Splash 2019
Course Catalog
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Visual and Performing Arts
A13214: How to Lion Dance
Difficulty: **
Ever wondered why those large fluffy creatures paraded around during the Lunar New Year? Did you realize those large fluffy creatures usually consisted of two people playing the part of the head and the tail? No? Well stop by this workshop-style class, hosted by MIT Lion Dance Team, to learn a basic history in lion dancing and begin building the skills needed to be a full-fledged lion dance performer! (Class will also include loud instrumentation in the form of drums and cymbals.)
A13337: 2D > 3D > 2D : Intro to Digital Design & Fabrication
Difficulty: **
Curious about contemporary design tools and digital fabrication? Want to learn a few of the basic skills designers use to develop, visualize, and test their ideas?
This course will provide an introduction to the world of digital design, including techniques for 3D modeling, 2D templating, and rapid prototyping. The course should interest students with an interest in architecture, animation, fine art, and digital design.
No experience necessary!
This course will provide an introduction to the world of digital design, including techniques for 3D modeling, 2D templating, and rapid prototyping. The course should interest students with an interest in architecture, animation, fine art, and digital design.
No experience necessary!
A13552: From Noh to TeniMyu: A Crash Course in Japanese Theatre
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jennifer Yoo
The theatre of Japan is among the most distinct and easily recognizable arts known today. Its influences are so deeply engrained in popular culture that you might not even realize its reach. Join us as we take you on a crash course of all there is to know about the many unique theatre forms found in Japan, from the mysterious Noh masked theatre to the flashy Prince of Tennis Musical and all that is in between. Featuring recordings of performances like the recent NARUTO Kabuki production and a live demonstration of traditional Japanese comedy!
A13594: Hair Dyeing: Theory and Practice
Difficulty: **
Have you every been curious about dyeing hair? In this class, we'll be delving into the chemistry, history, and art behind hair dyeing. We'll also be doing live hands-on demos (!!), and giving you the chance to color your own hair! (parental consent required). Wear clothing you would not mind getting stained.
A13367: Indian Dance
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Pallavi Jain
I am so excited to teach you Indian Dance steps. Whether it is your first time or you know dancing, in both cases you will enjoy and learn. Whether you are from India or from other country, you will enjoy learning. For beginners and experienced dancers and people from all countries.
A13358: TWICE dance!!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Emily Han,
Viktoriya Tabunshchyk
We will be teaching a surprise twice dance ;)) come if you love kpop, would like to love kpop, want to dance for fun (we are also terrible it's ok), if your friends want to go and you get dragged along, you want bad life advice, want to get a "work out", or want to give your brain a break from learning something hard!!!! come learn what it's like to be a rEaL MiT sTuDenT uwu
Prerequisites
literally none lmao all genders accepted
Prerequisites
literally none lmao all genders accepted
A13478: Paint by Numbers
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Grace Chuan,
Yi Wang
Do you like art? Do you like math? Learn how to recreate famous paintings simply through numbers!
Prerequisites
Passion
Prerequisites
Passion
A13249: Computational Design: Drift Drawing Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Janice Tjan,
Leslie Yan
We will explore contemporary artists who utilize computation in making their art and then make our own drift drawings based on rule-based systems.
Prerequisites
You do NOT need any background in design or artistic ability to join this class!
Prerequisites
You do NOT need any background in design or artistic ability to join this class!
A13238: Improv Workshop Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Theo Black,
CJ Quines
Let's play improv games together! Don't know how to improv at all? Want to learn what yes, and means? Want to have more confidence in speaking in front of crowds, or to your local coffee shop owner, without planning twenty different scenarios in your head beforehand? Then come to class and learn the basics of improv! This will be a high-energy, participatory class focusing on the basics of performance and improvisation, and lots of fun.
A13353: How to not sleep at concerts
Difficulty: *
In less than an hour, we will try to convey to you that classical music is important, you should listen to classical music, and classical music is for you, if you are willing enough to open your heart and embrace it. Come join us to understand what the "universal language" is all about.
Prerequisites
All students are welcome, with a particularly warm welcome to those who have had little to no classical music experience before.
Prerequisites
All students are welcome, with a particularly warm welcome to those who have had little to no classical music experience before.
A13269: Revealing the “How” of Fashion Design, from Fundamentals to Final Collection
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Steven Faerm
Ever wonder how fashion designers create their exciting collections? This 45-minute lecture examines how designers research for inspiration, develop innovative design methods, and create powerful concepts through clothing. Although we’ll look at fashion, this lecture is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn about general art and design principles since its concepts and ideas can be applied to ALL creative fields!
First, we will examine design fundamentals such as color theory, motif, and visual storytelling. We will then look at professional and student work that applies these fundamentals in different ways for a full project. Finally, we will analyze an Alexander McQueen runway show that incorporates all the topics we discussed. You will leave the presentation with a broad understanding of the complex fashion design process and how designers work!
Please note, this is a lecture presentation and not a workshop.
Presented by Steven Faerm, Associate Professor, Parsons School of Design.
Prerequisites
none
First, we will examine design fundamentals such as color theory, motif, and visual storytelling. We will then look at professional and student work that applies these fundamentals in different ways for a full project. Finally, we will analyze an Alexander McQueen runway show that incorporates all the topics we discussed. You will leave the presentation with a broad understanding of the complex fashion design process and how designers work!
Please note, this is a lecture presentation and not a workshop.
Presented by Steven Faerm, Associate Professor, Parsons School of Design.
Prerequisites
none
A13471: How to Paint Nebulae
Difficulty: *
If you, like me, have spent countless hours scrolling though the depths of the internet to find super cool space backgrounds, this class is for you! Or if you, like me, have always wanted to recreate these stunning images, you've come to the right place! We will show you how to paint some of your favorite nebulae or give you the tools to create your own! Whether you're an avid painter or have never held a paintbrush, you'll have a blast and a half in this class and come out with some amazing wall art!
A13268: The Future of Design, Designing, and the Designer: Creating Design Processes that Foster Design Innovation
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Steven Faerm
Have you ever wondered how artists and designers develop their innovative work? Do you want to become a better artist or designer by strengthening your creative approach and development? What is the “design process” and how can it be used successfully to achieve authentic and exciting results?
This 45-minute lecture analyzes college-level design projects that are noteworthy for their inventive and highly innovative design processes — a critical stage that proceeds research exploration and precedes final design outcomes. This “middle-stage” is arguably the MOST important stage. It is when your playful exploration and experimentation will yield optimal creativity. This presentation will show you how to innovate your own creative processes through select examples. These inspiring methods may then be applied to your own art and design projects.
Please note, this is a lecture presentation and not a workshop.
Presented by Steven Faerm, Associate Professor at Parsons School of Design.
Prerequisites
none
This 45-minute lecture analyzes college-level design projects that are noteworthy for their inventive and highly innovative design processes — a critical stage that proceeds research exploration and precedes final design outcomes. This “middle-stage” is arguably the MOST important stage. It is when your playful exploration and experimentation will yield optimal creativity. This presentation will show you how to innovate your own creative processes through select examples. These inspiring methods may then be applied to your own art and design projects.
Please note, this is a lecture presentation and not a workshop.
Presented by Steven Faerm, Associate Professor at Parsons School of Design.
Prerequisites
none
A13405: How to Write Calligraphy: Thanksgiving and Holiday Cards!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Audrey Gatta
Have you ever seen aesthetically pleasing script calligraphy and wished you could recreate it? Well, here you’ll learn how to! Sign up to learn some tips and tricks for modern calligraphy lettering, and by the end you’ll leave with a Thanksgiving/Holiday card just in time for the Holidays!
A13642: Bracelet-Making!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Doreen Chin,
Leslie Yan
Join us for a fun hands-on bracelet-making workshop! We'll explore different techniques, materials, design, and more.
A13207: Theater: Set Design Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Aquila Simmons
Ever wondered about the worlds that are created on stage? From high school productions of Shakespeare's plays to Broadway's newest musical hits, someone has to be designing the backdrop for all the action. It could be you. Learn about the process of designing a set and pitching it to directors, what drawing and crafting comes before a pitch and what awesome work comes after getting the job. We will cover ground plots, color renderings, and have optional 1/4 inch modeling.
A13470: Intro to Cinematography in Architecture Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Rodrigo Escandon Cesarman,
Yuxuan Lei
A basic introduction to five C's of cinematography (Camera Angles, Continuity, Cutting, Closeups, and Composition) and animation sequence as it relates to the narration of spatial story in architecture.
A13371: Korean Karate
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Rumen Dangovski,
Jenny Gao
Welcome to the MIT Korean Karate Club! In this lesson we will introduce you to the history of Korean Karate and Tae Kwon Do and the philosophy behind our martial art. Then we will proceed with a regular practice during which we will teach you the mechanics behind efficiently defending yourself. Everybody is welcome!
A13296: Wind Instruments in Classical Music through Orchestral Excerpts Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lauren Li,
Tristan Shin
An introduction to the use of wind instruments in classical music. Study will be done primarily through listening to excerpts from orchestral pieces. We will examine common uses of the instruments, variants of instruments, and orchestration techniques involving wind instruments.
Prerequisites
Ability to read music is recommended, but not required.
Prerequisites
Ability to read music is recommended, but not required.
A13154: Visualizing Music: from Solesmes through Fantasia to Malinowski
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alex Lew,
Samuel Tenka
Who creates music? The composer? The musician? The audience? The creative burden of bridging between abstract emotion and concrete sensation has oscillated drastically among those roles, from taciturn Bach to picky Chopin, from improvisatory Bill Evans to contrarian John Cage. In such multi-party creation, communication is key, hence the development of elaborate scoring notations and of diverse performance technologies. Now, modern tools invite a new shift toward a fourth creative role: that of a visual animator. An animation is a score for listeners, a new channel through which parties may communicate musical intention. Thus, parts critic, guide, and poet, an animator conducts not the musicians but the audience.
In this class, we will dive into techniques for enhancing and explaining music by means of synchronized video. We will trace a winding history --- through Solesmes Abbey, Fischinger's "Motion Paintings", the Fantasia films, and MilkDrop --- to arrive at and analyze Stephen Malinowski's YouTube work. In a final and especially interactive session, we will create our own animation of music according to our tastes as a classroom.
Prerequisites
This course is for those who want to experience classical music in a potentially new way. Thus, a primary prerequisite is an admiration for the music of at least one of these composers: {Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Shostakovitch}. To be explicit: you don't need to read music or know how to program. The course will heavily integrate music and potentially flashing video; please be aware if you have epilepsy or if your senses do not include sight or sound. There will be much to enjoy if you are color-blind and not blind.
In this class, we will dive into techniques for enhancing and explaining music by means of synchronized video. We will trace a winding history --- through Solesmes Abbey, Fischinger's "Motion Paintings", the Fantasia films, and MilkDrop --- to arrive at and analyze Stephen Malinowski's YouTube work. In a final and especially interactive session, we will create our own animation of music according to our tastes as a classroom.
Prerequisites
This course is for those who want to experience classical music in a potentially new way. Thus, a primary prerequisite is an admiration for the music of at least one of these composers: {Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Shostakovitch}. To be explicit: you don't need to read music or know how to program. The course will heavily integrate music and potentially flashing video; please be aware if you have epilepsy or if your senses do not include sight or sound. There will be much to enjoy if you are color-blind and not blind.
A13422: Representations of Girlhood in Modern Cinema Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Aysar Abdelgelil,
Bell Pitkin
"If you haven't noticed I am a woman now. I wear a bra!" Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008). Teenage girls have it rough! Not only do these young women have to deal with homework, dating, acne and more, they have to grapple with growing up and their context in greater society. In this course we will discuss the role of young women on screen and how their narrative has become a common theme within popular media. Come watch and analyze clips from independent movies like Ladybird, Ghost World, Princess Mononoke, as well as cult classics like Pretty in Pink, Clueless, and Mean Girls.
A13166: Drawing with Functions
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Gloria Lin,
Tianyuan Zheng
What things do you use to draw with? I hear pencils, I hear markers, I hear pens and crayons... and - wait a second - functions? Yep, functions. Just functions? yep, JUST FUNCTIONS. In this class, we will explore the art of drawing, only with a mathy twist via desmos.com; for just one hour, come with imagination, see exciting combinations of math and art, and bring home your inner artist/math nerd/both & your very own FUNction creations!
Prerequisites
All levels of artists welcome. Algebra 2 experience highly recommended but not required.
Prerequisites
All levels of artists welcome. Algebra 2 experience highly recommended but not required.
A13554: Swing Dancing
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Liz Obermaier,
Preston Tower
Learn some basic swing dancing moves and meet new people with this social dance!
We'll be teaching East Coast Swing. No experience needed.
We'll be teaching East Coast Swing. No experience needed.
A13197: Paint Realistically with Gouache
Difficulty: **
Have you always wanted to paint realistically? Or maybe you're curious about gouache (a fast-drying, opaque version of watercolor)? Well, here's your chance! We'll briefly cover composition, color mixing, and some gouache-specific techniques, then give you time to work on a painting you can bring home.
Prerequisites
drawing and/or painting experience. ideally, you should have practice drawing from life and identifying areas of light and shadow.
Prerequisites
drawing and/or painting experience. ideally, you should have practice drawing from life and identifying areas of light and shadow.
A13432: Friendship Bracelet Making
Difficulty: *
Teaching the basics of friendship bracelet making!
A13155: Learn to Knit Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Adira Balzac,
jill Pelavin
Learn to knit! Ever wanted to knit yourself a hat, sweater, scarf, or toy for your cat?
We'll teach you!
We'll provide the yarn and needles, you just bring your hands and some patience.
No experience required, just willingness to play with sticks, yarn, and the realization that it will seem awkward at first (with practice, it becomes smooth and relaxing!)
Prerequisites
two working hands.
We'll teach you!
We'll provide the yarn and needles, you just bring your hands and some patience.
No experience required, just willingness to play with sticks, yarn, and the realization that it will seem awkward at first (with practice, it becomes smooth and relaxing!)
Prerequisites
two working hands.
A13352: Needlepaint Embroidery (or stabbing something 1000 times)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Grace Tang
Learn how to make an aesthetic bird (or flower or cat or whatever you want) that looks like it took a lot more effort than it actually did :D And no, you (probably) won't stab your fingers--the needles are too blunt for that. Skills NOT needed: prior sewing experience, ability to thread a needle, hand-eye coordination.
Prerequisites
Sketching skills useful but not required
Prerequisites
Sketching skills useful but not required
A13669: Fancy Paper Structures Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sophie Mori,
Avery Nguyen
Turns out we can fold a flat sheet of paper into a cool, geometric, 3D form. Here is an example: https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/284234863.webp. The idea behind these types of compacting folds has made their way into telescopes, satellites, and architectural forms! I will have various templates available.
Prerequisites
Good motor skills are useful
Prerequisites
Good motor skills are useful
A13280: How to make friendship bracelets like a pro!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jensen Curtiss,
Nine Morch
Want to learn how to make friendship bracelets to give out or to wear? Swing by to learn the basic knots to make any bracelet and then practice making some!
A13322: Sew a Plushie!
Difficulty: **
Learn to sew an adorable plushie and take home a new best friend! We will provide all of the materials you need to make a stuffed sheep, fish, carrot, heart, pencil... whatever you want! All levels and experience are welcome, so whether you've never threaded a needle or you're a sewing expert, you'll have a great time in this class.
Prerequisites
No experience, just enthusiasm!
Prerequisites
No experience, just enthusiasm!
A13204: Intro to SALSA
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Otilia Don,
Rodrigo Vasquez
Have you always wanted to learn how to dance? Do you want to have some active fun at MIT? You should come learn the basic steps of salsa with us!
Prerequisites
Comfortable shoes that hold on the foot well.
Prerequisites
Comfortable shoes that hold on the foot well.
A13181: Advanced MS Paint Studio Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Patricia Gao,
Sam Nitz
MS Paint is the world's best image-editing software, and we're here to prove it. This class will cover the basic tools you need to make digital art with it.
