you think you have a good grasp of physics? A good intuition for the physical world? Come learn about the predictions of quantum mechanics (and the experiments that validate these predictions) which violate your fundamental beliefs about the universe!
S8907: Statistical Mechanics in Biology
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Felix Wong
Ever wondered why classical systems (like a mass hanging on a spring) "like" to minimize energy? Or how macroscopic properties like energy or pressure come from just a bunch of atoms?
What you need is a bit of stat-mech Kool-Aid. In this class, we'll cover some interesting areas of the modern field known as statistical mechanics, going over enough material to understand statistical ensembles. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_mechanics.
But you also want to learn about some current research topics, you say?
After we talk about stat mech, we will talk about applications of modern physics in biology. Time permitting, topics in computer science, finance, astrophysics, and other fields will also be introduced.
Prerequisites
Calculus is required; classical and quantum mechanics preferred. Mathematical and physical maturity is also important.
What you need is a bit of stat-mech Kool-Aid. In this class, we'll cover some interesting areas of the modern field known as statistical mechanics, going over enough material to understand statistical ensembles. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_mechanics.
But you also want to learn about some current research topics, you say?
After we talk about stat mech, we will talk about applications of modern physics in biology. Time permitting, topics in computer science, finance, astrophysics, and other fields will also be introduced.
Prerequisites
Calculus is required; classical and quantum mechanics preferred. Mathematical and physical maturity is also important.
S8564: Physics of Unicycling
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jonathan Abbott
Every wondered how somebody balances on a unicycle? Or curious about how Newton's laws apply to the real world? Come learn all about how! There will be live demos and lots of fun!
Prerequisites
None!
Prerequisites
None!
S8779: The Scope of Modern Cognitive Neuroscience: Limitations, Popular Misconceptions, and Practical Applications
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Roan LaPlante
The computational power and complexity of the human brain is one of the great mysteries of science. It is also one of the most poorly represented avenues of science in popular culture. In the past 20 years, while scientists have made exciting breakthroughs in neuroscience, the media has badly misconstrued these discoveries with sensationalistic headlines and persistent failures of critical thinking.
This class will describe briefly what we do know about what we don't know about the brain, contrast how neuroscience is studied with how popular media tends to think it is studied, and after stripping away all of the untrue nonsense, ask what kinds of insights neuroscience can actually tell us and what use it actually is to study it.
Prerequisites
A willingness to think critically. Some familiarity with physics and biology is helpful but definitely not required.
This class will describe briefly what we do know about what we don't know about the brain, contrast how neuroscience is studied with how popular media tends to think it is studied, and after stripping away all of the untrue nonsense, ask what kinds of insights neuroscience can actually tell us and what use it actually is to study it.
Prerequisites
A willingness to think critically. Some familiarity with physics and biology is helpful but definitely not required.
S9129: Emergent Properties of the Brain
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Chan
Brain science isn't just about studying individual neurons. Come learn about how neurons fire in unison and give rise to greater patterns in thought! Taught in a hands-on format.
Prerequisites
Brains are composed of neurons - that's all you need to know!
Prerequisites
Brains are composed of neurons - that's all you need to know!
S8565: Electromagnetic Earth
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Neesha Schnepf
From Earth's inner core to its outer atmosphere, our planet produces electromagnetic fields that all known life depends on. Since humans started exploring space, we've learned that Earth is far from being the only planet producing incredible electromagnetic fields. Understanding the electromagnetic fields and plasma in space is crucial for interplanetary and interstellar travel (after all, space is not just a boring vacuum!). Come to learn how planets' many different electromagnetic fields are produced, how they protect (or harm) us, how we study them, and how we take advantage of planetary magnetic fields for awesome technology and scientific discoveries.
S9085: Mineral Identification
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sophia Tigges
Learn about how to identify common minerals by testing harness and streak, looking for specific crystal structures, and comparing samples to guides and keys.
S8493: A closer look at the magic of parasitic wasps
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Peter LoVerso
Building off of my previous class, this lecture will look much more closely at the genetics and molecular biology surrounding the parasitization of Manducta sexta by Cotesia congregata, focusing especially on the Cotesia congregata bracovirus.
This will be an advanced class, and will touch several times upon cutting-edge molecular biology. You should have a good understanding of genetics and of a viral life cycle before signing up. That said, it will be fun! There will be time for discussion as well as lecture, too.
Prerequisites
S8492: The Magical Beauty of Parasitic Wasps A general idea of what DNA is and how it is used in the cell.
This will be an advanced class, and will touch several times upon cutting-edge molecular biology. You should have a good understanding of genetics and of a viral life cycle before signing up. That said, it will be fun! There will be time for discussion as well as lecture, too.
Prerequisites
S8492: The Magical Beauty of Parasitic Wasps A general idea of what DNA is and how it is used in the cell.
S8553: Sliquid? Solgel? Goop? Non-Ideal Materials from Rubbers to Gels to Slime
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Elizabeth Sterner
Almost every thing you touch on a daily basis doesn't behave like classic solids or liquids, but rather as something in between. Things like silly putty, shampoo, Jello, paint and even your own blood are complex materials that need their own special models to predict their behavior. In this hands-on class, through a combination of demos, experiments and lecture you'll learn the basics of how scientists and engineers describe these weird materials using viscoelastic theory and rheology (the study of flows). You'll even get instructions for experiments you can do at home. Come enter the strange, fascinating world of non-ideal materials!
Prerequisites
Pre-Calculus Introductory Physics
Prerequisites
Pre-Calculus Introductory Physics
S8833: How to fight your way through physics Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Andrei Klishin
S8590: Anatomy of a Metaphor
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
A L
Has someone given you a warm smile recently? Are concerns weighing on your mind? Do you have deadlines coming up? How close are you to meeting your personal goals? These questions may not seem metaphorical, but they are. Metaphors aren't just found in the arts---they are fundamental to the structure of our thoughts. Find out how during this short, fun introduction to Conceptual Metaphor Theory. We'll get acquainted with basic concepts and consider some interesting examples from ads, anime and news stories.
S8574: Synchronization: Dynamics of Coupled Oscillators
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Hengyun Zhou
Synchronization phenomena occur all across nature, from fireflies flashing in unison in the great smoky mountains to synchronized clapping in concerts. We shall introduce a simple mathematical model (the Kuramoto model) that describes this phenomenon and give an explanation of how different types of synchronization can occur in a network of weakly coupled oscillators.
Prerequisites
You should know basic trigonometry and Euler's formula eix=cosx+isinx. Most important though, you should have a passion to learn about nature!
Prerequisites
You should know basic trigonometry and Euler's formula eix=cosx+isinx. Most important though, you should have a passion to learn about nature!
S8559: Acoustics and the Fourier Transform Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Steven Keyes
S8748: Star power - introduction to plasma and fusion
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
James Penna
Interested in what makes the sun shine? Curious about how we can build a star on earth? Just want to see a bunch of cool topics from physics thrown together in one subject? Plasma physics is the right class for you!
Prerequisites
Some high school physics/vector math would be useful but not needed
Prerequisites
Some high school physics/vector math would be useful but not needed
S8656: Special Relativity
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Marcus Boorstin
Everyone’s heard of special relativity, but do you actually know what it means or where it comes from? From a few simple thought experiments we’ll rigorously derive the Lorentz transformation, and then (still rigorously) use it to get E=mc2 and the rest of special relativity. If we have time, we'll look at its implications and paradoxes.
Prerequisites
High school physics (kinetic energy, etc.); matrix multiplication may be briefly used.
Prerequisites
High school physics (kinetic energy, etc.); matrix multiplication may be briefly used.
S9081: The Science of 3D - Why Does It Pop Out Like That? Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
John Gregg
S8980: In Silico Protein Function Prediction
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Michael Bryan
Proteins are the functional components of life. They catalyze the reactions of metabolic pathways, scaffold the structure of cells, and are culpable for the mechanisms of disease. The Protein Data Bank archives structures for over one hundred thousand protein structures. However, many of these proteins have no known function. In this class we will discuss ProMOL, PyMOL, and AutoDock -- software tools for in silico protein function prediction.
Prerequisites
Understanding what a protein is.
Prerequisites
Understanding what a protein is.
S8587: The biggest tour you've ever been on: the best of the solar system
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Olivia Brode-Roger
Do you get excited about space? the solar system? planets? I do to!
In this class we are going to have a brief introduction to the physics of the solar system and then fly around our solar system and find a lot of cool places, from rocks to gas, from dust grains to planets, you got it, we're touring the solar system!
In this class we are going to have a brief introduction to the physics of the solar system and then fly around our solar system and find a lot of cool places, from rocks to gas, from dust grains to planets, you got it, we're touring the solar system!
S8940: The Evolution of Vertebrate Flight
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
DW Rowlands
Vertebrates have taken to the air three times: as pterosaurs, birds, and bats. Each time, they developed wings in a different way, and evolved different adaptations to the unique difficulties of aerial life. Let's learn why bats' flight appears so jerky, and why there will never be flying birds as large as the largest pterosaurs!
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of biology and evolution
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of biology and evolution
S8536: Insects: Classification and Camouflage
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Chelsea Voss
**This class was previously two hours; it has been reduced to one hour**
Is that an orchid, or a mantis? What's the difference between a bug and a beetle? Why does EVERYTHING seem to want to pretend to be an ant? Why do bees cooperate with each other like that?
Come learn about insects, the fascinating animals with more than a million species on Earth and a majority of ALL the species we know about!
This class will present a whirlwind tour of insects of all sorts. You'll learn how each group is related and how to recognize each group's unique features, as well as some random cool things about camoflage and parasitism among insects.
At the end, you'll apply your newly-learned identification skills to identify some real insects!
Is that an orchid, or a mantis? What's the difference between a bug and a beetle? Why does EVERYTHING seem to want to pretend to be an ant? Why do bees cooperate with each other like that?
Come learn about insects, the fascinating animals with more than a million species on Earth and a majority of ALL the species we know about!
This class will present a whirlwind tour of insects of all sorts. You'll learn how each group is related and how to recognize each group's unique features, as well as some random cool things about camoflage and parasitism among insects.
At the end, you'll apply your newly-learned identification skills to identify some real insects!
S8552: Magic Bullets, Tissue Engineering and More - Polymers in Medicine
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Sterner
Many of today's most exciting advances in medicine rely on polymers to get the job done. Whether is a tiny particle that delivers drugs to a tumor without targeting healthy tissue, implants that help regrow bone, muscle and nerves, or surface layers that prevent scarring and infection, cleverly designed plastics, gels, and single chains are at the forefront of medical research. This class will give you an introduction to the broad areas of research and recent advances in this crucial field.
Prerequisites
Some biology and chemistry will be helpful, but emphasis will be placed on teaching broad concepts.
Prerequisites
Some biology and chemistry will be helpful, but emphasis will be placed on teaching broad concepts.
S9076: Let's Talk About Space
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Molly Kosiarek
Ever wonder how the moon formed? Why we have asteroids? Why stars in the sky are different colors? How to build a telescope? Ask anything about Planets or Space! This class will be discussion based.
S9119: Bio-Logic
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexandra Panov
Have you ever wondered why life is structured the way that it is? How can we be made of organized tissues and organs without violating the second law of thermodynamics? Why are we shaped the way we are? What science governs our life processes and why? Why do we have eyebrows? Come contribute your historical, scientific, and theoretical perspectives! Might touch on taking over the world.
Prerequisites
Introductory biology is recommended
Prerequisites
Introductory biology is recommended
S9017: What is fire?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Steven Keyes
In elementary school, we learn how to describe most commonplace objects as solid, liquid, or gas. But what is fire? In this class, we'll examine the behavior of fire, the origin of its colors, and fire safety as well as demonstrate some of these with examples.
Prerequisites
An introductory high school chemistry class would be nice but not required.
Prerequisites
An introductory high school chemistry class would be nice but not required.
S8655: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Marcus Boorstin
Ever heard quantum mechanics talked about in vague or mystical terms but never understood it rigorously? We’ll give a (mathematical) introduction to quantum mechanics, use it to explore some basic problems, and then depending on what the class is interested in discuss other topics in QM (the uncertainty principle, states of the hydrogen atom, etc).
Prerequisites
Some calculus (you should know what derivatives and integrals are); more math and/or physics may help you appreciate what’s going on but probably isn’t necessary.
Prerequisites
Some calculus (you should know what derivatives and integrals are); more math and/or physics may help you appreciate what’s going on but probably isn’t necessary.
S8762: Fermi estimation 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
A Weisblat
How many ping pong balls would fill the oceans? How many tigers are in North America? How much wood could a... Oh wait.
Learn to answer these questions and compete with fellow students to answer them with accuracy. Amaze your friends with your new estimating ability!
Prerequisites
Be able to multiply and be able to make wild guesses.
Learn to answer these questions and compete with fellow students to answer them with accuracy. Amaze your friends with your new estimating ability!
Prerequisites
Be able to multiply and be able to make wild guesses.
S8698: The Chemistry of Color
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ilana Porter
Have you ever wondered what makes dye so brightly colored? The color comes from an interesting property of transition metal compounds. Come learn the science behind colors! This course will teach you the basics of atomic and molecular orbitals, transition metal complexes, d orbital splitting, and ligand field theory. Yeah science!
Prerequisites
Basic Chemistry
Prerequisites
Basic Chemistry
S8865: The Sex Lives of Plants
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elise Bickford
When a boy plant loves a girl plant.... or a bisexual plant loves itself.... or an asexual plant .... well it's complicated.
Come learn about the weird and cool intricacies of plant reproduction and botany.
Prerequisites
Some basic biology/genetics knowledge recommended
Come learn about the weird and cool intricacies of plant reproduction and botany.
Prerequisites
Some basic biology/genetics knowledge recommended
S9127: Head in the Clouds
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brynna Downey,
Lisa Ho
Have you ever wondered how different clouds are formed? Or how to predict the weather based on the clouds you see? In this class, we'll learn about different types of clouds and what weather they signify.
S8948: Crystal Field Theory: How atomic dumbels make metals colorful!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tal Scully
Ever wondered why transition metals have such vibrant and different colors? A cobalt ion surrounded by 6 groups of ammonia (NH3) is yellow, but replacing one ammonia with chloride (Cl-) makes it magenta! Come learn about Crystal Field Theory, which dives into the physics of electron orbitals to explain why transition metals are so pretty!
Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of electron orbital shapes (s, p, d, f, etc.) will be helpful, though if you're dying to take the class and don't know anything about orbitals you should be fine. The most important thing is excitement for learning new cool things!
Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of electron orbital shapes (s, p, d, f, etc.) will be helpful, though if you're dying to take the class and don't know anything about orbitals you should be fine. The most important thing is excitement for learning new cool things!
S8525: Quantum Mechanics: In words
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Taylor Sutton
What is Quantum Mechanics? Why do we have it? What was wrong with physics before we came up with QM? Why does QM have with the weird consequences we hear about - being in two places, Schrodinger's cat, entanglement, etc? Why can't we know both the location and velocity of an object at once (Heisenberg uncertainty)?
In this class, we intend to answer those questions. But rather than trying to mathematically derive everything and solve equations, we'll focus on understanding at an intuitive level.
Prerequisites
I highly recommend some exposure to classical physics - eg having taken a regular high school physics class.
In this class, we intend to answer those questions. But rather than trying to mathematically derive everything and solve equations, we'll focus on understanding at an intuitive level.
Prerequisites
I highly recommend some exposure to classical physics - eg having taken a regular high school physics class.
S8583: Where is that star?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Olivia Brode-Roger
You just found a cool object in the sky and you want to tell your friend about it. How do you tell your buddy standing next to you where to look? How about a friend in a different latitude and/or longitude? How about on another day?
It turns out that this is interestingly complex and interesting!
It turns out that this is interestingly complex and interesting!
S8549: Chemical Explosives!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Aofei Liu
No, unfortunately you won't get to make explosives in this class. But you do get to learn about what makes an explosive an explosive, and learn about some cool explosives along the way.
Prerequisites
-there's going to be math involved in this course (balancing equations) so you can't totally cringe at the sight of math. -also there are chemical compounds involved (obviously) so if you shouldn't be cringing when you see organic molecules.
Prerequisites
-there's going to be math involved in this course (balancing equations) so you can't totally cringe at the sight of math. -also there are chemical compounds involved (obviously) so if you shouldn't be cringing when you see organic molecules.
S8575: The Age of the Universe
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Matt DeCross
The universe is pretty much the oldest thing around! We'll discuss the various efforts historically to derive an accurate formula for its age before learning the modern method directly from first principles, and computing [the officially recognized value] using values of observables from the Planck 2013 satellite. Along the way we'll also derive a fundamental equation in physics (the Friedmann equation) and learn how cosmology uses the tools of both quantum mechanics and general relativity (no prior knowledge of either necessary).
Prerequisites
Familiarity with AB or BC Calc level material not required, but helpful. AP Physics C not required, but helpful. You should be able to write down the total mechanical energy of a particle orbiting in Newtonian gravity.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with AB or BC Calc level material not required, but helpful. AP Physics C not required, but helpful. You should be able to write down the total mechanical energy of a particle orbiting in Newtonian gravity.
S8495: How RNA-Seq is changing our world
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Peter LoVerso
The ability to accurately determine what genes are being expressed in a cell is one of the newest and most promising technologies in the world of genomics. This class will teach you about exactly how these data are collected and analyzed, pulling back the mystery and demonstrating how easy and powerful this technique is. Both the methods and implications/uses of the technology will be discussed.
Prerequisites
Understanding of what DNA is.
Prerequisites
Understanding of what DNA is.
S8807: Intro to Organic Chemistry
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tomohiro Soejima
This class will cover basic ideas of Organic Chemistry and explain how we can synthesize cool molecules using Organic Chemistry technique. The class focuses more on experimental techniques and real world examples.
Prerequisites
General Chemistry
Prerequisites
General Chemistry
S8550: Death by Chemistry Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Aofei Liu
S8653: Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kenneth Wang
This course will aim to provide the fundamentals for an understanding of organic chemistry. We will especially explore Molecular Orbital Theory and use it to explore many phenomenons in organic chemistry. We will also discuss energy diagrams, and how they're essential to reactivity. Interspersed through all of this will be plenty of example reactions and situations. This will provide a strong foundation and a causal understanding of organic chemistry for the "All of Organic Chemistry in 2 Hours" class.
Prerequisites
Prior chemistry knowledge is a must, preferably at the AP level. No organic chemistry background is required.
Prerequisites
Prior chemistry knowledge is a must, preferably at the AP level. No organic chemistry background is required.
S9094: When Cells Die
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Andrew Thompson
A mini-introduction to pathology, the study of disease. We will explore the body’s various tissues through examples of micro-anatomy and describe the changes they undergo as they encounter insult, injury and death. Hopefully your basic biology knowledge will be sharpened to explain many sophisticated phenomena of disease and death.
Prerequisites
Introductory biology is a must
Prerequisites
Introductory biology is a must
S8956: From the Stars to the Universe: Astronomy Beyond Sol
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jonathan Paras
Have you ever thought about why Black Holes shrink, or where Supernovas come from, or why you have never seen a green star in the night sky? What really exists beyond the edge of our Solar System; are we alone? The Universe itself is 14 Billion years old and yet, we still don't know for sure how or even "if" it will come to an end. There are many things we can see but many more that we don't understand. Come and explore the biggest, hottest, strongest, and weirdest parts the Cosmos has to offer and dare to know.
S8560: Insects: Beautiful, Deadly and Downright Weird
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jacqueline Ludwig
Moths that mimic hummingbirds, ants that explode glue from their faces, parasitic wasps that control their host's brains: insects account for about half of all described species, and a lot of them are bizarre!
We'll learn what flowers look like to bees and why crickets don't explode their exoskeleton when they flex their muscles, along with many strange and cool defenses and how they work.
We'll learn what flowers look like to bees and why crickets don't explode their exoskeleton when they flex their muscles, along with many strange and cool defenses and how they work.
S8577: Censoring a Naked Black Hole (and other Cosmic Oddities)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Matt DeCross
"Suppose we throw a goat into a black hole -- well, a gas of goats, and each has a blinking light on its head..."
~Allan Adams, MIT professor
This class will be a survey of interesting phenomena and counterintuitive concepts regarding black holes and other interesting ideas in relativity and cosmology.
Mathematics, like seasoning, will be used to taste. Most likely this will include basic concepts in special and general relativity, i.e. the metric tensor, Schwarzschild metric, and invariant interval, and their applications to the physics of black holes.
Prerequisites
Helpful to have seen a derivative before, but not necessary -- mathematics will be adjusted to class level.
~Allan Adams, MIT professor
This class will be a survey of interesting phenomena and counterintuitive concepts regarding black holes and other interesting ideas in relativity and cosmology.
Mathematics, like seasoning, will be used to taste. Most likely this will include basic concepts in special and general relativity, i.e. the metric tensor, Schwarzschild metric, and invariant interval, and their applications to the physics of black holes.
Prerequisites
Helpful to have seen a derivative before, but not necessary -- mathematics will be adjusted to class level.
S8691: The Tennis Racket Theorem
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Rahul Sridhar
Have you ever tried spinning a tennis racket? It's pretty easy to spin one along the axis of the handle, and it's also not that hard to spin it around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the racket, but try spinning it "end over end" about the third axis (in the plane of the racket, perpendicular to the handle) and you'll find that the racket always seems to flip over and start rotating about other axes as it spins. In this class we'll prove mathematically why this is is true, and in the process we'll learn about Euler's equations, the moment of inertia tensor, and more!
Prerequisites
This class will be pretty math heavy, and will be best understood if you've taken or are taking a Calculus-based mechanics course.
Prerequisites
This class will be pretty math heavy, and will be best understood if you've taken or are taking a Calculus-based mechanics course.
S8625: Plasma Physics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Norman Cao
Ever wanted to learn how ion thrusters work, or how the sun generates energy, or how close we really are to achieving nuclear fusion here on earth? Then come on in and take a 3 hour tour of plasma physics!
Prerequisites
Precalculus, some physics
Prerequisites
Precalculus, some physics
S8933: Particle Zoo
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Haley Cope
If you've ever thought that there's more to physics than throwing balls in a parabola and putting blocks on an inclined plane, then you should be here! Chemistry may have told you about protons, neutrons, and electrons, but are you ready to hear about sup quarks, skyrmions, and gluons? (The answer is yes)
S8611: Mechanics in Three Hours
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Aaron Dunbrack
Learn everything from kinematics to gravity to the rules of rotation in rapid-fire format. This course will move quickly and will have fewer "sample problems" than your high school physics course. Formulas will be given in their most general form, and we won't bother to learn all of the special cases. If we have time at the end, we may delve a little bit into electricity and magnetism.
Prerequisites
A knowledge of basic algebra is all that is required. A pre-existing knowledge of vectors will he helpful, but it will be briefly explained at the beginning of the course. Calculus will enrich your understanding, but will not be central to the course. If you have taken a mildly extensive physics course before, this should mostly be stuff you know, although you still might learn something new or get a deeper understanding of physics.
Prerequisites
A knowledge of basic algebra is all that is required. A pre-existing knowledge of vectors will he helpful, but it will be briefly explained at the beginning of the course. Calculus will enrich your understanding, but will not be central to the course. If you have taken a mildly extensive physics course before, this should mostly be stuff you know, although you still might learn something new or get a deeper understanding of physics.
S8699: Dreams, Dreaming and the Subconscious
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Carol Hardick
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.
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.
S8971: Household Chemistry for the Biologist
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Riley Drake
A small Gatorade bottle full of blue liquid sat atop the counter. As if stealing a cookie from a cookie jar, the four year old child picked up the bottle and quickly drank the sweet liquid. Three minutes later, the ambulance arrived, and not a moment too soon. The child had drank antifreeze, and had to have his stomach pumped immediately. The child had a complete recovery, but found himself wanting to learn what other toxic chemicals exist in the home, why they're toxic to cells and why he had never heard about this before.
Probably you do too!
Probably you do too!
S8591: The Physics of Quantum Measurements
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nancy Aggarwal
Come learn about quantum uncertainty and the nature of wave-particle duality to start, and then we’ll get into the relevance of these in some of the most precise measurements in science. 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)
Prerequisites
Algebra and Basic Calculus
Prerequisites
Algebra and Basic Calculus
S8615: The Chemistry of Tie-Dye
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Michelle Noh,
Aria Shi
We are going to talk about the chemistry behind tie-dying T-shirts! Then we will tie-dye T-shirts! (Go application of knowledge!)
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
S8733: Jellyfish
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniel Mirny
What are jellyfish? How to they reproduce? What do they eat? Come find out! This will be a fun yet informative class on Jellyfish, and cool stuff about them.
S9068: Advanced Classical Mechanics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Lawrence Chiou
Given two points in the plane, what is the path connecting them that will carry a point traveling between the two points in the least amount of time? In general, what are the conditions under which there exists a conserved quantity (such as linear or angular momentum)?
To answer these questions, it will help considerably to recast Newton’s laws in an equivalent but much more powerful form instead of working with Newton’s laws directly. A more advanced grounding of mechanics, the so-called Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms, provides the theoretical underpinnings for much of physics as we know it today.
We will derive the so-called Lagrange and Hamilton equations and explain some of their implications on thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.
Prerequisites
AP Physics C or equivalent. (Even if you have not formally taken AP Physics, knowledge of basic calculus and introductory mechanics should suffice.)
To answer these questions, it will help considerably to recast Newton’s laws in an equivalent but much more powerful form instead of working with Newton’s laws directly. A more advanced grounding of mechanics, the so-called Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms, provides the theoretical underpinnings for much of physics as we know it today.
We will derive the so-called Lagrange and Hamilton equations and explain some of their implications on thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.
Prerequisites
AP Physics C or equivalent. (Even if you have not formally taken AP Physics, knowledge of basic calculus and introductory mechanics should suffice.)
S8999: Immunology 101 and Related Topics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Botong Ma
1) We'll talk about how your body fights off invaders, and then
2) We'll talk about some nasty things that your body won't work against. We could discuss some Ebola as well, if it is still relevant.
3) Then we'll talk about how your body could turn against yourself (autoimmune disorders).
Prerequisites
You should know some biology, like what T cells and B cells are. Or that you have an immune system that does things to protect against germs.
2) We'll talk about some nasty things that your body won't work against. We could discuss some Ebola as well, if it is still relevant.
3) Then we'll talk about how your body could turn against yourself (autoimmune disorders).
Prerequisites
You should know some biology, like what T cells and B cells are. Or that you have an immune system that does things to protect against germs.
S8827: Food Science!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sarah Wharton
Ever wondered why cooking just... works? Come to the tastiest chemistry class ever! We'll discuss the history and science behind the food you eat!