A13299: Oh Snap! Photography for Dummies Workshop (Part 1)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sarah Bi
Ever wanted to learn how to take pictures on one of those big black cameras (DSLR) and not just on your iPhone? For the 1st hour, learn about how to use manual mode on DSLR, composition, lens, and more. Then for the 2nd hour, go on a photography field trip to capture the beautiful campus! To see the editing process and results, sign up for the complementary Part 2 of this course. (Feel free to bring your own camera as well, but definitely not required)
A13536: Music Theory
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Kevin Costello,
Gabriel Terrasa
Ever wondered why certain types of music sound happy and why others sad? What are chords, how do you build one, and why are they so important to the way we hear music? This class will discuss questions like these to cover the basics of musical theory and harmony. We'll be building an intuition for the way music works and why it makes us feel the way it does. Register to learn more!
Prerequisites
Reading some form of music helps, but not required.
Prerequisites
Reading some form of music helps, but not required.
A13670: The Music of Celeste
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Lin,
Jeffery Yu
Celeste is an indie game that first drew us in with its story and gaming and kept us thrilled with its amazing soundtrack. To us, its musical ideas are basically as innovative as my favorite classical music works, and that's something we'd like to share with you! In this class, we'll talk about why Celeste's music is so effective, as well as how a great soundtrack can make a (seemingly simple) platformer game unforgettable.
Prerequisites
None- just a willingness to see music in a new way!
Prerequisites
None- just a willingness to see music in a new way!
A13486: Dandiya!! (Fun Indian Traditional Dance with Sticks!)
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Meenakshi Singh,
Meghana Vemulapalli
Dandiya, or Raas, is a traditional dance of Gujarat and Rajasthan, India! It involves the coordinated striking of sticks between dancers in lines while fast-paced drum heavy exciting traditional music plays! No experience required, dandiya (sticks) provided! Come ready to try something new and fun!!
A13301: Cut the Crop! Editing for Dummies Workshop (Part 2)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sarah Bi
Editing can fix (almost) everything, but let's get a little fancier than VSCO. I will edit, in real time, some RAW photos taken earlier on the photography campus field trip from Part 1 of this complementary course in Adobe Lightroom. For example, how to edit portrait vs landscape vs architecture photographs. Come join me to see the magic happen! (you DO NOT need to have taken Part 1)
Languages and Literatures
B13218: Kokuhaku: How to Confess Your Love in Japanese
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Kylie Hansen
Let's learn how about love in Japanese culture, especially surrounding their infamous "kokuhaku" often seen in anime! By the end of this class you'll be able to confess your love just like a traditional Japanese schoolgirl.
B13139: Japanese for Beginners: Spoken and Written
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sarah Davis,
Steve Nelson
Steve and Sarah will walk you through reading and writing several key Japanese characters (kanji) as well as a few Japanese conversations and key Japanese conversational words. Youkoso (welcome)!
Prerequisites
N/A
Prerequisites
N/A
B13622: Space Opera: Space Craft, Colonies, and Aliens!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sherene Raisbeck,
Josh Shaine
Lots of adventures happen in space, some with battles and some with aliens.
What goes into these settings? How can you build your own? We will cover a bunch of the basics and do some work individually and in groups on designs, as well as looking at some brilliant examples and some... less brilliant ones.
Prerequisites
Must love Space Stories!
What goes into these settings? How can you build your own? We will cover a bunch of the basics and do some work individually and in groups on designs, as well as looking at some brilliant examples and some... less brilliant ones.
Prerequisites
Must love Space Stories!
B13261: Shanghainese
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Songela Chen
Come learn the basics of Shanghainese, a dialect of Chinese. We will discuss differences between dialects, hear native speakers through video clips and in person, and learn basic dialogue.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with Mandarin and/or Shanghainese is helpful, but not required.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with Mandarin and/or Shanghainese is helpful, but not required.
B13498: Languages of Middle Earth
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sean Olszewski,
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 before, it will be the same material.
Prerequisites
None, if you've taken this class before, it will be the same material.
B13183: Mythology and Folklore- and what they can teach us
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Pamela Stark,
Duha Syar
The Greek, Norse and Egyptian mythologies shapes the moral of people in great empires. But not everything is as it seems! Let’s review certain stories including
1. The Kidnapping of Persephone
2. Hercules vs Madea
3. The creation of Mjolnir and Loki
4. The Valkyries and Valhalla
5. Isis and Osiris
We will discuss these myths in relation to the structure of their society. How did they derive power. What were their values? Most importantly- what did they think of their women?
(If you can glance at the stories ahead of time that would be awesome!)
1. The Kidnapping of Persephone
2. Hercules vs Madea
3. The creation of Mjolnir and Loki
4. The Valkyries and Valhalla
5. Isis and Osiris
We will discuss these myths in relation to the structure of their society. How did they derive power. What were their values? Most importantly- what did they think of their women?
(If you can glance at the stories ahead of time that would be awesome!)
B13508: a fifty-minute introduction to historical linguistics!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sasha Barish
in this class you'll learn a few things about historical linguistics, which is the field that studies how languages change over time. i'll explain the basics of sound change and some grammatical changes, and i'll talk about the ways that people can tell whether different languages are related to each other and what those languages were like thousands of years ago, when they weren't even written down.
I'll be keeping the overlap between this class and my other ling class (Proto-Indo-European) to a minimum. The focus of that class is the Proto-Indo-European language itself, while this class is about the linguistics methods that people use to study language change and hypothesize proto-languages, though a little bit of overlap will be necessary for everything to make sense.
Prerequisites
None.
I'll be keeping the overlap between this class and my other ling class (Proto-Indo-European) to a minimum. The focus of that class is the Proto-Indo-European language itself, while this class is about the linguistics methods that people use to study language change and hypothesize proto-languages, though a little bit of overlap will be necessary for everything to make sense.
Prerequisites
None.
B13424: Reading and Writing in Star Wars
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Claire McLellan-Cassivi,
Isabella Torres
Learn to read and write in Aurebesh, the most common alphabet in the galaxy! Useful for understanding movies and TV shows, as well as writing secret messages.
B13392: Toki Pona: The Language of Good
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Andy Tockman,
Brian Xiao
Come learn toki pona, a constructed language with only 120 words! Complex ideas are expressed by combining basic concepts (for example, "alcohol" is "telo nasa", or "silly water"). Since there's only 120 words to know of, it's possibly the easiest language to learn!
For part of class, I'll go over the word list and the (very minimal) grammar; then, we can either translate things into toki pona together or try to have conversations in it.
(If you're not good at memorization, don't worry! Printed word lists will be provided.)
For part of class, I'll go over the word list and the (very minimal) grammar; then, we can either translate things into toki pona together or try to have conversations in it.
(If you're not good at memorization, don't worry! Printed word lists will be provided.)
B13341: Thinking Like a Linguist
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jeremy Freudberg,
Peter Klapes
In this interactive course, students will try to make sense of language, by thinking like linguists. Students will receive a gentle introduction to linguistics and its subfields, and then begin to confront and quantify various subtle features of the English language.
B13310: Thai Language, Culture and History
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Victor Luo,
Arun Wongprommoon
This courses dives quite deep into Thai language, culture and history because I'm born and raised Thai and I'm proud of it! Not many people *actually* know about this country and people, outside of the beaches and occasional puns about the names our capital. Come to actually know what our capital means in our language and stay for more Thainess!
B13546: Proto-Indo-European, aka learning about a 6000-year-old language that was never written down
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sasha Barish
Almost all the modern languages of Europe and Northern India – including English, Spanish, Hindi, Irish, Russian, and Greek – form a language family called Indo-European, and they all evolved from a common ancestor. That common ancestor (Proto-Indo-European) was never written down, but there's a lot that we can figure out about it just by comparing its descendants. In this class you'll learn all about Proto-Indo-European: the grammar, the sounds, the way new words were made, etc. In addition to being interesting on its own, knowing some PIE will also help you understand where some weird features of English come from and how they relate to other languages you might know.
I'll be keeping the overlap between this class and my other ling class (a fifty-minute introduction to historical linguistics) to a minimum. The focus of this class is the PIE language itself, while that class is about the linguistics methods that people use to study language change and hypothesize proto-languages, though a little bit of overlap will be necessary for everything to make sense.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic linguistics or knowledge of another Indo-European language in addition to English will make this class easier to follow, but it is not required; you'll be able to learn about PIE anyway!
I'll be keeping the overlap between this class and my other ling class (a fifty-minute introduction to historical linguistics) to a minimum. The focus of this class is the PIE language itself, while that class is about the linguistics methods that people use to study language change and hypothesize proto-languages, though a little bit of overlap will be necessary for everything to make sense.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic linguistics or knowledge of another Indo-European language in addition to English will make this class easier to follow, but it is not required; you'll be able to learn about PIE anyway!
B13324: Intro to Elementary Arabic 101
Difficulty: *
Have you ever thought twice about your pronunciation of common foods such as "falafel", "hummus", and even (the all-intimidating) "baba ghanoush"? Here's the class for you! In this class we will review the basic alphabet, words, and cultural greetings used in modern standard Arabic—by the end, you'll even be able to say the names of all your favorite foods as they were meant to be said!
B13653: Linguistics Problem Solving
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Pranav Krishna,
James Lin
An introduction to the linguistics olympiads: what they are, what kind of problems are on it, and so on. Have fun solving linguistics puzzles, and test your logic and problem solving skills!
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
B13190: Petronius
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Tobit Glenhaber
In this class, we will read sections of Petronius' Satyricon, a bawdy (and rather hilarious) narrative set in a INCREDIBLY rich guys dinner party. During said dinner, we see over the top dishes (think the most extravagant parody of a roman dinner), bad astrology, circus performances, and so much more!
Prerequisites
You should have at least 2 (if not more) years of Latin; I've found that Petronius is easier than, say Cicero or Ceasar, but nevertheless you do need a solid grasp on grammar. I'll provide vocabulary and some of the more confusing grammar, but you should be able to recognize (and translate) figures such as ablatives absolute, fear clauses, and purpose clauses.
Prerequisites
You should have at least 2 (if not more) years of Latin; I've found that Petronius is easier than, say Cicero or Ceasar, but nevertheless you do need a solid grasp on grammar. I'll provide vocabulary and some of the more confusing grammar, but you should be able to recognize (and translate) figures such as ablatives absolute, fear clauses, and purpose clauses.
B13612: Magic Systems in Fantasy Stories Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sherene Raisbeck,
Josh Shaine
We'll spend a good chunk of this class exploring how magic is presented in a variety of books and movies, after which we will see about constructung our own, either individually or collectively, as the class prefers.
Prerequisites
Must love fantasy stories!
Prerequisites
Must love fantasy stories!
B13158: Introduction to Esperanto
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
CJ Quines,
Carl Schildkraut
What's Esperanto? It's the most widely spoken invented language, actively spoken by around 200,000 people all over the world.
It's really easy to learn! You'll learn more Esperanto in this hour than you'd learn German in ten hours. By the end of the class you'll be able to form basic sentences in Esperanto.
It's really easy to learn! You'll learn more Esperanto in this hour than you'd learn German in ten hours. By the end of the class you'll be able to form basic sentences in Esperanto.
B13520: Stan Twitter 101 Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Catalina Romero,
Josiah Washington
Don't fall into the crowd of people who laugh at year old memes on Instagram! Join the world of stannery through Twitter!
Prerequisites
Appreciation and/or admiration for one of the main pop girls (Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry), Permission to use Twitter
Prerequisites
Appreciation and/or admiration for one of the main pop girls (Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry), Permission to use Twitter
B13231: Introduction to Linguistics, featuring Thai and French
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Victor Luo,
Arun Wongprommoon
A brief introduction to the wonderful world of linguistics with a lot of examples from the languages I know: Thai, English and a bit of French. Heavily inspired by MIT's 24.900. Explore semantics, syntax, morphology, phonology and phonetics and whatever topics I can fit within the time! A good starter to learn about the simplicity and complexity of Thai and French (and English!). Please also check out Thai Language, Culture and History if you want more Thainess!
Prerequisites
Love of language
Prerequisites
Love of language
B13643: How to Pronounce My Name
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Annika Magaro,
Nghiem Pham
My name is very strange for english native speakers to pronounce. But, trust me, it's easier than it looks. Come for a quick crash course in Vietnamese trivia, tonal languages, International Phonetic Alphabet, and most importantly, how to pronounce my name.
B13150: Introduction to ASL Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nancy Hidalgo
Get a streamlined introduction to American Sign Language! Learn how to introduce yourself, important verbs/phrases, and more!
B13610: Non-linear Thinking in a Linear World
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sherene Raisbeck,
Josh Shaine
Does doing one thing at a time drive you batty? Do people frequently tell you to pay attention or to 'stay on topic?' Do you think in pictures instead of words? Does the whole "You have to do it in the right order" concept bother you? Join us for an exploration of the How's and Why's of non-linear thinking. We'll talk about how to recognize and develop strengths, not just how to 'fit in.'
Prerequisites
Open-mindedness
Prerequisites
Open-mindedness
B13399: Make Your Own Language: Linguistics and Conlanging
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Chris Eschler,
Autumn Geil
Have you ever wanted to design and build a language of your own? This class will cover the basic process of turning your idea for a constructed language (or conlang) into something with a real grammar and vocabulary. We'll also be looking into some of the linguistic concepts underlying languages.
[Deprecated] Computers and Programming
C13650: Autoencoders & GANs, or How to Make Fake Faces
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Evan Tey
Autoencoders and GANs are a deep learning technique used to understand the underlying patterns in things like images of faces! Using autoencoders we can do things like add glasses to people's faces or age them. We can even generate images of fake people: https://thispersondoesnotexist.com/
In this class, we'll learn about how autoencoders and GANs work and ways you can start to make your own!
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of machine learning is recommended,
In this class, we'll learn about how autoencoders and GANs work and ways you can start to make your own!
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of machine learning is recommended,
C13505: The wonderful world of Operating Systems
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Godha Bapuji I.
We will look at what operating systems are and understand high level differences between some of the most common ones heard and unheard of in the modern times
UNIX
MacOS
Windows - old to new
Linux
Embedded/Mobile OSes
Prerequisites
Basic Computer Science
UNIX
MacOS
Windows - old to new
Linux
Embedded/Mobile OSes
Prerequisites
Basic Computer Science
C13291: Computer Architecture from the Ground Up
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Sai Sameer Pusapaty,
Rahul Yesantharao
Learn all about computer architecture, starting from basic logic gates and working our way all the way up to modern design concepts.
Prerequisites
Basic E&M (familiarity with circuits) Basic CS know-how would be useful, but not required.
Prerequisites
Basic E&M (familiarity with circuits) Basic CS know-how would be useful, but not required.
C13274: 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.
C13465: How to Sort Things Fast
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Zoe Anderson,
Ashley Chen
If you had a long list of numbers, and someone said, "ready, go, sort them!" how would do it as fast as possible? We will teach you computer science algorithms for how to do this!
C13490: Putting Big Things in Tiny Boxes: An Introduction to Compression
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Robert Cunningham,
Eric Zhang
You take a photo on your iPhone X's 12MP camera; that's 12 million pixels! This is roughly 36 MB of data -- but it only takes about 1 MB of space on your computer. How were you able to store the entire image in 1/36 of its actual size?
The magic: compression algorithms!
We will be discussing various techniques for the compression of data, starting from the basics (RLE) and ranging to lossless methods such as entropy encoding, LZW compression, and the Burrows-Wheeler Transform.
The last part of the class will be an exploration of compression methods for images, taking a look at some ad hoc approaches that we might try (8-bit graphics!). We'll then conclude with an in-depth examination of how modern lossy algorithms, like JPEG, are able to achieve ~20x compression ratios with no perceptible change in quality.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with computer science or mathematics is encouraged, but not required.
The magic: compression algorithms!
We will be discussing various techniques for the compression of data, starting from the basics (RLE) and ranging to lossless methods such as entropy encoding, LZW compression, and the Burrows-Wheeler Transform.
The last part of the class will be an exploration of compression methods for images, taking a look at some ad hoc approaches that we might try (8-bit graphics!). We'll then conclude with an in-depth examination of how modern lossy algorithms, like JPEG, are able to achieve ~20x compression ratios with no perceptible change in quality.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with computer science or mathematics is encouraged, but not required.