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
S8534: Cheating at Physics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kevin Zhou
Suppose you have an inclined plane, a protractor, a stopwatch, several carts, and a scale. Can you design an experiment using these things to measure the acceleration due to gravity, g?
It might seem impossible to give an answer. After all, aren't there tons of things you could try? But the answer is no, and you don't need to know anything besides basic algebra to prove it.
In this class, we'll discuss several techniques that are incredibly useful for solving physics problems and verifying solutions, and solve some tough, messy problems using almost no effort at all. By the end, you'll be able to do the same, using dimensional analysis, symmetry, scaling, and limiting arguments. If we have time, we'll touch on some cool applications in modern physics.
Prerequisites
Very confident knowledge of algebra. You'll get more out of this class if you've taken or are taking calculus-based mechanics.
It might seem impossible to give an answer. After all, aren't there tons of things you could try? But the answer is no, and you don't need to know anything besides basic algebra to prove it.
In this class, we'll discuss several techniques that are incredibly useful for solving physics problems and verifying solutions, and solve some tough, messy problems using almost no effort at all. By the end, you'll be able to do the same, using dimensional analysis, symmetry, scaling, and limiting arguments. If we have time, we'll touch on some cool applications in modern physics.
Prerequisites
Very confident knowledge of algebra. You'll get more out of this class if you've taken or are taking calculus-based mechanics.
S9083: How Blood Works
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Lillian McKinley
We'll cover everything about blood, from why your veins look blue all the way up to the mechanisms of clotting and structure of hemoglobin! We'll also talk a bit about what can happen when blood goes wrong - disorders like hemophilia and sickle-cell.
Prerequisites
High school biology and high school chemistry will be helpful, but are not required. Don't be squeamish.
Prerequisites
High school biology and high school chemistry will be helpful, but are not required. Don't be squeamish.
S8860: Strange Plants
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amy Sollitti
A crash course in the world's weirdest plants. From carnivorous to touch sensitive to parasitic, you'll never look at a garden the same way again.
S9051: Quantum Mechanics for Fun and Profit
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Daniel Epelbaum
Maybe you've heard that quantum mechanics can be used to make quantum computers. Maybe you've heard that some of the properties of quantum mechanics actually allow you to make a really secure currency. Maybe this is the first you've heard of either of these, but they sound pretty cool, and you just want to know what quantum mechanics is. If any of this describes you, then you should take this class and learn how to use quantum mechanics for fun and also for profit.
Prerequisites
Some basic trigonometry, and it would be helpful to know matrix multiplication.
Prerequisites
Some basic trigonometry, and it would be helpful to know matrix multiplication.
S8662: How Human Memory Works
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Abby Noyce
Admittedly, the truly honest answer is "Scientists don't really know." But there are a lot of snippets we do know! From the role of hippocampus structures in pattern separation and pattern completion, to the fMRI evidence for reactivation, to tips about how to study most effectively, this class will explore how the nervous system stores and accesses information.
Come prepared to talk about cells, but also to consider the computational basis of human cognition.
Prerequisites
You should have background equivalent to a year of HS biology. Programming experience is recommended but not required.
Come prepared to talk about cells, but also to consider the computational basis of human cognition.
Prerequisites
You should have background equivalent to a year of HS biology. Programming experience is recommended but not required.
S8607: Human Evolution
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Laura Damon
What makes us human? What makes humans different from other primates? What's the significance of race? We'll explore this question and theories about the evolution of the anatomically-modern human. This class will provide an introduction to fascinating anthropological theories and discoveries.
S9088: Plastics in our Ocean
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Cherry Gao
The ocean sustains all life on Earth. But the ocean is in trouble! In this class, we will learn about one problem that our ocean is facing: plastic pollution. Scientists have sailed across the globe and found little pieces of plastics floating in the ocean, endangering marine life and contaminating our food chain. We will look at what plastics in the ocean look like, how this problem started, and what we can do to fix it.
S9012: Astronomical Imaging + Observing
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Caitlin Fischer
Ever wondered how we get such incredible pictures of objects in space? Learn exactly how astronomers manage this, and then use real data to turn raw telescope images into stunning colour astrophotography, or how we can use this information to discover asteroids and more.
We'll go over how astronomers take images and process them for various purposes, and then use data from a remote telescope to put these skills into practice.
We'll go over how astronomers take images and process them for various purposes, and then use data from a remote telescope to put these skills into practice.
S8816: Estimation: Fermi Questions!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniel Richman,
Brandon Zeng
How many bubbles are there in a bubble bath? How many carbon atoms in a person? Learn the basics of Fermi Questions, then test your powers of estimation in the Fermi Derby!
S8772: Lift! An Overview
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ben Sena
A quick overview of relevant physics, fluid dynamics, and a description of the generation of lift.
S8563: And a side order of orgo? Introductory Applied Biochemistry in the Kitchen
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Skanda Koppula
Take to the kitchen for some delicious treats and a brief survey and what makes them delicious. Covering emulsions and mixtures, fermentation, maillard reactions, acid-base chemistry, and a few topics in biochemistry including protein denaturation, osmotic potential.
Prerequisites
General Chemistry
Prerequisites
General Chemistry
S8602: Illusions and Visual Perception: Why You Don't See Dead People
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Patience Stevens
What do you see that isn't actually there? What don't you see that is there? The answers to both of these questions give insight into how our visual sensory and perceptual systems function. We will discuss the basics of how vision works, some common illusions and the mechanics of why they occur, and look at some unexplained illusions.
Prerequisites
None.
Prerequisites
None.
S9022: Telling Apart Left and Right
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kevin Zhou
Say you're teaching a friend English over the phone, and he wants to know what 'left' and 'right' mean. What do you say?
You might say "you write with your right hand", but maybe he doesn't. Or, "the Sun rises on the right, when you face North", but you'll find that defining North and South is just as hard. Seeking a more universal way, you might turn to physics: "when you turn right, your angular momentum points along..." -- but wait! The direction of angular momentum is found using the *right* hand rule. It's all hopelessly circular. So, can you tell, or not?
In this class, we'll tackle this question from a physics point of view, through the concept of symmetries. The journey will take us through decades of theoretical work, several Nobel prize winning experiments, and end with unsolved questions on the frontiers of physics.
Prerequisites
You'll get more out of the class if you've taken an intro physics class before. There are no technical prereqs, though.
You might say "you write with your right hand", but maybe he doesn't. Or, "the Sun rises on the right, when you face North", but you'll find that defining North and South is just as hard. Seeking a more universal way, you might turn to physics: "when you turn right, your angular momentum points along..." -- but wait! The direction of angular momentum is found using the *right* hand rule. It's all hopelessly circular. So, can you tell, or not?
In this class, we'll tackle this question from a physics point of view, through the concept of symmetries. The journey will take us through decades of theoretical work, several Nobel prize winning experiments, and end with unsolved questions on the frontiers of physics.
Prerequisites
You'll get more out of the class if you've taken an intro physics class before. There are no technical prereqs, though.
S8650: Introduction to Special Relativity and Application to Magnetism
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kenneth Wang
Ever wondered what the heck magnetism is? Are electricity and magnetism related beyond Faraday's law of induction? In this class, you will come to see that these two are really manifestations of the same phenomenon! Along the way, we will need to develop some special relativity, so we'll do all the basics of it as well, including time dilation and length contraction.
Prerequisites
Algebra, Pythagorean Theorem! Some physics background preferred.
Prerequisites
Algebra, Pythagorean Theorem! Some physics background preferred.
S8964: Eleven Blue Men: Advanced Topics in Murder
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Riley Drake
No longer consider yourself a beginner in murder, and want to become an expert?
Come hear enthralling tales of forensic detection (and the science behind them!)
Come hear enthralling tales of forensic detection (and the science behind them!)
S8941: Building Planets
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Molly Kosiarek
Have you ever wondered how our Solar System formed? How the Earth formed? Why we seem to have some "leftover" planet material located in the asteroid belt? Come learn how planets are created!
Prerequisites
Calculus may be used to derive equations, but is not strictly needed.
Prerequisites
Calculus may be used to derive equations, but is not strictly needed.
S8729: The Science of Chocolate
Difficulty: **
Do you love chocolate? Ever wonder why chocolate melts in your mouth? Or gets dry and crumbly when it's old? Join us to discover the science and engineering behind chocolate! Learn how to go from a cocoa bean to a truffle and discover phase diagrams, nucleation, and a little bit of history while you're at it. Chocolate will be provided.
S8967: Murder for the Beginner
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Riley Drake
Arsenic and old lace? Beginner luck! Everything you never wanted to know about neurotoxins (and other nasty stuff). Loosely based off the book 'The Poisoner's Handbook' by Deborah Blum and the work of Vil Mirzayanov, inventor of the world's most potent neurotoxin, Novichok-5.
Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of Biology
Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of Biology
S8784: Invasive species
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Winnie Cung
They clog your pipes, eat your food, and ruin your backyard.They wreak havoc wherever they go! What makes a plant or animal an invasive species? How do we deal with them? Students will learn the characteristics of invasive species and the ecological affects that occur when they are introduced into new habitats. We will learn about the major species affecting certain parts of the world and then move onto the local species that are invading our lawns.
S8835: How to give a science talk
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrei Klishin
You heard of the scientific method of producing knowledge - hypothesis, experiments and conclusions. But once you have done your research, you need to go through another indispensable step - telling others about your work. In this class you would learn how to structure, oppose and defend a scientific argument in a public presentation, as well as a few specific tricks to make your smart audience understand what you are talking about.
S8494: Bioethics and 2014
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Peter LoVerso
As the biotech and bioinformatics industry continues to grow rapidly in the US, genomic sequencing of patients is becoming more common. This brings with it a whole host of ethical issues of what is appropriate to do with that data.
Topics discussed will include privacy, eugenics, 23andme, commercial rights, DNA databases, genetic screening, and future possibilities such as engineering humans.
This is not a lecture-based course. Come with an open mind, but be prepared to defend your opinions!
Topics discussed will include privacy, eugenics, 23andme, commercial rights, DNA databases, genetic screening, and future possibilities such as engineering humans.
This is not a lecture-based course. Come with an open mind, but be prepared to defend your opinions!
S8773: Lift! In Detail
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Ben Sena
A more in-depth look at fluid dynamics and the mechanism and quantification of lift.
Prerequisites
Recommended to also take Lift! An Overview or have a decent understanding of physics and fluid dynamics concepts.
Prerequisites
Recommended to also take Lift! An Overview or have a decent understanding of physics and fluid dynamics concepts.
S8979: Introduction to Statistical Mechanics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Lane Gunderman
Like statistics? Love mechanics? Well, this class isn't about either of those really, but its good if you like those things. This class will justify many of the more common chemistry formulas using very basic principles. It will not require too much science knowledge, but will require much math skills. This will be fun and a new way to look at simple science principles.
Prerequisites
A vague knowledge of chemistry and/or physics is useful but not too needed. Instead you should have much math skills, like being able to do integrals and handle some strong math fudging.
Prerequisites
A vague knowledge of chemistry and/or physics is useful but not too needed. Instead you should have much math skills, like being able to do integrals and handle some strong math fudging.
S8968: Glorious Genome Editing Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Riley Drake
S9029: Chemotaxis: Bacterial Motors and Random Walks
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Rachel Lawrence
How can bacteria successfully navigate towards food or away from toxins with only the most basic tools? What makes them go? And where does math come into it?
We'll answer these questions while taking a look at the fascinating chemical mechanisms and mathematical principles driving some of nature's simplest creatures!
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of probability and biology will help, but is not strictly required.
We'll answer these questions while taking a look at the fascinating chemical mechanisms and mathematical principles driving some of nature's simplest creatures!
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of probability and biology will help, but is not strictly required.
S8652: All of Organic Chemistry in 2 hours
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kenneth Wang
Fine, we won't cover ALL of organic chemistry, but we will do a fast survey of a wide breadth of organic chemical reactions. We will explore how functional groups can be converted into other functional groups, and how it all comes together in the chemical synthesis of a molecule. Get ready for an exciting, fast ride through a great deal of organic chemistry!
Prerequisites
A chemistry background is preferred. Ability to understand Lewis Structures and resonance is also crucial.
Prerequisites
A chemistry background is preferred. Ability to understand Lewis Structures and resonance is also crucial.
S8975: Absolute Zero
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Lane Gunderman
Temperature can increase without bound (so far as people know), but 'strangely' there is a lower bound for temperature. How can we make sense of this? Well come find out!!! In this course, we will observe through reasonable analysis of ideal theoretical micro systems: Boyle's law, Charles' law, and Avogadro's law. These laws will then be pieced together into the beautiful ideal gas law equation. From this we will find Absolute Zero, and convince ourselves that there can be nothing with a lower temperature.
Prerequisites
Students are suggested (although not required) to have comfort with phrases like 'proportional to' as well as fair comfort with simple algebra manipulations.
Prerequisites
Students are suggested (although not required) to have comfort with phrases like 'proportional to' as well as fair comfort with simple algebra manipulations.
S8863: Disease and Civilization
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ethan Goldstein
The Black Plague. AIDS. Ebola.
Throughout history, plagues, outbreaks, and pandemics have had an incalculable effect on society, oftentimes defining eras and changing the way of life for people around them. This joint History / Biology course will look at both the molecular mechanisms responsible for disease as well as what effects they've had on human civilization, and will span from Medieval to Modern times, ending on a discussion of modern pandemics, with a focus on Ebola, how it spreads, and how doctors are working to isolate and treat it.