C13491: Lambda Calculus and Puzzles
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hahn Lheem,
Eric Zhang
Lambda calculus: it's like "calculus" - except with more programming, and no calculus!
You can think of it as a super low-level functional programming language; all data is composed of functions (written with the letter λ), and by combining functions in various clever ways, we can actually perform any computation.
Learn about Alonzo Church's famous invention that rocked the foundations of computer science, and try your hand at solving programming puzzles in the language itself!
You can think of it as a super low-level functional programming language; all data is composed of functions (written with the letter λ), and by combining functions in various clever ways, we can actually perform any computation.
Learn about Alonzo Church's famous invention that rocked the foundations of computer science, and try your hand at solving programming puzzles in the language itself!
C13570: Image Convolution
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Everardo Gonzalez
Come and learn how convolution makes images look all WeIRd and wACky! We'll touch on what convolution is good for, what it means mathematically, and how to apply it in software.
C13175: Introduction to UX/UI Design & Development
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Henry Keena
Come learn about the ins and outs of User Interface and User Experience design and development. Learn about the basics of human computer interactions, and how graphic design can be translated into code.
Prerequisites
General Computer Knowledge. Some - Minimal Programming Experience.
Prerequisites
General Computer Knowledge. Some - Minimal Programming Experience.
C13346: CS Buzzwords
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Patricia Gao,
Kelsey Merrill
AI! Neural Networks! Big Data! Internet of Things! Machine Learning! Blockchain! Deep Learning! Bitcoin! Lose your friends, but sound cool doing it! Also maybe learn a little bit about what these words mean.
C13441: Intro to Vim: Code as fast as you can think!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Milo Cress,
Robert Cunningham
Learn to use Vim, the lightning-fast text editor used by programmers everywhere. Vim allows you to code as fast as you can think with an extensive set of keybindings that feels like a language. It's unlike any text editor you've ever used--come experience it for yourself!
Prerequisites
Vim will be most useful to you if you need to write or edit code somewhat regularly.
Prerequisites
Vim will be most useful to you if you need to write or edit code somewhat regularly.
C13178: Introduction to Civic Hacking
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Albert Lee
We are currently in the midst of a watershed moment in history for governments across the world. YCombinator, the most prestigious incubator program for startups in the world, recently stated that one of their prime interests is in "Government 2.0" - the birth of companies that support the government with data and modern technology. Simultaneously, governments are at a race to leverage and develop new technologies to help their constituents with limited funds.
Get your foot in the door of this exciting time by taking Introduction to Civic Hacking. Taught by an engineer who has worked for multiple government institutions, you will pick up the basics of civic hacking by learning the fundamentals of RFPs, programming automated pipelines, ETL workflows, and much more. Use this class to jumpstart launching your own Government 2.0 startup or your civic engineering career!
Get your foot in the door of this exciting time by taking Introduction to Civic Hacking. Taught by an engineer who has worked for multiple government institutions, you will pick up the basics of civic hacking by learning the fundamentals of RFPs, programming automated pipelines, ETL workflows, and much more. Use this class to jumpstart launching your own Government 2.0 startup or your civic engineering career!
C13376: Introduction to Blockchains
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Shashvat Srivastava,
Wayne Zhao
Learn about how blockchains and cryptocurrencies work from an expert. Will start by teaching some basic cryptography, then will move onto detailed explanations on how blockchains and cryptocurrencies work. You will learn a lot more than the generic descriptions you might find in the news!
Prerequisites
Basic math and computer science
Prerequisites
Basic math and computer science
C13398: make a meme-y/spicy/[your favorite adjective] website!!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jessica Ding,
Katherine Huang
We'll get you started with the basics of HTML and CSS—the programming languages of the web—and you define the rest. Make a website (a real website, on the Internet, with a URL!!) for yourself, your dog, your mom, your business, your favorite meme, or anything in between!
This will be a hands-on, creative class. What you build is up to you, and we'll have several co-teachers to troubleshoot any errors, help you brainstorm ideas, and turn you into an HTML/CSS master once you start getting the hang of it! :D
This will be a hands-on, creative class. What you build is up to you, and we'll have several co-teachers to troubleshoot any errors, help you brainstorm ideas, and turn you into an HTML/CSS master once you start getting the hang of it! :D
C13487: Artificially Not-Very-Intelligent
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Hannah Gazdus,
Jenna Himawan
Everybody's talking about AI, ML, Deep Learning, etc. these days. However, most AIs aren't really that smart. Let's learn about AI that try to name paint colors, describe pokemon, create D&D spells, imitate Shakespeare, and write code! Let's learn about robots which "commit suicide" by driving into fountains!
C13596: Become a Cyber Prankster
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Noah Raby
In this modern age, cybersecurity is more important than ever. Staying safe from malicious code gets harder and harder with each passing moment. But why worry about that when you can prank your friend by making their Chrome shortcut shutdown their PC after 60 seconds? This class will go through some simple Windows (and maybe some Mac too) pranks that range from basic customization to minor programming.
C13560: How Do Computers Work?
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Miles Dai
In high school, I was always told that there are ones and zeros inside my computer and that my computer uses something called transistors. And somehow, we can control this using programming languages. But how does this actually make a computer? How did we get from a bunch of electronic components to print("Hello world")? In this class, we will take a look at the field of computer architecture and explore the basic pathway starting from the electrons and ending with a computer processor.
Prerequisites
Used a computer before
Prerequisites
Used a computer before
C13149: Introduction to LaTeX: Impress Your Teachers With Pretty PSets!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amelia Cavallaro
Have you ever tried putting math symbols in a word doc? Ever craved that crisp "I'm a real nerd" look in your work? Ever wanted to publish a research paper that'll win you worldwide acclaim? Well, I can't help with any of that, but I can show you how to start with LaTeX, a common typesetting language for getting pretty symbols like $$\pi$$ and $$A \nRightarrow B$$ into your papers.
C13156: Getting the Gist of GIS aka The Magic of Maps
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Valerie Chen,
Natasha Stamler
Big data! Data visualization! Those are some spicy keywords. Come have a non-programmer show you some cool ways to map large quantities of spatial data and solve complex, real-world problems.
There will be minimal to no coding. The goal of this class is to show you how to approach problems across locations and communicate your solution, while providing you with the resources to continue exploring for yourself. Laptop recommended for self-guided exploration at end of class but not necessary for main course material. Slides will be sent out so you can access resources in the future.
Ft. lots of globe stress balls and some rad geographically-inspired t-shirts. Puns are guaranteed, their quality is not.
There will be minimal to no coding. The goal of this class is to show you how to approach problems across locations and communicate your solution, while providing you with the resources to continue exploring for yourself. Laptop recommended for self-guided exploration at end of class but not necessary for main course material. Slides will be sent out so you can access resources in the future.
Ft. lots of globe stress balls and some rad geographically-inspired t-shirts. Puns are guaranteed, their quality is not.
C13420: Good, Bad, and Ugly: The C Programming Language Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Damian Barabonkov
A very brief run-through of the C programming language, showcasing its good aspects, bad aspects, and ugly aspects.
Prerequisites
Previous programming knowledge, Python for example. Knowledge of for loops, if statements, functions and other general basics.
Prerequisites
Previous programming knowledge, Python for example. Knowledge of for loops, if statements, functions and other general basics.
C13276: Wireshark Workshop
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Harvey Yee
This is a follow-up course to Promiscuous Mode-Network Protocol Analysis, Although it is not required for this course, you should have some basic understanding of network protocols. 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 looking at some interesting wireshark captures and having a discussion of some of the problems that we will uncover and solve.
Prerequisites
Promiscuous Mode-Network Protocol Analysis or equivalent...not absolutely required by it would be helpful...
Come prepared to get a deep dive into network protocol analysis by looking at some interesting wireshark captures and having a discussion of some of the problems that we will uncover and solve.
Prerequisites
Promiscuous Mode-Network Protocol Analysis or equivalent...not absolutely required by it would be helpful...
C13620: Stalinsort and other bad sorting algorithms
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Anders Olsen,
Colin Tang
Stalinsort is a unique sorting algorithm in two ways: 1. It started as a joke. 2. It has a runtime of $$O(n^{3/2}),$$ different from any sorting algorithm listed on Wikipedia. Along with this algorithm as the crux of the class, various good (like the aptly named quicksort) and bad (like the aptly named stoogesort) sorting algorithms will be covered and used by the students to arrange themselves in particular orders.
C13611: Intro to Circuits and Coding with Arduino Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sarah Flanagan,
Temitope Olabinjo
Learn the basics of building a circuit on a breadboard. Program an LED light to blink in time with music using an Arduino. An Arduino is a small device that allows your code to come alive on your circuit. No prior knowledge of circuits, programming, or Arduino is required for this class.
C13185: Intro to Machine Learning Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Brian Hoh,
Julia Wang
We will be giving a quick overview of what machine learning is and the applications it's useful for! We'll teach some basic linear algebra and other mathematical concepts that are essential for building machine learning models.
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with linear algebra
Prerequisites
Some familiarity with linear algebra
C13391: Code Golf: How to Write Bad Code Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andy Tockman,
Brian Xiao
Tired of writing readable, efficient, well-commented code all the time? Try code golf! The goal is to solve a certain task in as few key"strokes" as possible, resulting in creative solutions where code that takes a thousand times as long is perfectly acceptable if it saves even a single character.
We'll mostly be golfing solutions to a few problems in your language of choice, working together to try to get down to the shortest possible solution in each language.
Computers will be provided.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with at least one programming language.
We'll mostly be golfing solutions to a few problems in your language of choice, working together to try to get down to the shortest possible solution in each language.
Computers will be provided.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with at least one programming language.
C13469: Sines, Signals, and Sick Beats
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brian Mills,
Venkat Sivaraman
Did you know that math and algorithms form a huge part of the music industry? This class will introduce you to the fundamental math concepts behind autotune, Shazam, synthesizers, Spotify, DJ apps, rhythm games, and more. We'll use interactive examples to look at the connection between triangles and sound waves, and build up some essential signal processing tools that every good music producer should know. But this isn't just for aspiring musicians - the concepts you'll learn in this class are applicable all over science and engineering!
Prerequisites
Basic geometry and trigonometry (sin/cos functions)
Prerequisites
Basic geometry and trigonometry (sin/cos functions)
C13545: The Secrets of Turing Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Max Guo,
Haneul Shin
Alan Turing was a revolutionary thinker in the field of computer science. In this course, we explore the various ideas and projects that Turing was involved in throughout his life, including Turing Machines, the Enigma, and the Turing Test. Students will have the chance to design their own basic Turing Machines.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites, but mathematical maturity is recommended.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites, but mathematical maturity is recommended.
C13457: Quantum Computing for Dummies Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brian Mills,
Venkat Sivaraman
Short intro to Quantum Computing and why everyone is so crazy about it. Goes over concepts behind superposition and entanglement.
Prerequisites
None!
Prerequisites
None!
C13278: How to Not Get Pwned
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brian Chen,
Ashley Kim
The internet is a wonderful place, but also a place full of dangers. Learn how to use a computer and browse the internet without getting hax0red (or at least, make it much less likely). We'll talk about basic internet security, phishing, social engineering, password security, and anything else we have time for.
Warning: may induce paranoia around computers.
Warning: may induce paranoia around computers.
C13396: Making Software Hard(ly Work) Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Tareq El Dandachi,
Hannah Savoldy
You can find classes about how to make code more efficient everywhere, but not how to make it worse! This course will be a thorough introduction to the art of making everybody who reads your code burst into tears (perhaps from laughter) and hate your guts. Topics include:
• Identifying "Good Code" from what is so called "Bad Code"
• How to make your code readable (or not)
• De-optimising your code
• Living with errors as opposed to handling them
• Awesome Naming Nomenclature (including emojis for those Zoomers)
• Make your file size smaller
• Looking like a h4ck3r
• No OOPs only loops
• Esoteric Programming Languages (including LOLCODE, Chef, and TrumpScript)
• and actually applicable knowledge sprinkled throughout
Prerequisites
Prior coding experience is recommended, but not required.
• Identifying "Good Code" from what is so called "Bad Code"
• How to make your code readable (or not)
• De-optimising your code
• Living with errors as opposed to handling them
• Awesome Naming Nomenclature (including emojis for those Zoomers)
• Make your file size smaller
• Looking like a h4ck3r
• No OOPs only loops
• Esoteric Programming Languages (including LOLCODE, Chef, and TrumpScript)
• and actually applicable knowledge sprinkled throughout
Prerequisites
Prior coding experience is recommended, but not required.
C13377: Learn to Make Maps! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Adriana Jacobsen
Come learn how to use QGIS software to make interesting, colorful, and informative maps! We will learn how to download and display data, how to create your own data layers to make your maps unique and personalized, and what components are needed for a clear, readable map. No previous experience with QGIS necessary--just an interest in maps or data visualization!
C13381: ‘Let’s Chance’ - Learn and Play with Probabilistic Coding in Scratch
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Manuj Dhariwal,
Shruti Dhariwal
Come and explore the new ‘Let’s Chance’ extension in Scratch (scratch.mit.edu), and tinker with ideas of probability and randomness by creating projects with an element of unpredictability! Using the extension’s new blocks, you can now create a virtual dice in Scratch with any number of sides—each side can be a sound, costume, text, number, or even some real world data. You can dynamically change the chance and likelihood of different outcomes, and make your projects react differently each time you roll one or more dice. Hook the extension with other Scratch extensions such as, Video Sensing, Music, or Text-to-Speech for lots of playful possibilities. Create projects like—chance-based games/stories/animations; generative art/text/music; interactive visualizations; data-based simulations; teaching a computer how to draw, and many others!
Prerequisites
Preferred some experience with Scratch (scratch.mit.edu), although not necessary
Prerequisites
Preferred some experience with Scratch (scratch.mit.edu), although not necessary
C13182: Introduction to Computer Science
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lester Kim
This course will introduce different topics in computer science. We define what a computer is and describe its architecture. Then, we will explore how computers represent data. Eventually, we will discuss algorithms and conclude with a topic of the students' choice (e.g. artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cryptography, the Internet, the future of computing, virtual reality).
Prerequisites
High school algebra
Prerequisites
High school algebra
C13389: "Weird" Programming Languages, and Weird Programming Languages
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andy Tockman,
Jennifer Xiong
If you've learned programming in the past year or so, chances are you know languages like Python, Java, or C. Even though they might look different, they all have essentially the same core philosophy. There's a lot more variety in programming languages than you might think!
For part of class, we'll cover languages with various different paradigms than the ones you might be familiar with, such as functional languages, Lisps, APLs, and assembly languages.
Then, we'll take a look at some truly "weird" languages, also known as esoteric programming languages, or esolangs. These are as varied as languages that only use 8 characters, two-dimensional languages, languages designed specifically to write code as short as possible, and much more.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with at least one programming language would be useful, though this is not a hard requirement.
For part of class, we'll cover languages with various different paradigms than the ones you might be familiar with, such as functional languages, Lisps, APLs, and assembly languages.
Then, we'll take a look at some truly "weird" languages, also known as esoteric programming languages, or esolangs. These are as varied as languages that only use 8 characters, two-dimensional languages, languages designed specifically to write code as short as possible, and much more.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with at least one programming language would be useful, though this is not a hard requirement.
C13651: iHack: pwning stuff for fun and profit Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Keanu Clark,
Jay Lang
Ever jailbroken your phone and been curious about the magic behind the scenes? Ever watched somebody 'hack into the mainframe' in the movies and dreamed of disabling enemy systems? Ever gotten an email from one particularly well-endowed Nigerian prince?
Alternatively, ever wanted to be a l33t h8x0r? Because you can do it too.
Join us for an hour of rapid fire hacking. We'll talk about how the computery stuff you use on the daily breaks, and instead of fixing it we'll use that borked behavior to cause *even more chaos*. We'll see how forgetting a line of code (looking at you, autocorrect) can open up a hole for us to hack into, talk about 'hollywood' vulnerabilities that we can remotely typety-type into, and yeet ourselves into iOS by screwing with some binary code.
We'll also be sharing lots of stupid memes, might accidentally blow up some virtual machines (that's why they're virtual, splash doesn't tolerate actual explosions i think), and might make a snack run if we're hungry. Come break things!!