Throughout history, plagues, outbreaks, and pandemics have had an incalculable effect on society, oftentimes defining eras and changing the way of life for people around them. This joint History / Biology course will look at both the molecular mechanisms responsible for disease as well as what effects they've had on human civilization, and will span from Medieval to Modern times, ending on a discussion of modern pandemics, with a focus on Ebola, how it spreads, and how doctors are working to isolate and treat it.
S8903: Energy, Entropy, and Chemical Reactions
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexander Siegenfeld
So perhaps you've heard of the terms energy and entropy and how you can use them to predict which chemical reactions are favorable, but do you really have an intuitive understanding of them? Come to this class to learn what energy and entropy really are on a microscopic level, and how one can relate thermodynamic statements about reactions to the microscopic principles behind their kinetics.
Prerequisites
To understand this class, you should have completed at least one year of high school chemistry (and preferably be enrolled in or have completed AP Chem or equivalent). You should also know what a natural logarithm is.
Prerequisites
To understand this class, you should have completed at least one year of high school chemistry (and preferably be enrolled in or have completed AP Chem or equivalent). You should also know what a natural logarithm is.
S9104: Weight Watchers: An Introduction to Mass Spectroscopy
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexander Devaux,
Noelle Held
Mass spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools available to researchers today. We will use a hands-on approach to understand the theory behind mass spectroscopy, then explore applications of this technology to fields such as oceanography, planetary science, and biomedicine.
Prerequisites
Very basic chemistry and physics
Prerequisites
Very basic chemistry and physics
S8830: What Happens When You Throw a Squirrel Into a Black Hole? And Other Important Questions
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nikhil Kunapuli,
Talia Weiss
Learn about some of the most mind bending (and spacetime bending) ideas to come out of modern black hole research, including: relativistic ion jets, gamma ray bursts, singularities, Hawking radiation, quantum information paradoxes, firewalls, fractal superfluid event horizons, and the new theory that black holes might not even exist at all! No background in general relativity or quantum field theory required. Probably.
S8811: Eat Your Own Aquifer
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lydia Brejcha,
Maggie King
Where does your drinking water come from? Where does rainwater go? What are the risks of the transcontinental XL pipeline? How is water stored underground? What is an aquifer?
Come experience a hands on approach to learning about these questions. Oh and by the way, the aquifer you experiment with is 100% edible! Warning: sweet tooth addiction is reinforced in this session.
Prerequisites
Your aquifer may taste a little funky if you have special dietary restrictions. (Products may contain nuts, dairy products, gluten, color pigments...)
Come experience a hands on approach to learning about these questions. Oh and by the way, the aquifer you experiment with is 100% edible! Warning: sweet tooth addiction is reinforced in this session.
Prerequisites
Your aquifer may taste a little funky if you have special dietary restrictions. (Products may contain nuts, dairy products, gluten, color pigments...)
S8533: Quantum Cryptography
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kevin Zhou
If you follow science news, you've probably heard about how quantum computers promise to break RSA encryption, a cornerstone of modern information security. But over 20 years ago, before that algorithm was even invented, two scientists figured out how to use quantum mechanics to guarantee absolutely secure communication -- against any attacker, classical or quantum.
We'll discuss this scheme, as well as what people have done with it since its invention. Time permitting, we'll give a very brief overview of how quantum computers threaten classical encryption in the first place.
Prerequisites
Know what a vector is, and be able to draw 2d vectors in the plane
We'll discuss this scheme, as well as what people have done with it since its invention. Time permitting, we'll give a very brief overview of how quantum computers threaten classical encryption in the first place.
Prerequisites
Know what a vector is, and be able to draw 2d vectors in the plane
S9092: Stupid Human Tricks
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Thompson
Stupid human tricks
We'll cover some of the more unusual examples of how the human body can be an example of exquisite functional design or completely stupid fail. From here I hope to encourage discussion and question and answer of any bodily myth, mystery, or ailment. Stomach growling. Entoptic images. Knuckle cracking. The valgus knee and how Bigfoot has to be a guy in a furry suit.
We'll cover some of the more unusual examples of how the human body can be an example of exquisite functional design or completely stupid fail. From here I hope to encourage discussion and question and answer of any bodily myth, mystery, or ailment. Stomach growling. Entoptic images. Knuckle cracking. The valgus knee and how Bigfoot has to be a guy in a furry suit.
S8970: Accidents in Northern American Mountaineering: and how to avoid them
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Riley Drake
Once upon a time, there was a women who took a rock climbing lesson. In this lesson, she learned how to descend a cliff on a rope, using a small piece of metal called an ATC to create friction and slow her descent.
The key detail she did not learn, or did not remember the next time she went climbing, was the necessity of feeding both strands of rope through the ATC, which is called a double stranded rappel. The next time she went climbing, she fed the ATC through just one strand of the rope, and the rope pulled through the anchor, causing her to fall to her death.
And other stories you'll never want to forget!
The key detail she did not learn, or did not remember the next time she went climbing, was the necessity of feeding both strands of rope through the ATC, which is called a double stranded rappel. The next time she went climbing, she fed the ATC through just one strand of the rope, and the rope pulled through the anchor, causing her to fall to her death.
And other stories you'll never want to forget!
S8651: Introduction to Lagrangian Mechanics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kenneth Wang
Can →F=m→a be derived? It turns out it can be from Hamilton's Principle of Stationary Action and the Euler-Lagrange Equations, which in a way are a bit more fundamental than →F=m→a. We will develop Lagrangian Mechanics from Hamilton's principle, and then use it to solve simple mechanical systems. If we have time, we will use these equations to explore the ease at which we can solve coupled oscillators and Atwood machines.
Prerequisites
A Physics background is crucial, preferably at the AP level. A math background at the calculus level is also essential.
Prerequisites
A Physics background is crucial, preferably at the AP level. A math background at the calculus level is also essential.
S8824: Climate Physics & Fixes: Turning Up the Heat on Global Warming
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Christopher Klingshirn
A discussion of the science behind global warming, its likely effects, and the ways science and engineering can help us fight it.
Prerequisites
A general interest in climate science and alternative energy. We will focus more on the concepts than the mathematical details.
Prerequisites
A general interest in climate science and alternative energy. We will focus more on the concepts than the mathematical details.
S9105: How Does MRI Work?! A Look Inside the Body!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tehya Johnson
Have you ever wondered how an MRI image is made? How a doctor can diagnose a problem without opening up the body!? Well if so, come check out this course to learn about the physics behind MRI's and its many applications including how we can now read your mind!
S8935: Biology of Allergies
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sherri Green
Ever wondered what actually happens when someone has an allergic reaction? Come find out!
S8942: Before the Great Dying: Life on Land in the Paleozoic
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
DW Rowlands
When most people hear the phrase "mass extinction", they think of the asteroid that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs 65 million years ago. However, the dinosaurs were descended from the survivors of a much larger mass extinction that wiped out 70% of land animal species. Let's learn about life before this catastrophe, when animals and plants first colonized land.
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of biology and evolution
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of biology and evolution
S8693: Drilling for Chocolate
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Krueger,
Jayson Lynch
Are you interested in how the petroleum industry works? How about chocolate, are you interested in that? Come learn how oil companies go about finding and drilling for oil by trying it for yourself. With a team of your fellow students, you'll be competing to get the data and find the oil without going bankrupt. Except instead of oil, you'll be drilling for chocolate. It's gonna be good.
S8614: The Stuff of the Universe
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Aaron Dunbrack
Want to know what the universe is made of? Not just the usual protons, neutrons, and electrons either - more exotic matter as well. I'll cover the Standard Model and the kinds of particles that arise from it, and why they occur. I'll then cover particles that aren't in the Standard Model - which covers the main present theories of dark matter and energy.
Prerequisites
Some idea of quantum spin and other quantum mechanics would probably help your understanding of the particles' physics, but it is not necessary; I'll explain the necessary principles as we go.
Prerequisites
Some idea of quantum spin and other quantum mechanics would probably help your understanding of the particles' physics, but it is not necessary; I'll explain the necessary principles as we go.
S9034: Mountains, Glaciers and the Landscape
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kelly Kochanski
Ever wondered what Cape Cod would look like under 600ft of ice, or why the Solar System's highest volcano is on Mars? Come find out about ice sheets, tectonics, and the basic forces that shape the landscape around you.
S9066: Exploring Einstein's Special Relativity
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Lawrence Chiou
As Einstein posited at the turn of the last century, if we accept that the speed of light is the universal “speed limit” and that the laws of physics are the same to all inertial observers, then a simple thought experiment reveals stunning inconsistencies in the foundations of Newtonian physics.
The theory of special relativity is elegant enough that starting with nothing but two simple postulates and a little algebra, we can derive and explain all of the fundamental results of special relativity. We will also discuss some rudimentary aspects of relativistic dynamics (which requires a third assumption).
The theory of special relativity is elegant enough that starting with nothing but two simple postulates and a little algebra, we can derive and explain all of the fundamental results of special relativity. We will also discuss some rudimentary aspects of relativistic dynamics (which requires a third assumption).
S8809: Wormholes, Really?
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Eric Newman
What if I said some of the most vexing paradoxes and aporias in theoretical physics could be resolved by wormholes? Yes, wormholes.
It turns out that they're not just the stuff of science fiction. In fact, they currently play an important role in a number of attempts to elucidate some of the behavior of black holes, universes, and even quarks.
(Note: This class will more generally be about gauge/gravity duality, but it will certainly include a good bit about wormholes.)
Prerequisites
Any familiarity with math/physics will be helpful.
It turns out that they're not just the stuff of science fiction. In fact, they currently play an important role in a number of attempts to elucidate some of the behavior of black holes, universes, and even quarks.
(Note: This class will more generally be about gauge/gravity duality, but it will certainly include a good bit about wormholes.)
Prerequisites
Any familiarity with math/physics will be helpful.
S8725: Nuclear Weapons Technology
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jake Hecla
Nuclear weapons are the stuff of nightmares. The allow nations to play God, toying with the fate of mankind over ideologies, profits and political posturing. Over 15,000 exist at the moment—some 3400 on high alert and poised to launch at any minute—meaning that mankind is separated from annihilation by four people, two keys and a little book of codes. Quite reasonably, the technical details relating to nuclear weapons manufacture have become the most guarded secrets in the history of mankind.
However, the passage of time has brought many of these secrets out of the shadows. Through this class, I intend to help students understand the physics behind nuclear weapons, fusion boosting and the hydrogen bomb using information now available in the public sphere. Further, I intend for the class to learn the consequences of nuclear war in a quantitative, un-politicized fashion.
We will cover:
• The physics of fusion and fission
• Criticality, the four-factor formula
o Gun-type nuclear weapons
o Implosion-type weapons
• Uranium enrichment
o Plutonium (properties, manufacture)
o U-233
• Nuclear safeguards
o Failures
o Accidents
• The radiological and climatological effects of nuclear war
While this class will be challenging, all students will learn something from it, and perhaps come to understand the dire threat that nuclear weapons pose to all humanity.
However, the passage of time has brought many of these secrets out of the shadows. Through this class, I intend to help students understand the physics behind nuclear weapons, fusion boosting and the hydrogen bomb using information now available in the public sphere. Further, I intend for the class to learn the consequences of nuclear war in a quantitative, un-politicized fashion.
We will cover:
• The physics of fusion and fission
• Criticality, the four-factor formula
o Gun-type nuclear weapons
o Implosion-type weapons
• Uranium enrichment
o Plutonium (properties, manufacture)
o U-233
• Nuclear safeguards
o Failures
o Accidents
• The radiological and climatological effects of nuclear war
While this class will be challenging, all students will learn something from it, and perhaps come to understand the dire threat that nuclear weapons pose to all humanity.
S8761: Becoming Super: The Science and History behind GMOs
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Paige Seserko
S8880: Fantasy Organic Chemistry
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
We know how carbon and other atoms usually behave in organic compounds, but let's pretend that reality does not apply and mathematically approach organic chemistry by extrapolation...what possibilities are there now?
Prerequisites
High School Chemistry
Prerequisites
High School Chemistry
[Deprecated] Walk-in Activity
W8955: Magic: The Walk-In Activity
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Eugenio Fortanely,
Fangfei Shen
Come play Magic: The Gathering! Please bring your own deck.
W8687: Poi!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Mittmann,
Kerrie Wu
Attach weights to the end of strings and spin them around - what patterns can you make? Introductory poi techniques will be taught.
W8597: Learn how to Yo-Yo!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
John Chow
Learn yo-yo tricks from a competitive yoyoer! Learn about competitive yo-yoing and how the toy has changed into a competitive hobby.
W8702: Origami
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yongquan Lu
Come fold things with OrigaMIT, MIT’s origami club! We’ll provide paper, diagrams and help.
W8847: Language and Logic
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniela Ganelin
Language doesn't always make sense. But what if it did? Come solve puzzles from the North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad and learn how to use obscure languages you've never heard of. No knowledge of linguistics or formal logic required, just a fondness for using your brain.
W9118: Harnessing the Sun: A Hands-On Introduction to Solar Fuels Research
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nancy Li
This walk-in course illustrates through hands-on activities the different forms of energy conversion pertinent to everyday life. Many fundamental principles in physics, chemistry, and biology will be emphasized.
W8654: SET and Pro Set
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anthony Lu
Come play SET, a fun fast-paced card game of visual perception and pattern matching. We'll also have Pro(jective) Set, a SET variant with the interesting property that in any 7 cards you can always find a set. Learn to play and challenge your friends!
W8984: Non gender conforming identities
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Olivia Brode-Roger
Most people around you fit neatly in two categories: female and male. Typically, these categories are considered fixed and exclusive, however many individuals don't fit in them or fit in one that doesn't correspond to them.
In this activity, you will be able to ask awkward questions and learn more about individuals not fitting in to the gender norm.
In this activity, you will be able to ask awkward questions and learn more about individuals not fitting in to the gender norm.
W8988: Paper Staple Madness
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Zachary Abel
Put your "cut here" and "staple there" skills to good use while constructing fun, wavy, bouncy, intricate polyhedral structures! Patterns will be provided.
W9098: Circuit Bending
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ben Sena
"I wonder what happens if I..."
Discover the soothing melodies of blindly crossed wires. I will bring some cheap keyboards, toy guitars, and other musical toys, and with some alligator clips and a little guidance you will make magic.
Discover the soothing melodies of blindly crossed wires. I will bring some cheap keyboards, toy guitars, and other musical toys, and with some alligator clips and a little guidance you will make magic.
W9115: Rub3 Against Th3 Machin3 3: Rub3 of th3 Plan3t of th3 Ap3s
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
James Buckland
Welcome to Rub3 Against Th3 Machin3 3: Rub3 of th3 Plan3t of th3 Ap3s.
The year: 2026. San Francisco. James Franco is nowhere to be found. The Apes are swinging their way over the bridge like that one scene from the trailer. You don't know what happens next, because you haven't seen the movie. Of course you haven't, no one has. But that's OK.
You're armed. You're armed with duct tape, WD-40, rubber bands, marbles, wood blocks, string, and a whole lot of Lego. This is it. You've been training for it all your lives. In 2012 you built a machine that launched a marble down a track. In 2013 you built another machine, that also launched a marble, down another, different track. This year, in 2014, we're going to launch a third marble down a third, entirely new track.
Join us at MIT Splash to defeat the Apes and protect the Planet from their Rise... no, their Rube.
Rube Against The Machine 3: Rube of the Planet of the Apes
The year: 2026. San Francisco. James Franco is nowhere to be found. The Apes are swinging their way over the bridge like that one scene from the trailer. You don't know what happens next, because you haven't seen the movie. Of course you haven't, no one has. But that's OK.
You're armed. You're armed with duct tape, WD-40, rubber bands, marbles, wood blocks, string, and a whole lot of Lego. This is it. You've been training for it all your lives. In 2012 you built a machine that launched a marble down a track. In 2013 you built another machine, that also launched a marble, down another, different track. This year, in 2014, we're going to launch a third marble down a third, entirely new track.
Join us at MIT Splash to defeat the Apes and protect the Planet from their Rise... no, their Rube.
Rube Against The Machine 3: Rube of the Planet of the Apes
W8746: Mafia and Hoggy Poggy!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Francesca Majluf,
Eleni Pitses
Come help your town eradicate the evil mafia - or make them believe that, while helping your mafia take control of the town! And if you're executed, join some late-comers in a hilarious word game!
W8770: Exploring Tessellations: art + origami
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tracy Cheng
Learn how to design your own tessellation patterns and/or origami tessellations!
W8889: Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Gabriel Davis
The Nash equilibrium says that everyone loses-- can you do better?? We will create teams and play a couple of games of Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma! No prior knowledge of game theory is required or expected, but if you want to read up, check out Wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner's_dilemma)
W9019: Hair Bows and Bow Ties
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yanisa Techagumthorn
Come in and make cool hair bows and bow ties that you can take home with you!
W8774: Mechanical Puzzles
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ben Sena
Come try your hand at these physical brain teasers. Careful! You might spend all day trying to get the ring off.
W9044: Giant Modular Origami
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Kraft
Make giant modular origami using old ESP flyers!
W9057: Take stuff apart!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Emily TenCate
In this walk-in, we encourage you to BE DESTRUCTIVE. We've brought you some random broken/used/retired equipment! Take the things apart! Figure out how they work! Rebuild them (or make giant hybrid monster machines out of many different parts)!
W8749: Crash demos in physics!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
James Penna
You came in like a.....simple frictionless pendulum? Come see a few neat principles from physics demonstrated by live experiments and demos right before your eyes! Learn how a few sets of equations govern what's around you and learn how to use the F = ma!
W8900: Kindergarten
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Berg,
Corinn Herrick
Have you been spending Splash running from one advanced math class to another? Do you miss Kindergarten, when you would spend all day coloring and building with blocks? So do we! Take a break from learning philosophy or physics, and come join us in Splash Kindergarten. There will be legos, coloring, snack time, and more.
W9087: Art!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Haley Bates-Tarasewicz,
Sophia Tigges
Come and work on art projects with us. Materials provided (not infinite).
W9099: Now hiring: programming ninjas [mock interviews for programming jobs]
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Felix Sun
We're looking for computer programmers to join our dynamic, agile, buzzwordy team! Come interview for our wide variety of positions, available immediately. Wha, you're a 9th grader? It's never too early to start... come, give it a shot! What do you say?
---
Come experience what it's like to interview for a programming job. Don't worry - it's fun! We are looking for people at all levels of experience (aka, we will have appropriate problems for you, whether you are just starting out, or more experienced). If you absolutely have no idea how to code, you can still watch your friends get interviewed, and learn something about the process.
If you are interested in turning the tables and becoming an interviewer, we may be able to do that, too.
---
Come experience what it's like to interview for a programming job. Don't worry - it's fun! We are looking for people at all levels of experience (aka, we will have appropriate problems for you, whether you are just starting out, or more experienced). If you absolutely have no idea how to code, you can still watch your friends get interviewed, and learn something about the process.
If you are interested in turning the tables and becoming an interviewer, we may be able to do that, too.
W8622: See, touch, and type on a (real, live) typewriter!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
William Navarre
Do you vaguely know what a typewriter is?
Do you know that it makes a dinging sound sometimes? Do you have any idea what that means? Hint: It has something to do with manual-carriage-return.
Come see for yourself how the thing works.
Do you know that it makes a dinging sound sometimes? Do you have any idea what that means? Hint: It has something to do with manual-carriage-return.
Come see for yourself how the thing works.
W8906: Resist gravity
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Miriam Pofcher
Learn to juggle! Make your own juggling balls!
W9000: Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Elizabeth Berg,
Eric Mannes
Like ice cream? Watch us make it using liquid nitrogen, and learn about some cool properties of LN2 along the way. Served steaming cold!
W9132: DIY Nail Art
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Madhurima Das,
Tessa Winkel
We'll teach awesome things, like nail art. We can do basics and designs and maybe a few requests. We have lots of nail polish.
W8857: Geology of Snickers Candy Bars
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jaz Harris
Let's discover the composition of a snickers bar! In the process, let's also make one.
W8954: Misconceptions
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jerry Wu
We will be reading from Wikipedia's List of Common Misconceptions, even though it isn't the first Tuesday in February. Because why not.
W8960: The Many Forms of Poker
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
William Sablove
Pull up a chair and I'll deal you in. You will learn about different versions of poker that they play at major events like the WSOP. Meet new people, play a few hands, and have fun!
W9086: Tape!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Haley Bates-Tarasewicz
Come make things with tape! Duct tape, masking tape, packing tape, all kinds of tape! Make sculptures, accessories, pictures, or even clothing! Not sure where to start? We'll help you figure it out!
(Materials are limited and might run out)
(Materials are limited and might run out)
W9114: Poiiiiiii
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jason Schuchardt
POIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!
Learn to spin thingys such as pretty lights and glowsticks.
Learn to spin thingys such as pretty lights and glowsticks.
W8532: Mahjong
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
George Liu-Krason
Mahjong is a multiplayer tile game widely played in Eastern Asia. It is a game that requires skill and strategic thinking but also involves an element of chance. All skill levels are welcome whether you're new to the game or have been playing for a long time.
W8666: Splashwide Book Exchange
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Amy Estersohn
W8704: Penspinning Fundamentals
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Danny Tang,
Liang Zhou
Ever seen classmates twirl pens between their fingers and wanted to be able to do it yourself? Ever felt jealous when the pen would fall every time you tried? Then come for a tutorial and practice session on the basics of penspinning. No experience required :D
[Deprecated] Miscellaneous
X9004: Intro to Massachusetts Bicycle Law Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jennifer Melot
X8922: The Mess known as Club Soccer Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
William Sablove
X8632: Amazing insects Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
David Rolnick
X8767: Classical Art, Legends, and Playdough Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kate Scott
X8789: Learn Your Way Around MIT! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
X8859: Hard Times: Tips to Help You Manage Adversity Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Patricia Craig
X9024: Change the world
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Malte Ahrens
All around us are great challenges facing humanity - poverty, energy, food, water, agriculture, jobs, and climate change to name a few.
There are fifty million refugees in the world; a billion people don't have access to water; two billion don't have access to electricity; and four billion don't have access to the internet.
Congratulations! You have are the new Dear Leader / President / Dictator, Revolutionary Chairman / Monarch / etc. You will get a budget, form a team, and the rest is up to you. What will you do?
There are fifty million refugees in the world; a billion people don't have access to water; two billion don't have access to electricity; and four billion don't have access to the internet.
Congratulations! You have are the new Dear Leader / President / Dictator, Revolutionary Chairman / Monarch / etc. You will get a budget, form a team, and the rest is up to you. What will you do?
X8910: Logic Puzzles Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anderson Wang
X8953: How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Eugenio Fortanely,
Fangfei Shen
That darn Rubik's Cube got you down? Don't know how to solve it but think that you can't be a full-fledged nerd until you can? Learn how!
X9126: Cheese: Theory and Practice Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Elizabeth Berg,
Lisa Ho
X8795: DIY Nail Art
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Madhurima Das,
Tessa Winkel
We'll teach awesome things, like nail art. We can do basics and designs and maybe a few requests. We have lots of nail polish.
Prerequisites
Must love nail art! Or just nail polish, or maybe you're just interested!
Prerequisites
Must love nail art! Or just nail polish, or maybe you're just interested!
X8861: Making the Best Financial Decisions for You: College, Career, etc...
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Patricia Craig
A handful of major decisions can really influence your life and possibly have a lasting influence on your future happiness. What career you choose, what college you attend, how you pay for college, who you choose to marry, whether you buy a house or rent - - these are some of the really big "financial" decisions. The purpose of this course is to help you expand your thinking on these very critical decisions with particular emphasis on college decisions.
X8668: Scanlation - Start to End
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Yuge Ji
Have you ever gotten to the end of a manga, seen the credits page and the desperate recruitment ads, and wished you could help? Did you decide not to because you didn't have experience, or didn't know how? Were you intimidated by the Idiot's Guide to Scanlation? Then you should take this one hour crash course on all things scanlation! Everything except translation will be covered in this comprehensive lesson on every job in the business. No prior experience necessary.
X9007: How to take care of yourself and your friends!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Julia Kudryashev,
Lorraine Wong
Ever feel lost in the maelstrom of high school? Ever see your friends struggling too? Come join us for some tips and a discussion on how to take care of yourself and your friends between all that academic stuff! Learn how to take time off to do things you love, how to spot if your friend needs help and what to do then, and how to implement healthy coping skills for everyone!
Remember, your health and happiness comes above all else! :D
Remember, your health and happiness comes above all else! :D
X8648: Juggling 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ian Chesser
Want to learn how to juggle? We have balls, clubs, rings, diabolos, poi, unicycles, devil sticks and more! Come learn some tricks if you already know how to juggle, otherwise we'll teach you the basics. Hosted by the MIT juggling club!!!
X8616: CEO Flight Simulator
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Vrajesh Modi
A multiplayer simulation in which participants seek to maximize their company's net worth as they compete against each other while dealing with variations in resource supply. Participants buy, sell, and build equipment, decide where to operate, and negotiate with one another. Policy options the instructor may use to introduce complexity include auctions, permits, and quotas. Format will consist of a 80-minute simulation followed by a 30-minute debrief. Students will be divided into groups for this exercise.
Prerequisites
Instructor will send out ~30-minute video that explains the user interface before the class.
Prerequisites
Instructor will send out ~30-minute video that explains the user interface before the class.
X8640: How-to: Professional Looking Make-Up
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jessica Artiles
Ever wonder what foundation, concealer, blush, eyeshadow and all those weird brushes were for?
Come explore make-up in this hands-on tutorial! We'll cover some color theory and basic geometry to learn how compliment your skin tone and facial features, and then we'll dive in and get some practice by doing our own make-up.
We'll have color palettes and clean make-up brushes.
**You should bring your own foundation, concealer, and lipstick(s) if you have them (no worries if you don't).
Come explore make-up in this hands-on tutorial! We'll cover some color theory and basic geometry to learn how compliment your skin tone and facial features, and then we'll dive in and get some practice by doing our own make-up.
We'll have color palettes and clean make-up brushes.
**You should bring your own foundation, concealer, and lipstick(s) if you have them (no worries if you don't).
X9020: Why NASCAR is Awesome
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Dirk Stahlecker
Whether you're a NASCAR fan looking to learn more about the technical aspects of the sport or someone who has never even seen a race before, this class is for you! Come learn all about NASCAR racing, from the cars and tracks to the strategy and engineering behind the vehicles.
X8800: The Science of Pick-Up Lines
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alexandra Churikova,
Mary Hwang
Learn great pick-up lines and the science behind them! You'll be reveling in the intelligence of our significant other-snatching verbal techniques.