Prerequisites
No programming experience necessary. Some might be nice to kinda appreciate the depth of the exploits we're screwing with, but primarily we expect an appreciation of dank memes ;)
Alternatively, ever wanted to be a l33t h8x0r? Because you can do it too.
Join us for an hour of rapid fire hacking. We'll talk about how the computery stuff you use on the daily breaks, and instead of fixing it we'll use that borked behavior to cause *even more chaos*. We'll see how forgetting a line of code (looking at you, autocorrect) can open up a hole for us to hack into, talk about 'hollywood' vulnerabilities that we can remotely typety-type into, and yeet ourselves into iOS by screwing with some binary code.
We'll also be sharing lots of stupid memes, might accidentally blow up some virtual machines (that's why they're virtual, splash doesn't tolerate actual explosions i think), and might make a snack run if we're hungry. Come break things!!
Prerequisites
No programming experience necessary. Some might be nice to kinda appreciate the depth of the exploits we're screwing with, but primarily we expect an appreciation of dank memes ;)
[Deprecated] Engineering
E13379: The Science of Living in Space
Difficulty: **
Have you ever wanted to explore what it would be like to actually live in space? What is it like living in "zero" gravity? What would weightlessness do to your body? How would you feel locked up in a small space for months at a time? How does a Zero G ("Vomet Comet") flight work? Come learn about these challenges and more and get an insider's view of what being an astronaut is like.
E13439: Manufacturing Mania
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amber Bick,
Jordan Wilke
I'm essentially boiling down 15 hours of lecture on fascinating manufacturing processes into ~one fun time~. In order to do this, I omit technical calculations and focus on concepts and qualities. If you enjoy the TV show "How It's Made," this is a great class for you. If you haven't seen this show, no worries, I'll get you hooked!
E13598: Spaghetti Marshmallow Design Challenge
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Raymond Bahng,
Brandon Pho
Build the highest tower possible with spaghetti noddles and marshmallows!
E13148: how 2 rocket
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Maddie Garcia,
Ethan Sit
how 2 become e l o n in under 1 hour
Prerequisites
algebra
Prerequisites
algebra
E13289: The Science of Phineas and Ferb
Difficulty: *
Mom, Phineas and Ferb have a class where students learn how to build like them! Well Ferb, I know what we're gonna do today; in this class, we'll watch an episode of Phineas and Ferb together and then build the invention in the episode! We'll discuss the science behind Phineas and Ferb's invention and different design considerations to make the best project ever!
One of our teachers is named Jeremy so you know we're legit. Wait, where's Perry?
Prerequisites
Must have watched at least 50 episodes of Phineas and Ferb (Just kidding, anyone is welcome! No knowledge of Phineas and Ferb is needed)
One of our teachers is named Jeremy so you know we're legit. Wait, where's Perry?
Prerequisites
Must have watched at least 50 episodes of Phineas and Ferb (Just kidding, anyone is welcome! No knowledge of Phineas and Ferb is needed)
E13442: How to Spot Planes!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jay Hilton
Ever wondered what that plane is? Or how to spot a 737 from an A320, or vice versa? Stop by and take a look!
E13325: The Chemistry of Recycling Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Haley Beech,
David Lundberg
Learn about the life cycle of common polymer materials, novel recyclable materials, and the chemistry underlying these processes.
Prerequisites
Intro chemistry knowledge
Prerequisites
Intro chemistry knowledge
E13378: Why Humans Can't Live in Space (Yet)
Difficulty: **
Come learn about the effects of zero gravity on the human body! As we plan to travel to Mars and beyond, scientists are trying to figure out whether humans are capable of long-term flight and/or living on a different planet. We'll give you a crash course into how space affects human physiology, as well as countermeasures--like an exoskeleton!
Prerequisites
High School Biology
Prerequisites
High School Biology
E13194: Build An Animal
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
David Mazumder,
Thomas Xu
What are all those organs for, anyway? How do cells come together to form tissues with complex functions? Why do we need all this stuff? We'll answer these questions together from a functional, engineering perspective by designing an animal together. We'll start with a quick refresher of cell biology, identify some essential functions of an animal, and build up our animal's capabilities from cells -> tissues -> organs, covering topics from warmbloodedness to physiology and disease!
Prerequisites
Basic principles of cell biology, like DNA -> RNA -> protein, lipid membranes (though we'll conduct a lightning review of these topics together as well)
Prerequisites
Basic principles of cell biology, like DNA -> RNA -> protein, lipid membranes (though we'll conduct a lightning review of these topics together as well)
E13348: Learn Surface-Mount Soldering
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Grace Cai,
Matthew Cox
Learn how to hand solder surface-mount components!
Practice soldering components ranging from about the size of a grain of rice to much smaller than a grain of rice. (Component sizes will be 1206 to 0402 for those who know what this means; if not, come and learn about surface-mount component packages!) At the end, you'll have a working circuit that lights up some lights!
Prerequisites
Should have experience with through-hole soldering
Practice soldering components ranging from about the size of a grain of rice to much smaller than a grain of rice. (Component sizes will be 1206 to 0402 for those who know what this means; if not, come and learn about surface-mount component packages!) At the end, you'll have a working circuit that lights up some lights!
Prerequisites
Should have experience with through-hole soldering
E13605: Intro to Chemical Engineering Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexander Liu,
Lily Zhang
It's easy to think of engineering as a super hands-on activity--mechanics working bandsaws, a string of connected breadboards, you name it. But there are plenty of engineering disciplines which require a more analytical approach. Chemical engineering is a premiere example - keeping a chemical plant running takes a huge amount of number crunching and modeling. Come learn about the basics of chemical engineering, some cool applications and research happening in the ChemE department at MIT, and see a real-world engineering problem worked through and analyzed.
Prerequisites
Calculus, knowledge of differential equations helpful but not required
Prerequisites
Calculus, knowledge of differential equations helpful but not required
E13666: Airport Operations Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sophie Mori
Airports are complex places. Planes taking off and landing all the time, people moving from curb to luggage dropoff to security to gate to waiting area to plane. The busiest airports keep getting busier, and congestion and expansion become concerns. Come learn about airside and landside operations and what thoughts go into designing new airports!
This is similar to last year's class, but there will also be new material and topics.
Prerequisites
A curiosity for how airports work!
This is similar to last year's class, but there will also be new material and topics.
Prerequisites
A curiosity for how airports work!
E13347: Electric Propulsion for Modern Spacecraft
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Naylah Canty
An overview of electric propulsion systems suited for deep space missions such as the Hall Thruster, Ion Spray Thruster, Solar Sail, and Magneto Plasma Dynamic (MPD) Thruster. This class will give you a basic understanding on how electromagnetic principles let new age propulsion systems generate thrust in the vacuum of space. You will also get to create a mini Solar Sail of your own!
E13683: FUNdamentals of Cave Rescue Full!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Riley Drake,
Sterling Harper
When a group of people get stuck in a cave, how do you get them out? We'll discuss basic principles of cave safety, cave rescue, learn some useful knots and hauling systems and try them out in various scenarios. This course won't make you qualified to rescue someone in a cave.
E13603: Probabilistic Inference and Bayesian Filters
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ashay Athalye,
Isabelle Liu
Sensors are noisy. The world is full of data and events that we want to measure and track, but we cannot rely on sensors to give us perfect information. My kitchen scale gives me different readings if I weigh the same object twice.
In simple cases the solution is obvious. If my scale gives slightly different readings I can just take a few readings and average them. Or I can get a more accurate scale. But what happens if the sensor is very noisy, or if data collection is difficult? We may be trying to track the movement of an aircraft or may want to create an autopilot for a self-driving car, both of which require using a lot of information from sensors.
This class will be an introduction to how to solve these sorts of filtering problems - where we make sense of the noisy data in a smart way. We'll start with an introduction to probability and then derive the intuition behind how inference works. We'll then derive the basics behind Kalman and Bayesian filters to understand how they blend our noisy and limited knowledge of how a system behaves with the noisy and limited sensor readings to produce the best possible estimate of the state of a system. You'll learn the basics of how planes, self-driving cars, drones, and other systems localize themselves!
Prerequisites
Comfortable with Algebra; Have been introduced to a little bit of probability before
In simple cases the solution is obvious. If my scale gives slightly different readings I can just take a few readings and average them. Or I can get a more accurate scale. But what happens if the sensor is very noisy, or if data collection is difficult? We may be trying to track the movement of an aircraft or may want to create an autopilot for a self-driving car, both of which require using a lot of information from sensors.
This class will be an introduction to how to solve these sorts of filtering problems - where we make sense of the noisy data in a smart way. We'll start with an introduction to probability and then derive the intuition behind how inference works. We'll then derive the basics behind Kalman and Bayesian filters to understand how they blend our noisy and limited knowledge of how a system behaves with the noisy and limited sensor readings to produce the best possible estimate of the state of a system. You'll learn the basics of how planes, self-driving cars, drones, and other systems localize themselves!
Prerequisites
Comfortable with Algebra; Have been introduced to a little bit of probability before
E13223: Computer-Aided Design: Make Cool Stuff! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nine Morch,
Christian de Weck
In this class students will be given a crash course in how to use CAD to sketch a shape in 2D and then from that point create a 3D model of an Object. There will initially be a demo tutorial and then students will be free to attempt their own 3D object. No previous experienced encouraged!
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
E13667: The Airline Industry
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sophie Mori
Everyone has their ideas on when to buy the cheapest tickets. But how does ticket pricing actually work? Come learn about airline markets, how airlines make money, the theory behind ticket pricing, and more!
Prerequisites
We will be talking about some basic economic concepts in this class. It would be useful to understanding microeconomic supply and demand concepts, but it is not entirely necessary.
Prerequisites
We will be talking about some basic economic concepts in this class. It would be useful to understanding microeconomic supply and demand concepts, but it is not entirely necessary.
E13295: Robot Fight Club Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Joules Ferguson,
Lacthu Vu
In which we prepare for the arrival of our robot overlords in the robocalypse. Learn how to design and build a beetle-weight battlebot, and fight against other robots!
E13359: Where am I? An introduction to localization techniques used for autonomous robotic navigation
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Marco Nocito
Ever wonder how a robot senses and navigates its surroundings? You've come to the right place! This course provides a look at a few of the ways robotic systems collect and process data to move around unknown spaces. Topics covered include computer vision, odometry, commonly used sensors (LIDAR/IR, IMU, motor encoders, etc), Kalman filters, and more. Don't know what any of that is? Perfect! I'll teach you.
The course will also cover some robotics control theory, namely PID loops and pathfinding/motion profiling using splines.
Lastly, for fun, I'll talk a little bit about six-axis robotic articulators, their uses, how they're modeled in industry, and the math/computer science behind how they work.
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of trigonometry, derivatives, integrals, and probability is preferred.
The course will also cover some robotics control theory, namely PID loops and pathfinding/motion profiling using splines.
Lastly, for fun, I'll talk a little bit about six-axis robotic articulators, their uses, how they're modeled in industry, and the math/computer science behind how they work.
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of trigonometry, derivatives, integrals, and probability is preferred.
E13153: Fuel Cells and the Hydrogen Economy
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Lopreiato
Are you interested in renewable energy? Saving the world? Cool technology? The ~future~? Are you curious about where you can get a hydrogen-powered car (yes, they do make those) and whether you should? Come learn about fuel cells and why some people think they might solve all of our problems. We’ll cover the basics of how they work and what their different applications are. We’ll do this in context of the difficult logistics of creating an entirely new energy infrastructure that won’t destroy the planet but also won’t crash and burn and fail. We’ll look at where we are today with fuel cells, what they could do in the future, and their advantages and disadvantages in different scenarios.
Prerequisites
Basic chemistry
Prerequisites
Basic chemistry
E13515: How Modern Batteries Work Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Isaac Metcalf,
Keith Phuthi
A survey of how batteries work with a particular focus on how the modern batteries in your phones, laptops and electric vehicles work.
Prerequisites
Basic chemistry
Prerequisites
Basic chemistry
E13226: Crazy about Lasers
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Katia Shtyrkova
Intro into the physics and design of lasers and laser systems; overview of various types of lasers; common and novel laser applications, every-day lasers and one-of-a-kind laser systems.
The first half of the class will be spent on basic laser physics and understanding of what makes lasers different from LEDs and other light sources. The second half of the class will be spent on learning about traditional and novel laser applications. We will finish with a demo of a small lasercom system.
The first half of the class will be spent on basic laser physics and understanding of what makes lasers different from LEDs and other light sources. The second half of the class will be spent on learning about traditional and novel laser applications. We will finish with a demo of a small lasercom system.
E13496: Introduction to Redstone Engineering Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alyssa Spencer,
Janice Tjan
Redstone. It seems to be everywhere in mines, but the stacks of red dust just sit in a chest somewhere, forgotten about. Maybe you thought about building something with it, but anything more than a door with a button seemed like a daunting task. This class is to provide an introduction into redstone to the absolute beginner, and hopefully make building machines less intimidating.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of Minecraft
Prerequisites
Knowledge of Minecraft
E13561: The Future of Meat? 🐮 🍖 🥩
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ronit Langer,
Adil Yusuf
Have you heard of Impossible Burger or Beyond Meat? These are some recently developed plant-based meats that are becoming really popular because they look and taste just like traditional meat. This is exciting because the current agriculture system has a number of problems: ~15% of global emissions, uses a substantial amount of antibiotics, and is very inefficient. Plant-based meats and cultured meats (i.e. meat cells grown in tanks) present a promising solution to feeding the nearly ~10 billion people living on Earth in 2050. This course will explore the science, policy, and culture of these new technologies.
Prerequisites
🧬 Intro Biology (advised)
Prerequisites
🧬 Intro Biology (advised)
E13401: Everything you want to know about nuclear weapons
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Isaac Meyer,
Patrick White
Do you want to know how nuclear bombs work? Are you curious why centrifuges are so important in international diplomacy? Did you know that a single nuclear weapon can explode with the same energy as all explosives used in World War 2 combined? Why should we care about countries getting nuclear weapons, anyways?
In this course, we'll review the history of nuclear weapons, talk about the art and science of designing them, and see what the effects these weapons have had on the world. We'll also cover the current state of nuclear weapons and what you should know about modern scientific and political discussions about them. By the end of this class you'll know how to design a nuclear weapon but also understand the human risks and costs.
Prerequisites
Basic conceptual understanding of chemistry and physics.
In this course, we'll review the history of nuclear weapons, talk about the art and science of designing them, and see what the effects these weapons have had on the world. We'll also cover the current state of nuclear weapons and what you should know about modern scientific and political discussions about them. By the end of this class you'll know how to design a nuclear weapon but also understand the human risks and costs.
Prerequisites
Basic conceptual understanding of chemistry and physics.
E13272: Space Exploration Full!
Difficulty: *
Have you ever looked into the night sky and wondered what was out there? Come learn how to explore the cosmos! Hear from a group of aerospace engineers at MIT working on various topics in space exploration including satellite engineering, space telescopes, and the effects of the space environment on the human body.
E13400: Chernobyl: Fact and Fiction
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sterling Harper,
Patrick White
The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident was one of the largest and most expensive disasters in human history. The accident was a combination of human, political, and technical failures - resulting in the permanent evacuation of over 1000 square miles of land around the reactors and radioactive contamination of thousands of people. The HBO mini series Chernobyl recently portrayed the story of the disaster but did you ever wonder how accurate the TV series is? We'll talk about the real science and engineering behind the Chernobyl nuclear accident, how the accident happened at Chernobyl, and talk about what the HBO mini series may have gotten right or wrong! We'll also discuss why an accident like Chernobyl couldn't happen in the United States and the Chernobyl site is like today - over 30 years after the accident.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of chemistry and physics
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of chemistry and physics
Humanities
H13146: Irish Presence in America
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
H. Alex Chen
The Irish Americans: This lecture will address the influence of the Irish diaspora in America. The lecture begins with the mass immigration caused by the Great Famine in Ireland and examines the impacts and contributions of those Irish immigrants in America. It will assess how Irish Americans build their Irish identity in America following the mass migration and the ways which identity structures are affected by migration and exile. Briefly, the lecture will discuss Irish Americans' political influence, towards the U.S. and Ireland.