X8862: Using Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for Better Relationships
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Patricia Craig
This class will teach you about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This can be useful for understanding your own personality traits and those of others (friends, family, or others.)
We'll take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test in class and review the results. We'll also briefly discuss the Enneagram personality wheel.
We'll take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test in class and review the results. We'll also briefly discuss the Enneagram personality wheel.
X8879: Boardgame Design Workshop
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Katy Kem
Settlers of Catan ain't got nothin' on you. Come try your hand at game design in this three hour workshop! Break into groups, design & create a game, and have fun playing other people's creations!
X8815: How to tie a tie
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kevin Phillips
Learn how to tie several different kinds of fancy knots with your necktie and impress your friends!
Prerequisites
bring your own tie
Prerequisites
bring your own tie
X8978: Climate Justice: Communication at the Roots
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Emilia McGrath,
Jeremy Orenstein
What do we find at the intersection of climate and justice? How does climate change perpetuate systems of oppression like racism, classism gentrification, and more- and how does a failed environmental movement serve to perpetuate these issues? We are seeking to start from the self- learning how to build a climate movement centered on justice by building relationships, listening actively, and communicating from a place of caring and consciousness.
X8603: Gender Beyond the Binary
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ryker Reed
Like thinking about gender? Ever felt like male and female don't cover all the possibilities? Come learn all about the Gender Spectrum and all the different identities that a person can have that fall outside the Binary of Female or Male. We will talk about gender identity in society, in science, and in life. Come enjoy a fun discussion and bring your questions! No prior knowledge necessary, just respect and an open mind.
X8798: Electric musical instruments, 1890-1950
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Henry Kavle
From the telharmonium to the theremin, the novachord to the mellotron, we'll look at some cool electronic and electromechanical instruments from the analog era. Some real-life examples may make an appearance. We'll focus not only on the history of these machines, but also some the physics and math behind the sound (but nothing too heavy, I promise!).
X8671: How to solve a puzzle
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lilly Chin,
Taylor Sutton
What is a puzzle to you? A crossword puzzle? Sudoku? A brain teaser? Logic puzzle?
For us, puzzles include these things and more. It's simply anything which can be solved somehow for a single answer. How about a simple list of words written in different colors: http://www.mathcamp.org/2009/hunt/acolorfullist.html is a puzzle, and it has an answer.
In this class, we'll dissect puzzles, going through many kinds of puzzles and some common techniques for solving them. Then we'll let you get some hands-on experience, trying some real puzzles from past puzzle hunts.
Prerequisites
None!
For us, puzzles include these things and more. It's simply anything which can be solved somehow for a single answer. How about a simple list of words written in different colors: http://www.mathcamp.org/2009/hunt/acolorfullist.html is a puzzle, and it has an answer.
In this class, we'll dissect puzzles, going through many kinds of puzzles and some common techniques for solving them. Then we'll let you get some hands-on experience, trying some real puzzles from past puzzle hunts.
Prerequisites
None!
X9008: Cosplay Fabrication Techniques
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Julia Kudryashev,
Lorraine Wong
Learn some basic fabrication techniques that can be used to create cosplays!
We will cover: making patterns and sewing clothes, building props (like helmets) from scratch, and creating foam armor.
We will also be making take-home props out of foam!
We will cover: making patterns and sewing clothes, building props (like helmets) from scratch, and creating foam armor.
We will also be making take-home props out of foam!
X9125: The History and Science of Chocolate
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Elizabeth Berg,
Lisa Ho
Chocolate is delicious. Where does it come from? How do we get from cocoa beans to delightful squares of chocolate? Take this class to find out! Will include chocolate samples.
X8923: How to Write a College Essay
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Selam Gano
This will be an hour long course on everything you need to know to write a college essay, from someone who's experienced and knowledgeable about it. My job is to edit admissions essays, so I'm hoping this course will help all of you panicked high school students calm down a little before you begin your intense college admissions process, of which essays are a huge part!
X9050: How to Have an Adventure
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kelly Kochanski,
James Logan
Ever wanted to take yourself on an adventure, but stumbled over the how or the why? Come talk about what it means to have an adventure, and how to take yourself to interesting places. Figure out where you want to go, and we'll discuss the planning, safety or financial skills that will get you closer. Class will be focused on travel and outdoor activities, but tailored to the interests and resources of participants.
X8908: Introductory Meditation Techniques
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Robin Goldberg
Life is stressful. Thinking is hard. Learn how to let go. Don't come if you'll talk; turn your phone off.
Prerequisites
Ability to sit still and be quiet for the duration of the class.
Prerequisites
Ability to sit still and be quiet for the duration of the class.
X8929: Amigurumi for Beginners
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jesse Chang
Learn to crochet adorable stuffed toys! You will learn the basic stitches (slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, increase, decrease) and create your very own pear or apple to take home!
X8996: The art of impromptu speaking
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Malte Ahrens
Knowing how to write a speech ahead of time is one thing, but what if you are given only 5 minutes to prepare. Or even, no time at all?
In this interactive class, you'll have the opportunity to learn, try, and speak!
In this interactive class, you'll have the opportunity to learn, try, and speak!
X8579: How to run a meeting
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anika Gupta
Some simple tips and a little bit of effort are all it takes to change a meeting from being a waste of time to an effective and helpful time to bring a team together in getting things done. No pre-reqs, but this is particularly helpful if you have some sort of organization or team in mind when you come to the class.
X8912: Science Discovers God
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Yale Zussman
By identifying certain themes that connect the various sciences, it is possible to derive a scientific requirement for an entity having all the essential properties of God. Along the way, we will discuss the role of pure chance in physics and chemistry, what distinguishes life from non-life, why animals are different from other living things, what distinguishes humans from other animals, and the role of civilization. Although it will not be highly technical, this course is not for the intellectually faint of heart.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with current thinking about the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and the development of civilization, and an open mind. The course will not vindicate the beliefs of any specific religion, or of religion in general. Students who are not prepared to consider alternatives to their specific religious beliefs will not find this class acceptable to them.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with current thinking about the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and the development of civilization, and an open mind. The course will not vindicate the beliefs of any specific religion, or of religion in general. Students who are not prepared to consider alternatives to their specific religious beliefs will not find this class acceptable to them.
X9065: Mightier than the Sword: The Greatest Pens (and Pencils) Ever Made
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Lawrence Chiou
A couple years ago, I began my search for the greatest writing tools ever made. Although the quest for a definitive answer continues, I have identified some of the smoothest and most elegant (and at times most expensive) pens and pencils ever crafted by humankind.
We'll examine the world of the mighty pen (with a focus on the elegant fountain pen) and trusty pencil (both mechanical and conventional). There will be live demos and samples on display.
We'll examine the world of the mighty pen (with a focus on the elegant fountain pen) and trusty pencil (both mechanical and conventional). There will be live demos and samples on display.
X8528: Everything you wanted to know about college admissions but were afraid to ask
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Amy Estersohn
All colleges all over the country look to admit students who will be happy at that college.
Sounds very simple, but come to this session to learn how college admissions works from somebody who used to admit students.
This session will also provide you with a recommended approach to college research, some sample fictional kids, and a time to ask questions.
Sounds very simple, but come to this session to learn how college admissions works from somebody who used to admit students.
This session will also provide you with a recommended approach to college research, some sample fictional kids, and a time to ask questions.
X8974: Covert Entry
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Riley Drake
We live in a world inherently vested in physical security. We use locks to protect most tangible things important to us. Dogs, cats, children, money. We'll learn how to pick locks, and what to do if you're on the opposite side of the keyhole.
X8869: Fundamentals of Web Design
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Megan Belzner
There are plenty of terrible websites out there - how do you make sure yours isn't one of them?
This class will talk about some of the considerations that go into designing a website - or designing anything - and provide a crash course in everything from aesthetics to typography to user experience.
Prerequisites
No web development experience is necessary (and we will not be talking about code directly), but you may get more out of the class if you know some HTML and CSS and can create a basic webpage.
This class will talk about some of the considerations that go into designing a website - or designing anything - and provide a crash course in everything from aesthetics to typography to user experience.
Prerequisites
No web development experience is necessary (and we will not be talking about code directly), but you may get more out of the class if you know some HTML and CSS and can create a basic webpage.
X8580: How to write an email
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anika Gupta
Communicating online formally is becoming increasingly important, and it's easy to get wrong. This class teaches some basic tips that you may never thought of, but will leave you an expert in effectively getting your message across.
X9055: CAVES!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Emily TenCate
Have you ever rappelled an underground waterfall? Do you know what the difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite is? (Did you know that they're both a type of speleothem, or what causes the different shapes and colors?) Do you kind of just want to be a bat? Come learn about caves, try on the gear that cavers wear, practice echolocation, and discover everything you never knew you wanted to learn about caves.
X8619: Negotiation Lab
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Vrajesh Modi
This class will introduce students to the theory and practice of negotiation. Topics covered will include basic terminology and strategies. Format will consist of: (1) a brief lecture on theory; (2) a negotiation exercise/simulation; and (3) debrief. Students will be divided into teams for the simulation.
X8851: College Application Prep
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Junbum Kim,
Jiwoon Park
This course provides with the overview of the college application process and covers useful tips and strategies that can be used in the preparation for college essay and supplementary materials.If desired, the instructors will also help with prepared college application materials and offer feedback for improvements based on their experiences.
Prerequisites
N/A
Prerequisites
N/A
X9108: How to throw a frisbee
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
chase lambert
Frisbee might be the best game ever invented. Come learn about it! If we have time, we'll even play a game of Ultimate.
If the weather's bad, I'll teach you about physics (probably)!
If the weather's bad, I'll teach you about physics (probably)!
X9060: Third Culture Kids: Why a Globally Mobile Childhood Matters
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Izumi Ludgate,
Tina Quick
Have you been exposed to two or more cultural traditions during your childhood years? If so, this class is for you or someone you know! There is actual language for the lifestyle you've been living whether you have spent time outside your passport country or cross cultures on a daily basis just by leaving your house to go to school each day.
We will be talking about how you have been shaped by your experiences and the gifts as well as the challenges of this cross-cultural, mobile lifestyle. Lastly we will look at how you can use your experiences to launch yourselves as you go on to work and study in today's increasingly globalized world.
We will be talking about how you have been shaped by your experiences and the gifts as well as the challenges of this cross-cultural, mobile lifestyle. Lastly we will look at how you can use your experiences to launch yourselves as you go on to work and study in today's increasingly globalized world.
X8966: Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room or: Introduction to Social Dynamics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Riley Drake
Navigating a crowded party is like traversing a minefield. Engineering is about iteration, but in social engineering, you only have one shot to get it right. Learn how to get the conversations you need, use the conversations you have and hack any situation.
Results not guaranteed. Always add water.
Results not guaranteed. Always add water.
X8596: How to Design Anything
Difficulty: *
Learn about a design process that can help you make anything, whether it's a sleek website, a memorable event, or the newest gadget. Then, use what you've learned to tackle a real design challenge and create something new. This class will change the way you look at school, at projects, and at life, so you can take them to the next level.
X8995: Experimentation with Cookies
Difficulty: *
Have you ever had issues with burnt/soggy/over-spread/too-puffy/crunchy/weird-tasting cookies? Ever wondered about the difference between using brown sugar and white sugar? Then this class is for you! Learn the ins and outs of cookie-baking and create the perfect masterpiece.
Prerequisites
We'll be working with lots of different ingredients and cannot accommodate for food allergies or other food preferences.
Prerequisites
We'll be working with lots of different ingredients and cannot accommodate for food allergies or other food preferences.
X9038: NBA Big Threes Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Yoa Clifton
X8599: Mafia!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Saheela Ibraheem
Are you an avid fighter of crime? Is Logic your middle name? Do you imagine yourself as a doctor? Love storytelling? Have you ever wondered what chaos looks like in its purest form? All of the above and more will be offered in the classic game of Mafia, pitting good wits against good liars in the name of madness and epic fun!
X8527: Splash Book Club
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amy Estersohn
Bring:
1) yourself (mandatory)
2) books that you are looking to give away (optional)
3) your favorite kind of tea (optional)
1) yourself (mandatory)
2) books that you are looking to give away (optional)
3) your favorite kind of tea (optional)
X9093: Spit shining boots & pocket mischief
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Thompson
The suede combat boot has led to the demise of shiny shoe knowledge. Come learn to spit shine leather. While couching students along with creating the perfect mirror shine I will introduce a few amusing science toys/demonstrations that can be made with stuff you'd find in your pockets or desk.
Be prepared to spend most of the class rubbing in circles.
Be prepared to spend most of the class rubbing in circles.
X9002: Steak: Theory and Practice
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lucia Lam,
Eric Mannes
Steer yourself on over! By the end of this class, you'll have learned how to cook (and eat!) a perfect steak. We'll moove from the science of cooking meat to useful tools and techniques for preparing beef. Classes this well done are rare, so it would be a missteak to miss this.
Prerequisites
An interest in preparing or consuming beef. .
Prerequisites
An interest in preparing or consuming beef. .
X8594: Let's sing a popular song from Denmark!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Thorbjørn Nyander Poulsen
This course is for everyone who would like to learn how to sing a contemporary popular Danish song - in Danish!!
To most Americans, Danish sounds like a complete gibberish language - almost like one speaking in reverse.
The attendees will be divided in a handful of groups and quickly learn to sing the song together polyphonically.
The course is taught in a fun and informal manner by a young Danish professional choir director visiting Boston.
The course requires no acquaintance with the Danish language nor choir experience whatsoever.
The course is simply for everyone who wants to sing and have great fun with a foreign language at the same time.
To most Americans, Danish sounds like a complete gibberish language - almost like one speaking in reverse.
The attendees will be divided in a handful of groups and quickly learn to sing the song together polyphonically.
The course is taught in a fun and informal manner by a young Danish professional choir director visiting Boston.
The course requires no acquaintance with the Danish language nor choir experience whatsoever.
The course is simply for everyone who wants to sing and have great fun with a foreign language at the same time.
X8542: Zombies: Lessons for Today from the Apocalypse of Tomorrow
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shawn Hesse
If the zombie apocalypse started tonight, would you know how to survive? What about a massive snow storm, or if you had to evacuate your flooding home?
This course explores the parallels between popular zombie lore (through movies, comic books, tv shows, video games, etc.) and real life challenges facing the world due to climate change including power outages, food shortages, flooding, and civil unrest.
Through this comparison, we will uncover the survival strategies taught by fictional zombie stories, and apply them to the very real challenges of climate change.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites include bravery, teamwork, and a high tolerance for zombie movies.
This course explores the parallels between popular zombie lore (through movies, comic books, tv shows, video games, etc.) and real life challenges facing the world due to climate change including power outages, food shortages, flooding, and civil unrest.
Through this comparison, we will uncover the survival strategies taught by fictional zombie stories, and apply them to the very real challenges of climate change.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites include bravery, teamwork, and a high tolerance for zombie movies.
X8663: The Mixture that is Hip Hop
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
nathaniel garcia
Hip Hop has been influenced and mixed with many different musical genres. Through methods such as sampling, jazz, soul, R&B, and other styles are reimagined by Hip Hop artists. Current Hip Hop blends these and other modern genres such as electronic music in its continuous evolution. Explore these intricate weavings, co taught by Boston based producer, HiFadility.
Prerequisites
No formal pre-reqs. Some familiarity with hip hop, jazz, blues, gospel, soul, afrobeat, world music and electronic music may be helpful
Prerequisites
No formal pre-reqs. Some familiarity with hip hop, jazz, blues, gospel, soul, afrobeat, world music and electronic music may be helpful
X8672: Live, Laugh, Lead: Exciting Leadership Activities
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Libby Koolik,
Jenny Wei
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 attitude
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 attitude
X8718: O Say, Can You See?
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Nadiya Oleksiv,
Rachel Tanenhaus
Learn how to identify and assist the visually impaired members of your community through an interactive program demonstrating what life is like for over 6 million legally blind Americans each day
X8849: Parachute Cord Bracelet Making
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Amy Sollitti
Learn how to make cool survival bracelets out of parachute cord!
X8769: Trivia-quiz-obstacle-relay Bowl
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kate Scott
Put your trivia knowledge and agility to the test. We have a whole new take on the classic quiz bowl. With weirder questions, physical challenges, and a team behind you to carry you across the finish (literally).
X8731: Square Dancing!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Lilly Chin
"Heads Pass the Ocean, Extend, Circulate..." What could these terms possibly mean? Come learn the basics of modern Western Square Dancing from members of MIT's very own Tech Squares! Solve puzzles with your body as we give a whirlwind introduction to square dancing!
X8633: Spontaneous 5-Minute Classes on Whatever You Want
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alexandra Churikova,
David Rolnick
You choose the title, we improvise a 5-minute lesson on it! Bring your wackiest topic suggestions, and watch us embarrass ourselves as we teach you about them on the spur of the moment.
X8874: College Access Workshop
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Michelle Ng
A quick workshop to explore process of college application. I will present an overview of public available resources such as those found in CollegeBoard and Common Application. Students will use these tools to determine what type of colleges/programs they may wish to explore. This program is intended for 9th and 10th graders who are looking to start preparing for the college application process early.
Prerequisites
Interest and desire to apply to college!
Prerequisites
Interest and desire to apply to college!
X8882: Japanese Myths and Misconceptions: A Lesson in Culture and Language Through Anime
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shahyan Sajid
Are you a fan of Japanese anime and manga? Have you ever found yourself wondering if everything you see in Manga is true? How about those stories you hear from your friends about the Japanese?
If you answered yes to any of the above or if you just want to learn more about Japanese culture, this class is for you. We will be looking at various anime and examining elements from them. This will include (but will not be limited to) school life, university life, food, festivals, etc.
The course will also briefly cover aspects of the Japanese language.
Prerequisites
An interest in Japan/Japanese culture and anime. Some exposure to Japanese aspects of life might be helpful.
If you answered yes to any of the above or if you just want to learn more about Japanese culture, this class is for you. We will be looking at various anime and examining elements from them. This will include (but will not be limited to) school life, university life, food, festivals, etc.
The course will also briefly cover aspects of the Japanese language.
Prerequisites
An interest in Japan/Japanese culture and anime. Some exposure to Japanese aspects of life might be helpful.
X8620: How to Read a Financial Statement
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Vrajesh Modi
After this class, you will be able to: (1) understand balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements; and (2) calculate several simple financial ratios to better understand the performance of a company. Format will consist of a 50-minute lecture on theory followed by a 60-minute group exercise.
X8661: Creating Video Games: An Art and a Science
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
David Bocek
Presentation on how video games are developed in the world today. Come talk about the art, sound, tech, and design of video games, and how you too can explore this wonderful field!
Prerequisites
A passion for games
Prerequisites
A passion for games
X8720: Paranoia!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Robert Rusch
Ever wanted to live in a totalitarian, dystopian police state! Well now you can through the magic of the pen and paper RPG Paranoia. Experience the joy of navigating the maze of inane bureaucracy as you attempt to stop the mutant communist traitors. You'll even learn about actual real world totalitarian states as well! And remember, happiness is mandatory!
X8873: Underwater Basket Weaving
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Danny Ben-David,
Emily TenCate
We understand that your time at Splash is finite and valuable, which is why we're offering a class in an important life skill.
Welcome to underwater basket weaving.
For years, the sacred craft of underwater basket weaving has been ridiculed by admissions offices across the nation as the de facto example of a worthless educational pursuit. Our mission is to break this stigma and expose the rich world behind this craft.
We're also really amused by the concept of *actually* doing underwater basket weaving, so here we are.
For more information on this ancient craft, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_basket_weaving
Prerequisites
We will actually be going into a pool, so you should be comfortable in the water. (We'll stay in the shallow end only, so treading water won't be an issue, but no first-time swimmers please.) Bring a bathing suit, and a towel. Goggles and snorkels will be provided.
Welcome to underwater basket weaving.
For years, the sacred craft of underwater basket weaving has been ridiculed by admissions offices across the nation as the de facto example of a worthless educational pursuit. Our mission is to break this stigma and expose the rich world behind this craft.
We're also really amused by the concept of *actually* doing underwater basket weaving, so here we are.
For more information on this ancient craft, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underwater_basket_weaving
Prerequisites
We will actually be going into a pool, so you should be comfortable in the water. (We'll stay in the shallow end only, so treading water won't be an issue, but no first-time swimmers please.) Bring a bathing suit, and a towel. Goggles and snorkels will be provided.
X8734: Advanced Cheese Tasting! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniel Mirny
X9117: Payment Systems
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Tidor
Money is fun! In this class, we'll talk about how to move funds from point A to point B. After a whirlwind tour of three major US payment systems: cash, check and ACH, we'll dive into the details of the credit card network; explore how things work in countries like Germany, China, Brazil and Kenya where credit cards aren't as prevalent; discuss the SWIFT network and the issues presented by international money transfers; and, if we have time, introduce Bitcoin and other recent electronic payment innovations. You'll end up with a basic understanding of why moving money is a hard problem and of the systems that have been developed to connect financial systems around the world.
Prerequisites
Have an interest in money.
Prerequisites
Have an interest in money.
X8868: Extemporaneous 5-minute Classes on Absolutely Anything
Difficulty: *
Ever wondered about how to properly handle a crocodile? Ever wanted to know how to spot a split infinitive? Now's your chance to find out ALL the answers! Give us a title, we'll teach a 5-minute class on the topic! The weirder the topic, the more you'll get to see us embarrass ourselves as we make up answers on the spot. Bring your silliest, awesome-est, ludicrous-est ideas!
(shameless idea cred to Anna '14)
Prerequisites
Ph.D. in Renaissance cake decoration. Absolutely no exceptions.
(shameless idea cred to Anna '14)
Prerequisites
Ph.D. in Renaissance cake decoration. Absolutely no exceptions.
X8819: Hackysack 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Felipe Hernandez
Wanna learn some awesome footbag (hackysack) tricks like this guy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2bPJnNLJNE
Me too! In this class we'll go over some of the most basic tricks and have lots of fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2bPJnNLJNE
Me too! In this class we'll go over some of the most basic tricks and have lots of fun.
X9041: Let's Make a Board Game
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Isaac Grosof
Have you ever looked at a board game, played it once, and asked, "Is this really a good board game? Will I enjoy playing it again and again? How could it be better?" Have you ever wanted to make a board game of your own? Then you should attend this class, where you will learn the theory of abstract board game creation. Then, you will put that knowledge into practice, and create a board game as a class.
X8674: Everything They Don't Tell You in High School
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brittney Johnson
A short list of things you should learn in high school but probably won't: How to do your taxes, how to cook a basic meal with minimal supplies, how to vote (and not ignorantly), what a credit score is, and how to have legitimate conversations with someone new. Learn all this and more in Everything They Don't Tell You in High School!
X8894: The Magic of Magic: The Gathering Deckbuilding Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jeren Koh,
Nathaniel Mione
X8638: Knots Not For Naught
Difficulty: *
Learn to tie some basic knots--we'll be tying bowlines, fisherman's knots, the trucker's hitch, shoelace knots and more! Knots range from useful to silly; come get knotty with us ;)
X8618: Interview Workshop
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Vrajesh Modi
Learn what to wear, say, and do before, during, and after an interview. Format will consist of a 20-minute lecture followed by a 30-minute workshop. Formal dress not required.
X8649: The Finer Points of Bot Lane
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Nathan Pinsker,
Patrick Yang
Come learn to play League of Legends with us! We'll be focusing on ADC and support roles, and we'll teach you all the tricks to get along with strangers (or your friends) and carry your team to victory.
Prerequisites
Be at least level 12 in LoL. Laptop not required.
Prerequisites
Be at least level 12 in LoL. Laptop not required.
X8997: Study Abroad in High School-- For Free!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mikayla Murphy
Ride camels in Morocco. Celebrate Chinese New Year in China. Sing K-pop in Korea. Become fluent in Bosnian. Go skiing in the German alps. Attend 11th grade in Ghana. Find your home away from home in Macedonia. Eat turkey- in Turkey!
Guess what? You could do all of these while still in high school- for free!
Come learn about US government-sponsored study abroad programs designed especially for high schoolers! We'll talk about programs such as CBYX, NSLI-Y, and YES Abroad, as well as discuss the benefits and challenges of studying abroad in high school. We'll also go over application tips and tricks and other advice on how to prepare for a trip overseas.
Prerequisites
An interest in other cultures- no previous travel or foreign language experience necessary!
Guess what? You could do all of these while still in high school- for free!
Come learn about US government-sponsored study abroad programs designed especially for high schoolers! We'll talk about programs such as CBYX, NSLI-Y, and YES Abroad, as well as discuss the benefits and challenges of studying abroad in high school. We'll also go over application tips and tricks and other advice on how to prepare for a trip overseas.
Prerequisites
An interest in other cultures- no previous travel or foreign language experience necessary!
X8526: Working with children
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alexis Oriole
If you have ever wanted to be a teacher, scout leader, camp counselor, etc., or if you are just interested in learning about working with kids, then this class is for you! We will cover topics such as child abuse prevention and age group characteristics, and, most importantly, we will be learning leadership skills and how to lead games and songs with kids ages 5-10. It will be hands-on learning, meaning we will play some of the games ourselves!
X8694: Practical Guide on Copyright, Trademarks, and Privacy Law for App Developers
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Darren Shield
X8844: Minecraft Machines
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ryan Jerue
Do you play Minecraft? Its a fun game that is rumored to even be educational. In this course I will teach you how to create machines in Minecraft using Redstone. My focus will be on logic switches, clocks, and their interactions with other objects.
Prerequisites
A Minecraft Account.
Prerequisites
A Minecraft Account.
X8883: The Pipe Organ
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Kade Phillips
It was Wolfgang Mozart who said, "To my eyes and ears the organ will ever be the King of Instruments". For hundreds of years, the organ was the most complex device made by mankind. In this course we will examine the history of the organ, its construction, the rudiments of playing technique, and discuss the future of the instrument.
X8917: Baking Pastries
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
James Deng
How do you cream butter and sugar to get the fluffiest cake? How can you beat egg whites to firmness without a blender? Learn techniques you can use to seduce the palates of those around you, and enjoy fresh homemade sticky buns!
Social Studies
Z8981: About gender transition Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Olivia Brode-Roger
Z8665: College Radio and Hip Hop
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
nathaniel garcia
The greatest Hip Hop show of all time was broadcast out of the basement of Columbia University from 1-5am, hosted by Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia. With its culture of freedom, youth, and energy, college radio has played home to countless historic Hip Hop moments. Boston's first Hip Hop was hosted here at MIT on WMBR. Come explore a little bit of this fascinating culture.