Prerequisites
None. However, students who have taken "Irish Presence in America" through HSSP should not register this course.
Prerequisites
None. However, students who have taken "Irish Presence in America" through HSSP should not register this course.
H13427: Words. Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Luisa Apolaya Torres,
Ari Xie
Have you ever thought--Oh! I cannot write poetry? Poetry is hard? Poetry is something that doesn't really have a formula hence...
Then this is the class for you. I hope to teach everyone a bit of why poetry is so beautiful, so flexible, and a great medium to express one's identity in such a unique way. Bring your big brains and hearts!
Prerequisites
An open mind to a little bit of vulnerability.
Then this is the class for you. I hope to teach everyone a bit of why poetry is so beautiful, so flexible, and a great medium to express one's identity in such a unique way. Bring your big brains and hearts!
Prerequisites
An open mind to a little bit of vulnerability.
H13443: An 'Abrahamic' Empire: The Philosophical and Theological Foundations of the pre-Modern Ottoman State
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Church,
Matt Yarnall
I have a chapter of my senior thesis due Monday I am grinding on, so I will submit the course abstract columbus day weekend.
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
H13531: What is Truth?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hizami Anuar,
Amena Khatun
Why is philosophy important? Can we truly know anything in philosophy? What is truth?
Is philosophy just asking questions that are impossible to answer?
In this course, we’ll take a look at why fields such as science and mathematics seem to be able to progress more easily than the field of philosophy, and what steps we can take to turn the seemingly subjective nature of philosophy into something more concrete and objective.
Is philosophy just asking questions that are impossible to answer?
In this course, we’ll take a look at why fields such as science and mathematics seem to be able to progress more easily than the field of philosophy, and what steps we can take to turn the seemingly subjective nature of philosophy into something more concrete and objective.
H13161: METROPOLIS (1927)
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Tobit Glenhaber
In this class, we will watch the science fiction masterpiece, Metropolis. Created in 1927, this movie created many aspects which are still in science fiction today, like mad scientists and unsubtle parallels to modern times. The practical effects still hold up, and the over the top acting is fun to watch too! Come if you have any interest in science fiction, film history, or just want to have a good time!
Note: Metropolis (1927) is not rated, and has some mature content
Note: Metropolis (1927) is not rated, and has some mature content
H13356: What is the imagination? (Or, the Philosophy of Imagination)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jeremy Freudberg,
Peter Klapes
In this course, we'll talk about the philosophy of imagination as it relates to thinking and seeing and understanding and, generally, interpreting the world, our lives, our relations with others, among other things.
H13147: Ireland Uncovered
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
H. Alex Chen
"History is a nightmare, from which I am trying to awake", words of James Joyce. One rebellion after another, Irish people had struggled over centuries seeking independence from a history of colonization and conquest. This lecture uncovers this dark side of Irish history and examines the revolutions and rebellions that led to the independent Republic of Ireland, today. The lecture begins with introducing Irish nationalist movements from the Era of Vikings to 1800s, assessing the historical and cultural background that contributed to Irish rebellions. The lecture emphasizes the Easter Rising of 1916 and the national movements followed. The lecture ends with a brief overview of the causes, plots, and future of The Troubles (nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland).
Prerequisites
None. However, students who have taken similar courses in HSSP should not enroll in this course.
Prerequisites
None. However, students who have taken similar courses in HSSP should not enroll in this course.
H13473: Philosophy and Its Role in the Sciences
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Emily Flahive
In a previous class, a scientist asked a great question: "Why study philosophy for its own sake, when we have so many other methods of finding answers?"
This class aims to introduce you to (or re-acquaint you with) philosophy through that question, and a few others:
- What is the usefulness of philosophy?
- Are philosophers just unrealistic, impractical dreamers who have nothing to do all day but brood and think and write and make fun of each other?
- Will philosophy just make me (more) depressed?
- Why does philosophy kind of remind me of programming in some odd way??
- Why is Rousseau low-key beautiful and sassy and amazing????
(Bonus points if you spot what's "wrong"/odd about the title of the course.)
This class aims to introduce you to (or re-acquaint you with) philosophy through that question, and a few others:
- What is the usefulness of philosophy?
- Are philosophers just unrealistic, impractical dreamers who have nothing to do all day but brood and think and write and make fun of each other?
- Will philosophy just make me (more) depressed?
- Why does philosophy kind of remind me of programming in some odd way??
- Why is Rousseau low-key beautiful and sassy and amazing????
(Bonus points if you spot what's "wrong"/odd about the title of the course.)
H13532: Morality and the Trolley Problem
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hizami Anuar,
Amena Khatun
Imagine there’s a runaway trolley, with malfunctioning brakes, about to crash into five people. The only way to save those five people is to pull a lever that will divert the trolley onto another set of tracks, where it will crash into one person instead. Should you pull the lever to save more people?
Now imagine you’re a skilled surgeon in a hospital, and you have five patients who suffer from different malfunctioning organs. The hospital is out of organs, and the only way to save them is to forcibly transplant all five organs from one of your other, perfectly healthy patients, killing him. Should you perform the transplant to save more people?
In this course, we’ll examine the Trolley Problem and several similar thought experiments to get a greater understanding on the question of morality.
Now imagine you’re a skilled surgeon in a hospital, and you have five patients who suffer from different malfunctioning organs. The hospital is out of organs, and the only way to save them is to forcibly transplant all five organs from one of your other, perfectly healthy patients, killing him. Should you perform the transplant to save more people?
In this course, we’ll examine the Trolley Problem and several similar thought experiments to get a greater understanding on the question of morality.
H13331: Do the Write Thing!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Raquel G,
Nory Klop-Packel
The Write Thing is where you will learn to design delightful dialogue, write wacky worldbuilding, create cool characters, and astound your readers with awesome opening scenes. We will discuss a variety of strategies to enhance your writing, and everyone will have a chance to share a newly-crafted short story with their peers at the end. Bring a laptop if you prefer — we’ll provide the paper, pencils, and snacks!
H13634: Topics in Philosophy
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Keanu Clark,
Ethan Nevidomsky
An introduction to philosophy from Plato to Hegel
H13507: Were all the Ancient Greeks and Romans really gay?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sasha Barish
Is it true that being bisexual was the norm in Ancient Greece? Can we and should we label historical figures as gay, bi, trans, etc. if they lived in an era that didn't have those concepts? What kind of documents from the ancient Mediterranean world do we have about LGBT+ people?
In this class we'll read some Greek and Roman primary sources together, ranging from accounts of gender dysphoria to lesbian love poems to the stigma of being a bottom. We'll discuss what these texts can tell us about how the writers and the cultures they lived in thought about same-gender attraction and gender nonconformity. In the process we'll have opportunities to think about identity, the purpose of connecting the ancient to the modern, the relationship between texts and the societies they come from, and the interpretive biases of scholars.
Prerequisites
No preparation necessary: just come in ready to read and talk! All texts will be read in English translation. Please note that this class will include academic and mature discussion of sexually explicit material.
In this class we'll read some Greek and Roman primary sources together, ranging from accounts of gender dysphoria to lesbian love poems to the stigma of being a bottom. We'll discuss what these texts can tell us about how the writers and the cultures they lived in thought about same-gender attraction and gender nonconformity. In the process we'll have opportunities to think about identity, the purpose of connecting the ancient to the modern, the relationship between texts and the societies they come from, and the interpretive biases of scholars.
Prerequisites
No preparation necessary: just come in ready to read and talk! All texts will be read in English translation. Please note that this class will include academic and mature discussion of sexually explicit material.
H13193: How to Survive a Public Faming
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Lilly Chin,
Tara Liu
"In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes" -- Andy Warhol, 1968
50 years later, we definitely see that Warhol was right with the heavy proliferation of short-lived Vine, TikTok and Instagram stars. But what is the actual lived experience of going viral? How does it compare with our understanding of traditional celebrity culture?
In this class, we're going to be discussing "fame ephemera" -- people who gain explosive meme appeal and are then quickly forgotten. We'll go over current debates in celebrity studies, use a case study from Jeopardy to analyze how fame works, and close with a discussion on celebrity culture in our own lives.
Prerequisites
Content warning: we will be discussing Internet bullying and harassment, which will include strong graphic language. This course will be more difficult than you might expect for a class about memes. I will be asking you to think deeply about Internet pop culture in ways that you might have only thought applied to books, poems, and other literature.
50 years later, we definitely see that Warhol was right with the heavy proliferation of short-lived Vine, TikTok and Instagram stars. But what is the actual lived experience of going viral? How does it compare with our understanding of traditional celebrity culture?
In this class, we're going to be discussing "fame ephemera" -- people who gain explosive meme appeal and are then quickly forgotten. We'll go over current debates in celebrity studies, use a case study from Jeopardy to analyze how fame works, and close with a discussion on celebrity culture in our own lives.
Prerequisites
Content warning: we will be discussing Internet bullying and harassment, which will include strong graphic language. This course will be more difficult than you might expect for a class about memes. I will be asking you to think deeply about Internet pop culture in ways that you might have only thought applied to books, poems, and other literature.
H13553: J-Horror: Dead Wet Girls & Monstrous Mothers
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jennifer Yoo
No Japanese horror or ghost film is complete without its haunting woman specter, dating back from as early as the time of Akira Kurosawa to as recent as this year's latest Sadako film. Join us and find out why the monstrous feminine has dominated J-Horror cinema, and why some of the most iconic women figures of the genre are the way they are.
H13189: Crash Course on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Hope Dargan
Why does the Israeli-Palestinian conflict come up in the news so often? What's going on in the Gaza strip and the West Bank? How did the conflict start? Will it end? Come learn and discuss these and other important questions!
Prerequisites
Commitment to respectful participation and discussion. Smiles welcome.
Prerequisites
Commitment to respectful participation and discussion. Smiles welcome.
H13684: The Art of Riddling
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shardul Chiplunkar,
Rujul Gandhi
You're in the palace of an Ancient and Powerful King, and the Master of Knowledge has just asked you an artful riddle to test your worth. You're smart: you deliver an impeccable answer in seconds. Of course, it is but courteous to return the exchange by posing a riddle of your own... oh. You don't know any. Now what?
It has to be challenging, but solvable. It has to be majestically poetic, but not cringy. Its lines should resound in the halls and minds of the palace and thrust an irresistibly fascinating mystery upon them.
Come learn the Art of Riddling.
It has to be challenging, but solvable. It has to be majestically poetic, but not cringy. Its lines should resound in the halls and minds of the palace and thrust an irresistibly fascinating mystery upon them.
Come learn the Art of Riddling.
H13355: Does God exist?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jeremy Freudberg,
Peter Klapes
In this discussion-based course, we will explore the different arguments regarding the existence of God.
H13655: Introduction in ci (詞), poetry in Song dynasty
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ting-Chun Lin
**Able to read and speak Chinese.**
Want to learn about the poetry in Song dynasty? We will be reading different poetries in Song, learn about its format, and talk about the stories of those poets.
Prerequisites
Able to read and speak Chinese. (We will provide pinyin.) (I'm sorry but this is the requirement)
Want to learn about the poetry in Song dynasty? We will be reading different poetries in Song, learn about its format, and talk about the stories of those poets.
Prerequisites
Able to read and speak Chinese. (We will provide pinyin.) (I'm sorry but this is the requirement)
H13543: We Are What We Speak: How We Make Language and Language Makes Us Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Paolo Adajar,
Kate Yuan
Interested at all about words, language, and how we communicate? In this class, we'll talk about ideas like the size of vocabularies, the history of words and languages themselves, and the interactions between language and culture. We'll have some interactive games and activities to learn more about how we understand and use language.
H13533: Omniscience and Free Will Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hizami Anuar,
Amena Khatun
Think you know everything? Then you might be omniscient (or maybe a little overconfident).
What is omniscience? What is free will? Can omniscience and free will coexist?
In this course, we’ll be discussing various definitions of omniscience and free will to find definitions that are compatible.
We’ll also discuss philosophical paradoxes and puzzles such as Newcomb’s Paradox and Kavka’s Toxin Puzzle in order to help shape our understanding of omniscience and free will.
What is omniscience? What is free will? Can omniscience and free will coexist?
In this course, we’ll be discussing various definitions of omniscience and free will to find definitions that are compatible.
We’ll also discuss philosophical paradoxes and puzzles such as Newcomb’s Paradox and Kavka’s Toxin Puzzle in order to help shape our understanding of omniscience and free will.
H13631: How to Sound Like an Expert
Difficulty: *
Sounding like an expert is a highly important part of all parts of life. In this course, you too can sound like an expert in all things, whether or not you actually are. Seriousness not included.
Prerequisites
Sense of humor Proficiency in everything
Prerequisites
Sense of humor Proficiency in everything
H13534: The Greater Good Game
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hizami Anuar,
Amena Khatun
Long ago, Blaise Pascal posited a wager that supposedly proved that, whether or not God exists, it is infinitely advantageous to believe that God does exist. Yet, a similar wager supposedly proves that it is infinitely advantageous to believe that God does not exist. So which wager is correct?
In this philosophy-based course, we’ll examine these wagers, and then explore the greater good and how it relates to the existence of God, heaven, and hell.
In this philosophy-based course, we’ll examine these wagers, and then explore the greater good and how it relates to the existence of God, heaven, and hell.
H13537: Sorites Paradox, and Related Thought Experiments Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hizami Anuar,
Amena Khatun
Suppose I have a heap of sand. If I take away a grain of sand, it’s still a heap. If I take away another grain of sand, it’s still a heap. So if I continue taking away grains of sand until there’s no more, do I still have a heap of sand?
The Sorites Paradox, also known as the heap problem, continues to puzzle scientists and philosophers alike. 100 degrees is hot. 99 degrees is hot. 98 degrees is hot. At what temperature does it stop being hot, and why?
Several thought experiments related to the heap problem will be discussed regarding topics such as shipbuilding, cyborgs, and unexpected executions.
The Sorites Paradox, also known as the heap problem, continues to puzzle scientists and philosophers alike. 100 degrees is hot. 99 degrees is hot. 98 degrees is hot. At what temperature does it stop being hot, and why?
Several thought experiments related to the heap problem will be discussed regarding topics such as shipbuilding, cyborgs, and unexpected executions.
H13645: How to Study Abroad without Dying
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Kelsey Becker
Ever wonder what it's like to live abroad? Learn the do's and don'ts of studying abroad including what to pack, what to expect, and how not to die.
H13266: Random Facts about Communist Countries
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Saranesh Prembabu
Did you know that Fidel Castro's favourite cow holds the world record in milk yield on a single day? That Burkina Faso vaccinated 2.5 million children in one week under Marxist rule? That an interview broadcast on Soviet TV revealed, with evidence, that Lenin was actually a mushroom?
Come learn about intriguing things that happened in the communist world that you'd never find in a history book!
This class does not endorse any political ideology, and won't be a comprehensive history lesson but just a bunch of miscellaneous facts. Since we're at MIT, we'll be particularly interested scientific/technical topics among others.
Prerequisites
None, but a standard knowledge of 20th century history/geography may make it more entertaining
Come learn about intriguing things that happened in the communist world that you'd never find in a history book!
This class does not endorse any political ideology, and won't be a comprehensive history lesson but just a bunch of miscellaneous facts. Since we're at MIT, we'll be particularly interested scientific/technical topics among others.
Prerequisites
None, but a standard knowledge of 20th century history/geography may make it more entertaining
H13436: The Apotheosis of Captain Cook Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Church,
Matt Yarnall
On the 17 of January, 1779, the sails of The Resolution peaked above the eastern horizon of Kealakekua bay, Hawaii. At her helm was James Cook, an industrious British explorer searching for the western route to Asia. At the time of Cook’s arrival, the Polynesian natives of Kealakekua were joyously assembled on the beach–in the midst of celebrating their annual Makahiki festival honoring the sea god Lono. When Cook landed, he was celebrated by the natives as the god Lono: he was draped in fine red fabrics (the color of Polynesian divinity); prostrated to and given sacrifices of fruit and roast pigs; and paraded around the island while the Hawaiians chanted “Lono, Lono, Lono!”