Prerequisites
No formal pre-reqs. Familiarity with Hip Hop helpful
Prerequisites
No formal pre-reqs. Familiarity with Hip Hop helpful
Z8911: The Psychology of Attraction
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Emma Drewry
Come learn what governs who we're attracted to, who we like, and who we try for a happily ever after with. From love at first sight to opposites attract, discover what *really* rules our hearts (and brains).
Note: much of this class is going to be based on heterosexual attraction (although not necessarily affection) due to the difference in information. Also, be prepared to have a few stereotypes completely destroyed.
Note: much of this class is going to be based on heterosexual attraction (although not necessarily affection) due to the difference in information. Also, be prepared to have a few stereotypes completely destroyed.
Z8825: Non-linear Thinking in a Linear World Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Josh Shaine
Z8500: You're Probably A Feminist
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kimm Topping
For the past few years, there has been a significant media buzz about whether or not people “need” feminism anymore. Opponents on both sides of this controversy have voiced their opinions online in a variety of formats. This course aims to examine some of the many misconceptions associated with feminism, by defining exactly what feminism is and why it is relevant. This class will focus primarily on group discussion and question-raising. Whether you leave this course identifying as a feminist or not, you’ll certainly gain more knowledge about human rights and social justice.
Z8810: How to Stop Climate Change
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nick Hagerty
Science is clear: climate change is going to be a problem, we caused it, and we can fix it -- but how? In this class you’ll calculate your carbon footprint and see how much we can help by each doing our part. But is that enough? It might not be -- so we’ll also talk about some ideas economists have to solve the problem. Bring a calculator, or a calculator app.
Prerequisites
General familiarity with the problem of climate change would help!
Prerequisites
General familiarity with the problem of climate change would help!
Z9039: Territorial Anomalies
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
Did you know that France borders the Netherlands? Not in Europe, they don't. But elsewhere, yes. (France also borders Brazil, by the way.) Learn why this and other bizarre properties of the world's geography are true in this class.
Z8781: Debunking Queer Theory
Difficulty: *
What is gender? What is sexuality? How do culture, race, and identity affect perceptions of these ideas? The modern "queer" or LGBTQ movement largely ignores these questions, and makes cultural assumptions in its portrayal of how people of the world identify themselves, relate to their cultures, and love one another. In this session we'll be debunking much of the misinformation, and discussing how to move towards language and theory that recognizes the diversity of human existence.
Z8992: Enlightenment Political and Social Theory
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shahrukh Khan
Interested in philosophy and social theory? This class will give you an overview and insight into some of the important political and social theorists of the past few hundred years, such as Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Adam Smith.
Prerequisites
Students should have some knowledge of what the Enlightenment was and who the main figures were.
Prerequisites
Students should have some knowledge of what the Enlightenment was and who the main figures were.
Z9079: China, the United States, and the Korean War
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ketian Zhang
The United States entered the Cold War to contain the influence of the Soviet Union. And “hot” wars were not on the minds of U.S. policy makers. Yet why did the United States get involved in the Korean War? Why did it cross the 38th parallel and advance northward? Equally puzzling was China’s reaction. Why did China enter the Korean War, when itself had just experienced the traumatic war of resistance against Japan and the ensuing civil war? This lecture aims at unraveling some of the puzzles regarding the Chinese and U.S. decisions to enter the Korean War. It will discuss recent historiography of the Korean War, with a focus on how to choose and use historical evidence. The lecture will also discuss lessons of the Korean War and how it might shed light on the current U.S.-China relationship.
Prerequisites
None, as long as one is interested in history, foreign policy, and politics!
Prerequisites
None, as long as one is interested in history, foreign policy, and politics!
Z9134: The true freakonomics Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alex Sludds
Z8719: Three Meters of Snow with No Air Pocket: The Soviet-Finnish Winter War Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Lardie,
Nancy McCarthy
Z8888: How to be a Liberal 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Kristen Finney,
Samantha Harper
This class will focus on two important topics in the US over the last few years: the environment and healthcare. Our class will be an information session on these topics and then a debate on the best way to present them logically (with a liberal flair).
Z8898: Gender identity in online games
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Gregory MacDonough,
Joseph Seering
Gender identity in video games, specifically online games with a component of anonymity, has been in the news fairly often recently. This class will explore a few of the main principles of gender in online worlds, and will discuss why we care about it.
Z9045: The Many Faces of Attraction
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Miriam Gershenson
What does it mean to be attracted to someone? It doesn't mean just one thing! In this class we'll talk about lots of different types of attraction, how they relate to each other or don't, how and when we experience them or don't, and what words we use to describe them. As one important example, we'll be sure to talk about sexual orientation and its many categories, as well as the ways that people fall in between them.
This will be a discussion-based class, so come prepared to examine and talk about your own experiences!
This will be a discussion-based class, so come prepared to examine and talk about your own experiences!
Z9042: Gerrymandering: Theory and Practice
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Kraft
Gerrymandering: America's favorite political power play since 1812. We'll learn how and why parties draw congressional districts with nicknames like "The Pinwheel of Death", "The Mistake by the Lake", and "The 8 Mile Mess", and why it's hard to outlaw such madness. Then you'll get to try your hand at gerrymandering, to see if you can do better than your classmates at getting more seats for your party.
Z8741: Procrastination Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Andrew Cowan,
Meri Jade Piltser
Z8832: What does it mean to be gifted?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Josh Shaine
"All children are gifted." "I can't be gifted, I'm no good at math." "Gifted kids don't need any help." "If I'm so smart, why are my grades so bad?" "You're done? Why don't you help the others, then?" What do we mean by gifted? What difference does it make? Does it change who you are - or should it? Why bother with the label, anyway?
This is a discussion-oriented class.
This is a discussion-oriented class.
Z8758: Millitary Vehicles of WWII
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nathaniel Stanford
Learn about the combat and support vehicles of WWII, from the T-60 to the B-29 and everything in between.
Z8737: Know Your Rights
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Andrew Cowan
A police officer approaches you on the street. Where are you coming from? Where are you going? Why are you out so late? Can I have a look in your backpack?
You are pulled over in your car. Just for speeding, but the officer asks if he can "have a look around." He asks if you're carrying anything he should know about.
Do you have to answer these questions? Do you have to tell the truth? What do you say? Can you just walk away? What if you have nothing to hide? What if you're completely innocent? What if you're Mother Theresa? And is it true that the Supreme Court destroyed the right to remain silent?
Mother Theresa left this Earth in 1997. The rest of you should take this class. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will explain how to protect yourself (whether innocent, guilty, or anywhere in between) when you come into contact with law enforcement.
You are pulled over in your car. Just for speeding, but the officer asks if he can "have a look around." He asks if you're carrying anything he should know about.
Do you have to answer these questions? Do you have to tell the truth? What do you say? Can you just walk away? What if you have nothing to hide? What if you're completely innocent? What if you're Mother Theresa? And is it true that the Supreme Court destroyed the right to remain silent?
Mother Theresa left this Earth in 1997. The rest of you should take this class. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will explain how to protect yourself (whether innocent, guilty, or anywhere in between) when you come into contact with law enforcement.
Z8875: A Discussion on Leadership
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Anthony McHugh
I believe that effective leadership can leverage human resources to achieve paradise on Earth. What is effective leadership? How do we characterize human resources? What would paradise look like? I'll share my thoughts if you share yours.
Z8828: What we say to people, What people hear
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Josh Shaine
Why is it that I am constantly being misunderstood?! What they think I mean and what I mean have nothing to do with each other. They are irrational. Or are they... Let's see if we can figure out what is going on.
Z9003: Beyond Buckets: The History and Future of Water
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Eric Mannes
Why is your tap water safe to drink? How do we protect the environment from our sewage? What happens to all of the rain after a storm? Where does your water come from, anyway, and how will we manage it in a world in which it's more scarce?
Come learn about the past, present, and future of water and sewage, from Ancient Rome to California.
Prerequisites
You should stay adequately hydrated during Splash.
Come learn about the past, present, and future of water and sewage, from Ancient Rome to California.
Prerequisites
You should stay adequately hydrated during Splash.
Z8872: Advocacy and Lobbying to Change the World
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Brock Adler
Is there a cause you are passionate about? Would changing laws or regulations, or having new government funding for your area of interest be useful? By joining together and advocating and/or lobbying with others, you can work towards accomplishing your personal, community, and societal goals. This session will give you (and your collaborators) a great start at being able to plan and carry out campaigns to create or change laws that you feel will improve things. You will learn about strategies and tactics applicable to a variety of different kinds of causes. I will use as an example an effort I have been working on to pass the Federal “No Child Left Inside Act” H.R. 2702 (see www.NCLIcoalition.org), but the lessons presented will be applicable to a wide variety of other issues and levels of government. We will spend much of the time helping you think about how to advance your causes or projects.
Prerequisites
Have a basic understanding about how laws are passed http://kids.clerk.house.gov/high-school/lesson.html?intID=17; do some thinking about what cause you are passionate about; and find out who your Congressional Representatives are at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, and look up on their websites which committees they sit on.
Prerequisites
Have a basic understanding about how laws are passed http://kids.clerk.house.gov/high-school/lesson.html?intID=17; do some thinking about what cause you are passionate about; and find out who your Congressional Representatives are at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov, and look up on their websites which committees they sit on.
Z8946: THE VIKINGS
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sweet Tea Dorminy,
DW Rowlands
The discoverers of America. The defenders of the Roman Empire. The raiders of England. The pirates of the early medieval period. The terror of Northern Europe. Who could this be but the Vikings? Learn about the multifarious activities of the Vikings and their civilization --- war, peace, trade, and discovery!
Z8820: The elementary forms of religious life
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Andrei Klishin
Have you ever thought why people started to believe into supernatural forces? What caused them to regularly gather for religious celebrations? Following the footsteps of the father of sociology Emile Durkheim, we will discuss the reasons for emergence of most primitive religious beliefs, and whether the same logic applies to modern, much more sophisticated religions.
Z8717: The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magic
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Lardie
Magic was a daily fact of life for the ancient Egyptians-- everyone from the gods down to the humblest person made use of magic. But what do we mean by magic? And how did they do it? Come tackle the nuts and bolts of Egyptian magic from theory to practice, using ancient and modern examples.
Z9064: European Separatist Movements
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Charles Xu
This September, a country of under six million people had the British government quaking in its boots, terrified it was about to preside over the breakup of a 300-year union. Catalonia looks set to follow suit in November, and Madrid is fighting tooth and nail to stop them.
At a time of unprecedented integration across the EU, why are so many of its core members in danger of falling apart? In this class, we'll look at the complex interplay of economics, identity politics, and historical grievances new and old that make so many people want out of stable democracies. And we'll examine why Basque, Venetian, South Tyrolean, and Flemish nationalists--among many, many others--all believe independence is an idea whose time has finally come.
At a time of unprecedented integration across the EU, why are so many of its core members in danger of falling apart? In this class, we'll look at the complex interplay of economics, identity politics, and historical grievances new and old that make so many people want out of stable democracies. And we'll examine why Basque, Venetian, South Tyrolean, and Flemish nationalists--among many, many others--all believe independence is an idea whose time has finally come.
Z8754: Best Moments of Politics
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mark Markov,
Bernard Stanford
Whether it's a party based solely around the consumption of alcohol actually winning seats in Poland, grandmother members of the Legislative Yuan whacking each other upside the head over budget issues, or Scotland thinking it can be independent, politics is full of zany moments. This class is a lighthearted overview of some of the best ones from the rich history of global politics. We also plan to address the role of comedy in political conduct and political criticism. In conclusion, RON PAUL 2012!!
Z8499: Intro to Sociology
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kimm Topping
Sociologists are interdisciplinary scientists who ask questions about how social issues emerge within society. This course will provide an introduction to the issues facing people due to race, gender, class, and other social identities. Students will leave this class with a foundational introduction to sociological concepts and theory, in addition to a deeper understanding of what sociologists can do to alleviate such issues.
Z8790: Another Look at the Continent System
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Hua Wu
Have you ever wondered why Greenland is considered an island but Australia a continent? Come to this class to find out why your hunches were probably correct.
Z8716: Egyptian Mythology: Creation to Contendings
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ray Lardie
Most history classes gloss over Egyptian mythology in favor of studying the more well-known Greek and Roman gods—find out what you’ve been missing! We’ll cover the major gods involved in the Egyptian creation myth up to the Contendings of Horus and Seth, from Osiris and Anubis, to lesser-known deities like Khonsu and Nit.
Prerequisites
If you're already familiar with ancient Egyptian mythology, you might bit a tad bored.
Prerequisites
If you're already familiar with ancient Egyptian mythology, you might bit a tad bored.
Z8814: Talking about Art, Gender, and Sexuality
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Merry Mou,
Forest Tong
What do the arts tell us about what gender and sexuality are?
In this discussion-based course we will critically examine excerpts from literature and arts, and see how they motivate questions and shape our conceptions of gender and sexuality.
In this discussion-based course we will critically examine excerpts from literature and arts, and see how they motivate questions and shape our conceptions of gender and sexuality.
Z8498: The Sociology of Gender & Sexuality
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kimm Topping
What issues of gender inequality do we face as a society? How is gender constructed in contemporary society and why? This course will challenge students to examine gender stereotypes and gendered issues of inequality by taking a closer look at social systems and institutions such as the family, education, and the media. A critical look at how gender inequality and sexuality intersect will be included.