…Or at least, that’s how the story goes. In his book, The Apotheosis of Captain Cook, Gananath Obeyesekere rejected the position held by “every biographer and historian of Cook” that the Englishman was interpreted as a Polynesian God. Obeyesekere argued that the sources supporting the apotheosis are weak at best, and are entangled with gossip and myth. Obeyesekere’s skepticism of apotheosis sources is not unfounded; in a 1982 lecture at Princeton University, Polynesian Historian Marshall Salhins declared that the Hawaiian king was so distraught at the departure of Cook that: “By all accounts, British as well as Hawaiian, they told him such sad stories as the death of kings as to force him to sit upon the ground” (so that Cook could leave). Obeyesekere notes that these “accounts” are a blatant plagiarism of Shakespeare’s Richard II, and therefore cannot be legitimate: “For god’s sake, let us sit upon the ground/ And tell sad stories of the death of kings (Richard II, act III scene II).”
This course will examine the historiographic debate surrounding the Apotheosis of Captain cook. The main historiographic raised by the ‘Apotheosis question’ is how to elucidate the beliefs of native peoples in the absence of a substantial source archive. The Polynesians left no written records from 1779; discerning whether they actually understood Captain Cook as Lono presents a serious problem for Polynesian historians. By analyzing the discourse surrounding the ‘Apotheosis question,’ we can make larger statements about historical methodology, epistemological frameworks, and interpretation of an incomplete source record.
Prerequisites
No prior knowledge of Polynesian history or historiographic theory required. Dank memes are also welcome and always encouraged.
…Or at least, that’s how the story goes. In his book, The Apotheosis of Captain Cook, Gananath Obeyesekere rejected the position held by “every biographer and historian of Cook” that the Englishman was interpreted as a Polynesian God. Obeyesekere argued that the sources supporting the apotheosis are weak at best, and are entangled with gossip and myth. Obeyesekere’s skepticism of apotheosis sources is not unfounded; in a 1982 lecture at Princeton University, Polynesian Historian Marshall Salhins declared that the Hawaiian king was so distraught at the departure of Cook that: “By all accounts, British as well as Hawaiian, they told him such sad stories as the death of kings as to force him to sit upon the ground” (so that Cook could leave). Obeyesekere notes that these “accounts” are a blatant plagiarism of Shakespeare’s Richard II, and therefore cannot be legitimate: “For god’s sake, let us sit upon the ground/ And tell sad stories of the death of kings (Richard II, act III scene II).”
This course will examine the historiographic debate surrounding the Apotheosis of Captain cook. The main historiographic raised by the ‘Apotheosis question’ is how to elucidate the beliefs of native peoples in the absence of a substantial source archive. The Polynesians left no written records from 1779; discerning whether they actually understood Captain Cook as Lono presents a serious problem for Polynesian historians. By analyzing the discourse surrounding the ‘Apotheosis question,’ we can make larger statements about historical methodology, epistemological frameworks, and interpretation of an incomplete source record.
Prerequisites
No prior knowledge of Polynesian history or historiographic theory required. Dank memes are also welcome and always encouraged.
H13426: All Roads Lead to Rome
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jack Eastman,
Eric Wooten
The late Roman Republic was a hot mess of characters and outrageous stunts. Come see who was around then and why the Republic became the Empire. Can we get from Marius to Augustus in an hour? Who knows, but we'll try!
H13429: Intro to Marxism Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Julian Hernandez
In 1867, socialist revolutionary Karl Marx published the first volume of what would become Das Kapital; a foundational text in politics, economics, and philosophy that would have a drastic effect on history in the next century and become the most cited book in the social sciences published before 1950.
But what were Marx's real problems with capitalism? Do his warnings still hold water, or have they lost their relevance in the post-Cold War era? And what the heck is "historical materialism" anyways?
Join us as we analyze the main principles of Marxism in our classless Splash class!
But what were Marx's real problems with capitalism? Do his warnings still hold water, or have they lost their relevance in the post-Cold War era? And what the heck is "historical materialism" anyways?
Join us as we analyze the main principles of Marxism in our classless Splash class!
H13547: Neurodivergence
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Saranesh Prembabu
Neurological spectrum conditions, such as autism, Aspergers, etc. are growing more prevalent and well-represented in our society today. Come learn what these conditions are and what it is like to live with them, strengths and challenges facing the community, and how people on and off the spectrum can contribute to a neurodiverse world.
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
Lunch
L13679: 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.
L13678: 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
M13206: Invent Your Own Math Models (For Beginners)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Everardo Gonzalez,
Diego Monroy
Never been much of a math person? Want to know more than the talking heads on tv? Mathematics is bs, and this course will explain exactly why. This is a step-by-step introduction which should hopefully give you the skills to prove people wrong in arguments without just shouting them down.
M13382: Mathematical Modeling (In Brief)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kenneth Cox,
John Shackleton
How can we use math to make sense out of the world? In this class, we'll explore different techniques that data scientists use to model real-world scenarios, and we'll provide examples of these techniques in action. Specifically, we'll look at how we can use math to describe physical systems and disease transmission.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with using numbers, and have familiarity with some basic statistical concepts such as mean and range.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with using numbers, and have familiarity with some basic statistical concepts such as mean and range.
M13138: The Physics of Martial Arts
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Christopher Panebianco
This course aims to understand the principles of martial arts through the lens of physics and mathematics. The first half of the course will review basic concepts of physics and translate them into principles of martial arts. The second portion will be a hands-on martial arts class, where student can apply the principles they've learned in real self-defense techniques!
M13460: Bridges, Maps, and Networks: An Introduction to Graph Theory
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jessica Oehrlein
Graph theory is a relatively young area of mathematics, focused on studying structures that show the relationships among people, places, or objects. We'll talk about two of the first key questions in graph theory, the Königsberg bridge problem and the Four Color Theorem. We'll also explore some applications of graph theory, such as modeling social networks or the spread of information or disease.
Prerequisites
Comfort with using variables, reading algebraic expressions, and probability. It's helpful but not necessary to have seen proofs by induction and/or contradiction.
Prerequisites
Comfort with using variables, reading algebraic expressions, and probability. It's helpful but not necessary to have seen proofs by induction and/or contradiction.
M13584: Bayes Theorem and How It Changed Statistics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Yoshihiro Saito,
Evan Tey
Thomas Bayes, a British minister and statistician, presented a theorem in the 18th century that came to be named after him. This theorem paved the way for a completely new understanding of statistics. Now, "Bayesian thought" appears nearly everywhere from social science, to physics, to machine learning!
Prerequisites
Some exposure to probability would be nice.
Prerequisites
Some exposure to probability would be nice.
M13219: A Grand Tour of Rotations, Quaternions, The Hopf Fibration and Spin with a side dish of Lie Groups
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Benjamin Church,
Matt Yarnall
We will begin a fantastical journey into some of the most beautiful and useful geometric objects in modern mathematics, Lie groups, by asking the simple question: how do we represent rotations in 3D space. This question will lead us to define a strange algebraic object, the quaternions, investigate the mysterious topology of spheres living in four (and more) dimensions, marvel at a beautiful images of a sphere in dimension four decomposed into tori by the Hopf fibration, and finally discuss how these higher-dimensional geometric objects are, in fact, physically realized by spin in the strange world of quantum mechanics.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with complex numbers and matrices is a must. Knowing what a derivative is would also be helpful but is not required.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with complex numbers and matrices is a must. Knowing what a derivative is would also be helpful but is not required.
M13306: Introduction to diffusion and random walk: thanksgiving special
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Joey Gu,
Pedro de Souza
You cooked the perfect turkey last Thanksgiving. This year, you want it to be just as good, but the turkey you got is twice as heavy! How much longer should you cook it for, given the time it took to cook the smaller turkey last year? Protip: take this class to find out!
Diffusion is an intuitive phenomenon: in the absence of additional forces, stuff tends to move from where there is an abundance of it, to where there is a scarcity of it. Whether it concerns chemical species, thermal energy, or stock prices, diffusion underlies the understanding of innumerable science and engineering systems.
It is a particularly deep insight that diffusion arises purely from the stochastic motions of microscopic particles, which we can model mathematically using the random walk. We will use Microsoft Excel to investigate how a random walk can result in macroscopic diffusive spreading.
Scientists and engineers describe diffusion with Partial Differential Equations (PDEs), but we can already understand its important characteristics just using elementary algebra. In particular, we will discuss the “scaling” of diffusion processes: how does the time for diffusion depend on the dimensions of the physical domain of interest (e.g., this year’s turkey)?
Prerequisites
Algebra, e.g., plotting quadratic functions ($$f(x)=\frac{1}{2}x^2$$), using fractional powers $$8^{2/3}=?$$; some knowledge of working with formulae in Excel recommended
Diffusion is an intuitive phenomenon: in the absence of additional forces, stuff tends to move from where there is an abundance of it, to where there is a scarcity of it. Whether it concerns chemical species, thermal energy, or stock prices, diffusion underlies the understanding of innumerable science and engineering systems.
It is a particularly deep insight that diffusion arises purely from the stochastic motions of microscopic particles, which we can model mathematically using the random walk. We will use Microsoft Excel to investigate how a random walk can result in macroscopic diffusive spreading.
Scientists and engineers describe diffusion with Partial Differential Equations (PDEs), but we can already understand its important characteristics just using elementary algebra. In particular, we will discuss the “scaling” of diffusion processes: how does the time for diffusion depend on the dimensions of the physical domain of interest (e.g., this year’s turkey)?
Prerequisites
Algebra, e.g., plotting quadratic functions ($$f(x)=\frac{1}{2}x^2$$), using fractional powers $$8^{2/3}=?$$; some knowledge of working with formulae in Excel recommended
M13501: What is Topology?
Difficulty: ***
You've probably heard that topology is the branch of math where "you can't tell a coffee cup and donut apart". We'll start with a short discussion of different infinities, define homeomorphism (a tool for "telling things apart") and define homotopy equivalence (a more complicated tool for "telling things apart"). We'll be using quite a few symbols, but I'll define them as we go and you won't need to understand them to understand the geometric idea.
Prerequisites
Technically, none. But being comfortable with math is probably helpful.
Prerequisites
Technically, none. But being comfortable with math is probably helpful.
M13472: Network Models: Edgy Math
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Joseph Noszek
With the Internet, transportation, power grids, and more, the world is full of networks. They can get crazy, but there's a math for that and it's quite fun (at least in my opinion). Come jump into the world of networks.
M13162: Advanced Integration Techniques Part 1
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ahaan Rungta,
Jeffery Yu
Do you know how to do the following integrals?
$$\int_0^\infty x^{2019}e^{-2020x} dx$$
$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty x^2 e^{-x^2} dx$$
$$\int_0^1 x^{2019} (1-x)^{2020} dx$$
By the end of this class you'll know how to do these integrals and much more very quickly! We'll discuss gamma and beta functions and their applications to statistics and physics.
Note that parts 1 and 2 of Advanced Integration Techniques cover different material and are independent of each other. You can take one without the other, or take both together.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with taking derivatives and basic integrals involving exponential functions such as $$\int_0^\infty e^{-x} dx$$
$$\int_0^\infty x^{2019}e^{-2020x} dx$$
$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty x^2 e^{-x^2} dx$$
$$\int_0^1 x^{2019} (1-x)^{2020} dx$$
By the end of this class you'll know how to do these integrals and much more very quickly! We'll discuss gamma and beta functions and their applications to statistics and physics.
Note that parts 1 and 2 of Advanced Integration Techniques cover different material and are independent of each other. You can take one without the other, or take both together.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with taking derivatives and basic integrals involving exponential functions such as $$\int_0^\infty e^{-x} dx$$
M13263: Nonstandard analysis and the hyperreal numbers
Difficulty: **
Do priggish mathematicians shame you for writing down "handwavy" expressions like $$dy=f'(x)\, dx$$ ? Say no more. With the hyperreal numbers, you can use infinitesimals to do your calculus just like Newton and Leibniz in the days of yore.
Warning: there will be numbers $$\circledcirc>0$$ smaller than any positive real and $$\omega$$ bigger than any positive integer.
Prerequisites
You'll appreciate this course more if you already know what limits and derivatives are.
Warning: there will be numbers $$\circledcirc>0$$ smaller than any positive real and $$\omega$$ bigger than any positive integer.
Prerequisites
You'll appreciate this course more if you already know what limits and derivatives are.
M13393: What's a field? Basic Algebraic Structures
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alex Dehnert,
Helen Read
What's a field and why are they so nice? We'll discuss that properties that define a field, and go over some examples and nonexamples.
(Fields are important in the field of algebra and are sets where addition/subtraction/mult/division work as you expect)
Prerequisites
Basic high school algebra, knowledge of complex numbers is helpful but not necessary
(Fields are important in the field of algebra and are sets where addition/subtraction/mult/division work as you expect)
Prerequisites
Basic high school algebra, knowledge of complex numbers is helpful but not necessary
M13164: Advanced Integration Techniques Part 2
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ahaan Rungta,
Jeffery Yu
Do you know how to do the following integrals:
$$\int_0^1 \frac{x^{2019}-1}{\log x} dx$$,
$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{\sin x}{x} dx$$,
$$\int_0^{\pi/2} \frac{1}{1+\sin x} dx$$?
By the end of this class you'll know how to do these integrals and much more! We'll discuss cool tricks like the Feynman technique and Weierstrass substitution.
Note that parts 1 and 2 of Advanced Integration Techniques cover different material and are independent of each other. In particular, Part 1 is not required for Part 2. You can take one without the other, or take both together.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable taking derivatives and basic integrals, including logarithms and trig functions.
$$\int_0^1 \frac{x^{2019}-1}{\log x} dx$$,
$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{\sin x}{x} dx$$,
$$\int_0^{\pi/2} \frac{1}{1+\sin x} dx$$?
By the end of this class you'll know how to do these integrals and much more! We'll discuss cool tricks like the Feynman technique and Weierstrass substitution.
Note that parts 1 and 2 of Advanced Integration Techniques cover different material and are independent of each other. In particular, Part 1 is not required for Part 2. You can take one without the other, or take both together.
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable taking derivatives and basic integrals, including logarithms and trig functions.
M13637: Games of Math
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Josh Alman,
Dylan McKay
You might think that you don't need to know any math in order to beat your friends at games. But, you're wrong! Come learn everything you need to know to win at every game.
M13665: Introduction to Cryptology
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Matthew Benet,
Alison Pascale
This course is designed to give a brief introduction to the the study of codes, and the art of writing and solving them. This class will move chronologically through the history of cryptology: we will start around 500 BCE with the simple Atbash cipher and other monolphabetic substitutions, touch upon the beginnings of steganography, and work our way through the Renaissance and the "Indecipherable Cipher".
The focus will be on learning the functionality of each cipher, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
There will be code-breaking in this class.
Prerequisites
Algebra I (a basic understanding of multiplication and exponents is needed)
The focus will be on learning the functionality of each cipher, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
There will be code-breaking in this class.
Prerequisites
Algebra I (a basic understanding of multiplication and exponents is needed)
M13639: Mathematics of Doodling
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Sualeh Asif,
Dylan Pentland
Draw a shape on your piece of paper, and then draw a curve tightly around it, as close as you can. After you’ve completed the loop, do it again. And again. And again. Does the shape get more circular, and how? We'll answer this and then extend to more topics in geometry, topology, and much, much more!
(This is a class based off a paper of the same name.)
Prerequisites
Willing to learn and have fun
(This is a class based off a paper of the same name.)
Prerequisites
Willing to learn and have fun
M13305: Large Numbers
Difficulty: **
What's the difference between a millionaire and a billionaire? Which is bigger, $$1.1^{1.1^{100}}$$ or $$100^{100}$$? Can we name a number that's so big that we can't understand it? In this class, we'll head down the rabbit hole of describing larger and larger numbers.
Prerequisites
Basic properties of exponents and logarithms.
Prerequisites
Basic properties of exponents and logarithms.
M13180: Elliptic Curves, Complex Tori, and maybe a few l-adic Galois Representations
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Benjamin Church,
Matt Yarnall
Elliptic curves are a class of cubic curves (defined by a cubic polynomial in two variables) with deeply surprising and beautiful properties. The most surprising fact about elliptic curves is that their points naturally form a group structure under some geometric operation. Elliptic curves show up everywhere in mathematics from tori defined over the complex numbers to generating abelian extensions of number fields. Elliptic curves also feature prominently in the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture, one of the millenium prize problems, and Andrew Wiles' proof of Fermat's last theorem. In this class we will develop the fundamental results about elliptic curves such as the Mordell-Weil theorem and Weierstrass function theory before diving head-first into some more advanced territory mentioned above. This class will be a meandering relentless rollercoaster through some of the most beautiful connections in modern mathematics rather than a reasonably-paced, well-structured, and rigorous development of a topic. Expect proofs to be "sketched", definitions to be hand waved, and lots of inane terminology to be used. That said, expect to come away with an broader awareness of open problems in mathematics, a much richer appreciation of the interplay between geometry and algebra, and a healthy respect for cubic polynomials in two variables.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with the basic examples of groups and fields is a must (nothing fancy is needed but you should be able to give a few examples of groups and fields which appear "in the wild." If you're not sure, take a look at the "basic concepts" and "examples and applications" tabs on the wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_(mathematics) I will review any the of complex analysis we need but you should know what it means for a function to have a complex derivative. Basically know what it means if I say a function is "holomorphic" or "meromorphic" Also take 30 minutes to ponder Liouville's theorem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liouville%27s_theorem_(complex_analysis) before class. This is not strictly necessary since I will review / prove it but the result is sufficiently powerful and counter-intuitive that it's best to let it sink in a bit before we start sledgehammering every problem in sight with it! Mostly, be prepared to be drenched with crazy amounts of math.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with the basic examples of groups and fields is a must (nothing fancy is needed but you should be able to give a few examples of groups and fields which appear "in the wild." If you're not sure, take a look at the "basic concepts" and "examples and applications" tabs on the wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_(mathematics) I will review any the of complex analysis we need but you should know what it means for a function to have a complex derivative. Basically know what it means if I say a function is "holomorphic" or "meromorphic" Also take 30 minutes to ponder Liouville's theorem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liouville%27s_theorem_(complex_analysis) before class. This is not strictly necessary since I will review / prove it but the result is sufficiently powerful and counter-intuitive that it's best to let it sink in a bit before we start sledgehammering every problem in sight with it! Mostly, be prepared to be drenched with crazy amounts of math.
M13656: Solving Equations with Pictures!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Edward Jin,
Pranav Krishna
Some equations/systems of equations, especially in competition math, are more effectively solved with drawing pictures - which may be graphs, or geometrical representations. We will go over a few problems from past math competitions and solve them with pictures!
Prerequisites
Decent-ish background in high school math.
Prerequisites
Decent-ish background in high school math.
M13459: How to (Mathematically) Guard an Art Gallery
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jessica Oehrlein
Suppose you have a polygonal art gallery with $$n$$ sides that you want to guard with 360-degree cameras at some of the polygon's vertices. What is the least number of cameras you could use? This is the classic art gallery problem, and it uses a lot of ideas from the mathematical field of graph theory. We'll cover some basic graph theory concepts and then tackle the art gallery problem!
Prerequisites
Comfort with use of variables.
Prerequisites
Comfort with use of variables.
M13293: Intro to Trading
Difficulty: **
What is a market? If you're interested in math, probability, or finance, come for a crash course in how markets work, and then test this knowledge by playing a fun estimation game!
M13593: Simple Models of Computation
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Anthony Grebe,
Adam Hesterberg
Almost all programming languages are equally powerful—anything one of them can do, they all can. We’ll talk about two less powerful models of computation—ones that can’t even, say, tell whether two numbers are equal. They’ll nevertheless save the day if you have to search through 200MB of emails looking for something formatted like an address.
This is a math class, not a programming one—we’ll talk about clever proofs for what those models of computation can and can’t do.
This is a math class, not a programming one—we’ll talk about clever proofs for what those models of computation can and can’t do.
M13654: Fermat's Last Theorem
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
James Lin,
Carl Schildkraut
This course introduces the infamous Fermat's Last Theorem (FLT), which remained unsolved for over 350 years despite its popularity among mathematicians. FLT claims that there are no nontrivial solutions to the equation $$x^n+y^n=z^n$$ for $$n\ge 3$$. We begin by covering the historical progress on special cases of $$n$$. We finish by introducing the concept of elliptic curves, and briefly covering the machinery that led to Andrew Wiles' proof of FLT in 1994.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of proofs and abstract algebra is helpful, but anyone with a strong math background should be able to follow.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of proofs and abstract algebra is helpful, but anyone with a strong math background should be able to follow.
M13567: Which Numbers Have Short Descriptions?
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Josh Alman,
Dylan McKay
We will be exploring the question "which numbers have short descriptions?"
To look at this question, we will first talk about what this means. For example, 123 has a short description because it has few digits. But, 10^100 has a short description even though it has many digits!
One way we like to try to give really short descriptions of numbers is by writing computer programs which write these numbers for us! After talking about this, we will discuss some of the cool things we can say about numbers and computer programs that write them.
Prerequisites
Students should be enthusiastic about Math or Computer Science, but no experience with programming or upper level Math is required.
To look at this question, we will first talk about what this means. For example, 123 has a short description because it has few digits. But, 10^100 has a short description even though it has many digits!
One way we like to try to give really short descriptions of numbers is by writing computer programs which write these numbers for us! After talking about this, we will discuss some of the cool things we can say about numbers and computer programs that write them.
Prerequisites
Students should be enthusiastic about Math or Computer Science, but no experience with programming or upper level Math is required.
M13673: Brain teasers, problem solving and logic puzzles!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
John Flynn,
Alex Weiler
Want to improve your problem-solving abilities with fun, dynamic problems? We will be working on classics like prisoner’s dilemma and the hat problems as well as logic puzzles and game theory. Spend a few hours learning to love and discover the joy of problem solving and improving your lateral thinking.
Warning: Once you enter the class, anything is fair game. Just like real-world problems, you don’t know exactly what you’ll need to do beforehand -- the most important thing you take with you is how you approach things. Come ready to be engaged and stretch your brain.
Prerequisites
Calculus preferred but not required
Warning: Once you enter the class, anything is fair game. Just like real-world problems, you don’t know exactly what you’ll need to do beforehand -- the most important thing you take with you is how you approach things. Come ready to be engaged and stretch your brain.
Prerequisites
Calculus preferred but not required
M13336: Gadgets: Why Games are Hard
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Joshua Ani,
Alex Dehnert
Want to know why puzzles and videogames have no easy way to solve them? We'll look at their basic components (gadgets) and make a maze of tunnels to show how hard they can get. There will be physical models of those gadgets. We'll start by introducing some canonical hard problems, then we'll show that mazes made of certain gadgets are hard to solve, and finally, we'll prove some games hard.
M13232: Quirky Quarternions: An intro to non-commutative algebra
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Marta Manzin,
Lizhou Sha
$$ab = ba$$: You may have learned about this seemingly universal truth in grade school. However, in this class, we'll throw the commutative law of multiplication out of the window, and go back to the drawing boards to define an algebra of numbers with three imaginary units.
We will begin the class with a short introduction of complex numbers, their geometric representation as points on the complex plane, and the geometric meaning of their multiplication. We will then introduce the fundamental multiplication law for quaternions, $$i^2 = j^2 = k^2 = ijk = -1$$, and show how everything about quaternions falls into place following this formula. You will also learn a few party-twister tricks that work thanks to quaternion algebra.
Prerequisites
Geometry, Algebra 2 and trigonometry. Preliminary knowledge of complex numbers and vector dot and cross products is a plus, but not needed.
We will begin the class with a short introduction of complex numbers, their geometric representation as points on the complex plane, and the geometric meaning of their multiplication. We will then introduce the fundamental multiplication law for quaternions, $$i^2 = j^2 = k^2 = ijk = -1$$, and show how everything about quaternions falls into place following this formula. You will also learn a few party-twister tricks that work thanks to quaternion algebra.
Prerequisites
Geometry, Algebra 2 and trigonometry. Preliminary knowledge of complex numbers and vector dot and cross products is a plus, but not needed.
M13492: Estimation Markets
Difficulty: *
Learn about financial markets while practicing your Fermi estimation skills in this classic game! Open to anyone with interest in math, science, or finance. Quick thinking and awareness of other players are of utmost importance.
M13225: Lanchester War Model
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shengtong Zhang
Military fans often argue about the commanding skills of various armies and generals. Did the Soviets win through tactics, or through shear manpower? How did Rommel compare to Eisenhower in terms of military strategy? We will attempt to answer these problems from a mathematical point of view.
Prerequisites
Basic Calculus will be helpful, but not required.
Prerequisites
Basic Calculus will be helpful, but not required.
M13286: The Art of Integration
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Edward Jin,
Sanjay Raman
While integration may seem like a rote task, there is actually a lot of beauty and structure we can exploit to evaluate seemingly impossible integrals.
This course will discuss these methods of (definite) integration, and apply them to some tough but elaborate integrals compiled from math competitions and integration bees. Here is a brief sampling of the integrals we will learn how to solve in this course:
$$\int_0^{\pi/2} \ln \tan x\,dx$$
$$\int_0^\infty \frac{1}{1+x^2}\cdot \frac{1}{1+x^e}\,dx$$
Prerequisites
AP Calculus or sufficient experience with integration. Experience with series expansions is helpful but not required.
This course will discuss these methods of (definite) integration, and apply them to some tough but elaborate integrals compiled from math competitions and integration bees. Here is a brief sampling of the integrals we will learn how to solve in this course:
$$\int_0^{\pi/2} \ln \tan x\,dx$$
$$\int_0^\infty \frac{1}{1+x^2}\cdot \frac{1}{1+x^e}\,dx$$
Prerequisites
AP Calculus or sufficient experience with integration. Experience with series expansions is helpful but not required.
M13362: Proof Marathon
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hahn Lheem,
Dylan Liu
There are infinitely many primes of the form $$4k+3$$. There exists irrational numbers $$x$$ and $$y$$ such that $$x^y$$ is rational. What do these statements have in common? Nothing much, besides they're 1) both related to math, and 2) they're both true. We'll be proving statements like these, and much more, in one cute, chaotic hour!
Prerequisites
A very basic understanding of how math proofs work.
Prerequisites
A very basic understanding of how math proofs work.
M13244: What are the odds...? Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hahn Lheem,
Amber Li
There is a Polish village that hasn't had a male baby in nearly 10 years. Okay sure, they've only had 12 babies total in the past decade ... but still, doesn't something seem off? Is this some biological anomaly? Does Poland just have weird environmental factors?
Using probability, we'll explain why this Polish village, as well as other weird phenomena, is not so abnormal after all. Come for a good time!
Using probability, we'll explain why this Polish village, as well as other weird phenomena, is not so abnormal after all. Come for a good time!
M13633: The Mathematics of Teaching Computers to Play Video Games
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
John Raisbeck
This class is about a type of Machine Learning called Reinforcement Learning, which is the part of computer science which studies methods for teaching computers to play video games, drive cars, and which is considered by many interested in artificial intelligence to be the future of the field.
We will begin by discussing the core concepts of machine learning itself, objective functions, gradients, and function approximators, before moving on to more specialized topics including neural networks (bots), MDPs (games), and reward functions (score) and key concepts in modern approaches to the problems of Reinforcement Learning. If there is extra time at the end, I may talk about whether or not I think AI is possible, and the current state of the technology.
**Please note that this class will not contain any programming. It is about the theory and the methods, but not the practice, of Reinforcement Learning!
I am a recent graduate in mathematics doing research in the field, so expect a mathematical perspective on things. I won't be talking a lot about languages or packages (my team uses python and pyTorch). Instead, the class will be about the concepts that underpin the optimization algorithms that researchers use to teach computers complicated tasks.
Prerequisites
Understanding what a derivative is, what a video game is, and having heard of MNIST will all help, but none of these are necessary.
We will begin by discussing the core concepts of machine learning itself, objective functions, gradients, and function approximators, before moving on to more specialized topics including neural networks (bots), MDPs (games), and reward functions (score) and key concepts in modern approaches to the problems of Reinforcement Learning. If there is extra time at the end, I may talk about whether or not I think AI is possible, and the current state of the technology.
**Please note that this class will not contain any programming. It is about the theory and the methods, but not the practice, of Reinforcement Learning!
I am a recent graduate in mathematics doing research in the field, so expect a mathematical perspective on things. I won't be talking a lot about languages or packages (my team uses python and pyTorch). Instead, the class will be about the concepts that underpin the optimization algorithms that researchers use to teach computers complicated tasks.
Prerequisites
Understanding what a derivative is, what a video game is, and having heard of MNIST will all help, but none of these are necessary.
M13220: A Headfirst Dive Into "Mathematical Logic"
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Benjamin Church,
Matt Yarnall
The meaning of term "Mathematical Logic" is fairly non-trivial. Mathematical logic is, on the one hand, the study of the logic of mathematics rigorizing the notions of "proof" and "example" in the framework of formal logic. But Mathematical logic is also the application of mathematical methods to logic using tools such as induction and set theory to proof meta-theorems about logic. It is even the application of logic to solving (somewhat) concrete math problems. In this course we will discuss all these flavors of mathematical logic as we introduce the basic concepts of completeness, consistency, satisfiability, and categoricity, discuss foundational results linking model theory (the study of examples) to proof theory (the study of formal proofs), then investigate the limitations of first-order logic, and finally prove Godel's momentous incompleteness theorem of first-order arithmetic. On the way, we will naturally develop foundational ideas about the theory of computation and how decidability and incompleteness are intricately linked. Time permitting, we will discuss applications of mathematical logic to problems in algebraic geometry such as the Ax-Grothendieck theorem and Lefschetz principle.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites. However, this course will move very quickly and present a lot of highly abstract ideas so be prepared.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites. However, this course will move very quickly and present a lot of highly abstract ideas so be prepared.
M13601: 4 points, 2 distances
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Zawad Chowdhury
How many ways can you put four points on the plane so that they only have 2 distinct distances between them? Let's find out!
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with shapes and points (but no geometry required beyond knowing what a quadrilateral is).
Prerequisites
You should be comfortable with shapes and points (but no geometry required beyond knowing what a quadrilateral is).
M13674: Brain teasers, problem solving and logic puzzles! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
John Flynn,
Alex Weiler
Want to improve your problem-solving abilities with fun, dynamic problems? We will be working on classics like prisoner’s dilemma and the hat problems as well as logic puzzles and
game theory. Too often math and logic in high school suffers from rote memorization and the simple application of equations. Spend a few hours learning to love and discover the joy of problem solving and improving your lateral thinking.
Warning: Once you enter the class, anything is fair game. Just like real-world problems, you don’t know exactly what you’ll need to do beforehand -- the most important thing you take with you is how you approach things. Come ready to be engaged and stretch your brain.
Don’t worry if you don’t have lots of experience with logic puzzles / problem solving, this is not designed to be a gathering of experts. If this class sounds interesting at all, you will enjoy it, it’s not a trap…
Prerequisites
Pre-calc
game theory. Too often math and logic in high school suffers from rote memorization and the simple application of equations. Spend a few hours learning to love and discover the joy of problem solving and improving your lateral thinking.
Warning: Once you enter the class, anything is fair game. Just like real-world problems, you don’t know exactly what you’ll need to do beforehand -- the most important thing you take with you is how you approach things. Come ready to be engaged and stretch your brain.
Don’t worry if you don’t have lots of experience with logic puzzles / problem solving, this is not designed to be a gathering of experts. If this class sounds interesting at all, you will enjoy it, it’s not a trap…
Prerequisites
Pre-calc
M13236: (Incorrect) Proofs
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ivy Mao,
Hanna Yang
Let's prove that all obtuse angles are right, that all people are the same height, all natural numbers can be described in 14 words or less ... and more!
(ps... we will then learn why all obtuse angles are not right, that all people are not the same height, and that not all numbers can be described in 14 words...)
Prerequisites
some knowledge of induction + some mathematical principles would be helpful -- that being said, if you know why the proofs I listed above are incorrect, you probably won't get too much out of this class.
(ps... we will then learn why all obtuse angles are not right, that all people are not the same height, and that not all numbers can be described in 14 words...)
Prerequisites
some knowledge of induction + some mathematical principles would be helpful -- that being said, if you know why the proofs I listed above are incorrect, you probably won't get too much out of this class.
M13135: The Mathematics of Music Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shardul Chiplunkar,
Andrew Lin
Music theory, in our eyes, is a way to understand the structure of music in a totally new way. Come to this class to learn why (secretly) all pianos are out of tune, why musicians care so much about "fifths" and "fourths" and "octaves," why a violin and a flute playing the same note sound different, and some other cool tricks musicians play behind-the-scenes!
Prerequisites
Nothing formal, but the class will be more fun if you (for example) know what an octave and a perfect fifth are.
Prerequisites
Nothing formal, but the class will be more fun if you (for example) know what an octave and a perfect fifth are.
M13251: Computability Theory
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jackie Bredenberg,
Della Hendrickson
Computers can do a lot of things. If you've ever programmed, you might think you can theoretically write a program that does anything. But it turns out there are things you can't program, no matter how clever you are! In this class, we'll see examples of such things and proofs of why they can't be computed.
M13476: Mathematicians Are Really Bad at Naming Things
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Zachary Steinberg
Mathematicians have a PR problem: they study a lot of different awesome things, but so many of those things have absolutely horrible names. Sometimes they’re metaphors that break down when translated. Sometimes they just don’t make any sense. And sometimes, they’re even the same name as something that does make sense. Come learn about some interesting areas of math you might not have heard of!
Prerequisites
None! Don't tell anyone, but this is actually a sneaky introduction to some cool areas of math that they usually don't tell you about in high school!
Prerequisites
None! Don't tell anyone, but this is actually a sneaky introduction to some cool areas of math that they usually don't tell you about in high school!
M13160: Calculating Pi With Things
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Haneul Shin,
Wayne Zhao
How do you calculate pi? The boring way is to measure around a circle and divide by its diameter. But pi is everywhere, from river lengths to the ESP logo to random integers. We'll calculate pi in lots of different ways for class.
Prerequisites
General math knowledge will be helpful, but not strictly necessary.
Prerequisites
General math knowledge will be helpful, but not strictly necessary.
M13573: The Mathematics of Origami
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Naveen Venkat
Learn about the hidden mathematics of the art of paper-folding, and walk out with a cool origami model that you made yourself!
M13264: kick people's a$$es at pool Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Christopher Hillenbrand,
Rona Wang
after this class, you'll beat all your friends at pool (as long as you bring your protractor)
Prerequisites
a good (or at least okay) attitude
Prerequisites
a good (or at least okay) attitude
M13641: Infinity Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Josh Alman,
Dylan McKay
Is infinity a number? Can I take infinitely many steps toward my destination and never get there? Are some infinities bigger than others? Come learn about the powerful and confusing nature of infinity!
M13300: A Proof of the Hook Length Formula
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jeffery Li,
Tristan Shin
We will introduce the idea of a partition and corresponding Young tableaux. We will then prove a celebrated theorem about counting standard Young tableaux. If time permits, we will discuss more about partitions.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of probability is required.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of probability is required.
M13484: How To Think About Four Dimensions, and Beyond Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Zachary Steinberg
Thinking about four dimensions may sound scary, but it’s actually surprisingly simple. You’re probably used to graphing points using two coordinates, but what happens when those coordinates are circles instead of numbers? That simple question leads to a surprisingly flexible way to think about spaces our three-dimensional brains can’t imagine.
Along the way, we’ll answer some questions. How do mathematicians think about four dimensions? Isn’t the fourth dimension time? If so, how do we distinguish between possible universes? What’s a “manifold” and why do mathematicians love them so much? Why is tying knots impossible in four dimensions? Why can’t you glue a piece of paper into an origami Klein bottle? Come find out!
By the power of 𝟛 𝔻 𝕘 𝕣 𝕒 𝕡 𝕙 𝕚 𝕔 𝕤, come learn how to think about dimensions beyond our imagination – visually!
Prerequisites
If you know what points, planes, and spheres are, you're good. Bring with you a love of cool visuals. Calculus might let you get more out of the class, but you don't need it!
Along the way, we’ll answer some questions. How do mathematicians think about four dimensions? Isn’t the fourth dimension time? If so, how do we distinguish between possible universes? What’s a “manifold” and why do mathematicians love them so much? Why is tying knots impossible in four dimensions? Why can’t you glue a piece of paper into an origami Klein bottle? Come find out!
By the power of 𝟛 𝔻 𝕘 𝕣 𝕒 𝕡 𝕙 𝕚 𝕔 𝕤, come learn how to think about dimensions beyond our imagination – visually!
Prerequisites
If you know what points, planes, and spheres are, you're good. Bring with you a love of cool visuals. Calculus might let you get more out of the class, but you don't need it!
M13587: Demystifying Cryptography Full!
Difficulty: **
"Oh, crypto? I know a lot about bitcoin!"
You've heard about crypto everywhere in the news, but behind all the bait, there's actually some very beautiful, clever mathematics that goes into engineering the systems that keep our world running securely.
We'll start with a brief discussion of classical cryptography (2000 BC-1950 AD), where we talk about various ciphers and puzzle about how to crack them. In the second half, we'll talk about the modern model of cryptographic systems in the computer era, including secure hash functions and pseudorandom number generators, and we'll culminate in a discussion of the RSA cryptosystem.
Prerequisites
Fundamental background of number theory (e.g. modular arithmetic) may be useful but by no means required.
You've heard about crypto everywhere in the news, but behind all the bait, there's actually some very beautiful, clever mathematics that goes into engineering the systems that keep our world running securely.
We'll start with a brief discussion of classical cryptography (2000 BC-1950 AD), where we talk about various ciphers and puzzle about how to crack them. In the second half, we'll talk about the modern model of cryptographic systems in the computer era, including secure hash functions and pseudorandom number generators, and we'll culminate in a discussion of the RSA cryptosystem.
Prerequisites
Fundamental background of number theory (e.g. modular arithmetic) may be useful but by no means required.
M13413: Splitting Cake with Sperner's Lemma
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Eryn Gillam,
Nelson Niu
You and your friends have attained a large, multi-flavored cake. You would all like to eat some of that cake, but you each have slightly different preferences about what part of the cake you want. Some of you love the coconut shavings; some will avoid the chocolate icing at all costs. The large scoop of ice cream in the corner is particularly popular. Is there a way to split up the cake fairly amongst yourselves—without losing any friends in the process?
It turns out there is, and we can prove it! All it takes is a cute little theorem about coloring points in triangles called Sperner's Lemma. In fact, not only does our theorem tells us that a fair division exists, it can even tell us exactly how—plus or minus a sprinkle. Come see how it all works here!
Prerequisites
Some experience with proofs is recommended; you should, at the very least, know how to prove a statement by induction. It would also help to know what the graph of $$ x + y + z = 1 $$ looks like.
It turns out there is, and we can prove it! All it takes is a cute little theorem about coloring points in triangles called Sperner's Lemma. In fact, not only does our theorem tells us that a fair division exists, it can even tell us exactly how—plus or minus a sprinkle. Come see how it all works here!
Prerequisites
Some experience with proofs is recommended; you should, at the very least, know how to prove a statement by induction. It would also help to know what the graph of $$ x + y + z = 1 $$ looks like.
M13644: Mathematical Art Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jane Sieving
Do you like pretty graphs and fractals and want to know why they do neat things?
Do you love math and/or art and want to generate a bunch of math-y art to put on your wall?
Do you want to like math, but feel like it's usually too stressful, fast-paced, or intimidating?
Am I going to use the words "math" and "art" a painful number of times?
Come make art with math, while using the art to figure out how the math works!
This class will consist of playing with visualization/graphing software to make pretty images with math, learning how equations give rise to interesting patterns, and using this knowledge to make even cooler things. We'll talk about things like matrices, parametric curves, and recursion, but whether or not you've learned about those before, I bet you never took time in math class to make art with them.
(If nothing else, I promise you'll leave with a cool phone wallpaper.)
Do you love math and/or art and want to generate a bunch of math-y art to put on your wall?
Do you want to like math, but feel like it's usually too stressful, fast-paced, or intimidating?
Am I going to use the words "math" and "art" a painful number of times?
Come make art with math, while using the art to figure out how the math works!
This class will consist of playing with visualization/graphing software to make pretty images with math, learning how equations give rise to interesting patterns, and using this knowledge to make even cooler things. We'll talk about things like matrices, parametric curves, and recursion, but whether or not you've learned about those before, I bet you never took time in math class to make art with them.
(If nothing else, I promise you'll leave with a cool phone wallpaper.)
M13448: Catalan Numbers
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Milan Haiman,
Carl Schildkraut
How many ways can we write a valid sequence of $$2n$$ parenthesis? How many rooted binary trees are there on $$n$$ vertices? How many up-right paths from $$(0,0)$$ to $$(n,n)$$ stay below the line $$y=x$$?
In this class, we will explain what these questions mean and why they are all answered by a sequence called the Catalan Numbers.
In this class, we will explain what these questions mean and why they are all answered by a sequence called the Catalan Numbers.
M13390: Complex Analysis (and a theorem that seems too good to be true)
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Andy Tockman,
Brian Xiao
You may have heard of complex numbers before, but first we'll go over some history and how complex derivatives, integrals, and series work so that you can get a better understanding of them.
Then, we'll talk about a theorem that makes complex integration seem ridiculously easy and makes you wonder if it can even be that simple. (We'll also see how you can apply it to evaluate real integrals that you probably wouldn't be able to compute otherwise.)
We may take a brief excursion into the Mandelbrot set if there's time.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites: Single variable calculus. No prior exposure to complex numbers required!
Then, we'll talk about a theorem that makes complex integration seem ridiculously easy and makes you wonder if it can even be that simple. (We'll also see how you can apply it to evaluate real integrals that you probably wouldn't be able to compute otherwise.)
We may take a brief excursion into the Mandelbrot set if there's time.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites: Single variable calculus. No prior exposure to complex numbers required!
M13380: Counting Symmetries with Group Actions
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Chase Vogeli,
anlong chua
How many ways can you arrange colored beads on a necklace? We'll attack this problem and similar problems using group theory, which is the mathematical language that describes the concept of symmetry. Specifically, we introduce Burnside's Lemma, a tool that lets us count configurations of geometric figures that are preserved under symmetry.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of geometry (polygons, angles, etc.)
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of geometry (polygons, angles, etc.)
M13235: Covering Spaces
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Sualeh Asif,
Dylan Pentland
This class is about topology. We will be focusing on one particularly nice aspect called covering spaces. We will mostly talk about how to classify covering spaces of a given space $$X$$ by defining and understanding how the fundamental group $$\pi_1(X)$$ works.
Prerequisites
Experience with proofs is required. It is very helpful to know what a group and what a topology is, but not required.
Prerequisites
Experience with proofs is required. It is very helpful to know what a group and what a topology is, but not required.
M13406: LIMBer Linkages
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jinger Chong,
Anqi Li
Have you ever watched videos on the Strandbeest – Dutch for “beach beasts” (what a tongue-twister!) – and wondered how they worked? Or have you ever sat in a car on a rainy day and pondered the very deep question of how windshield wipers operate? If your answer to any of the previous questions is yes, then this class is for you!
In this class, we would be exploring what are known as linkages – a collection of bars and joints that can convert one type of motion to another. As mentioned, linkages and their applications are ubiquitous: from our limbs to bicycles to pliers, just to give some examples. What is unintuitive and interesting about linkages is that while most motors produce rotational motion, we can somehow cleverly use linkages to convert these rotations to up-and-down or side-to-side motion.
We will be analyzing planar linkages such as the scissor lift linkage, Hoeken linkage, Chebyshev linkage, and Peaucellier–Lipkin linkage using vectors and projective geometry. Afterwards, we will look into Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests and the main mechanism behind each leg. We will end off with a hands-on activity: building our very own model of the Strandbeests' leg!
Prerequisites
Experiences with vectors and some projective geometry will be helpful, but not required.
In this class, we would be exploring what are known as linkages – a collection of bars and joints that can convert one type of motion to another. As mentioned, linkages and their applications are ubiquitous: from our limbs to bicycles to pliers, just to give some examples. What is unintuitive and interesting about linkages is that while most motors produce rotational motion, we can somehow cleverly use linkages to convert these rotations to up-and-down or side-to-side motion.
We will be analyzing planar linkages such as the scissor lift linkage, Hoeken linkage, Chebyshev linkage, and Peaucellier–Lipkin linkage using vectors and projective geometry. Afterwards, we will look into Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests and the main mechanism behind each leg. We will end off with a hands-on activity: building our very own model of the Strandbeests' leg!
Prerequisites
Experiences with vectors and some projective geometry will be helpful, but not required.
M13159: 694201 is a prime
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
CJ Quines,
Wayne Zhao
If we gave you a four-function calculator, how long would it take you to check that 694201 is a prime? In fact, we can do it in five minutes, and we'll show you how.
We’ll use this to talk about how computers figure out whether numbers are prime in general, and what makes one method faster than another.
Prerequisites
Some number theory. In particular, you should know what modulo is and be comfortable with it.
We’ll use this to talk about how computers figure out whether numbers are prime in general, and what makes one method faster than another.
Prerequisites
Some number theory. In particular, you should know what modulo is and be comfortable with it.
M13360: Term Rewriting and Gröbner Bases
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Josh Alman,
James Koppel
Solving systems of linear equations is easy. How about systems of polynomial equations?
We're not really going to teach you that. Instead, we're going to teach you about Gröbner bases, a crazy way of representing spaces of polynomials, which also gives the ability to solve polynomial equations.
Actually, we're not going to really teach you that either. Instead, we're going to go into a separate branch of mathematics called Term Rewriting and teach you about Knuth-Bendix Completion, a "meta-algorithm" which can take definitions of equality and give you an algorithm for telling whether two things are equal. We'll present Gröbner Bases as a special case of Knuth-Bendix Completion. We might even have time to solve a polynomial equation or two!
Prerequisites
Polynomial division and solving systems of linear equations should be no problem for you. The more of these you understand, the easier time you'll have: algebraic rings, polynomial rings, ideals, ring quotients
We're not really going to teach you that. Instead, we're going to teach you about Gröbner bases, a crazy way of representing spaces of polynomials, which also gives the ability to solve polynomial equations.
Actually, we're not going to really teach you that either. Instead, we're going to go into a separate branch of mathematics called Term Rewriting and teach you about Knuth-Bendix Completion, a "meta-algorithm" which can take definitions of equality and give you an algorithm for telling whether two things are equal. We'll present Gröbner Bases as a special case of Knuth-Bendix Completion. We might even have time to solve a polynomial equation or two!
Prerequisites
Polynomial division and solving systems of linear equations should be no problem for you. The more of these you understand, the easier time you'll have: algebraic rings, polynomial rings, ideals, ring quotients
M13686: How to Add Infinitely Many Numbers Together
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Daniel Zaharopol
Maybe you've seen before that if you add $$\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{8} + \cdots,$$ you get 1. But why? What does it even mean to add infinitely many numbers together --- and how can that be consistent with the usual ways that math works?
In this class, we're going to figure that out. We'll learn how to add up infinitely many numbers (when it's possible) and we'll learn the formal mathematical definition of convergence.
Unlike most of your Splash classes, you're really going to do the math yourself, working through a bunch of problems designed to get you to that special "ah ha!" Each person can work at their own pace. As a result, you're going to come out of this class having worked with the math and you'll probably learn it more deeply than from a lecture, although we won't technically cover as much. If this sounds appealing, this will likely be an amazing class for you.
Prerequisites
A strong understanding of high school algebra, and excitement about doing interesting math problems.
In this class, we're going to figure that out. We'll learn how to add up infinitely many numbers (when it's possible) and we'll learn the formal mathematical definition of convergence.
Unlike most of your Splash classes, you're really going to do the math yourself, working through a bunch of problems designed to get you to that special "ah ha!" Each person can work at their own pace. As a result, you're going to come out of this class having worked with the math and you'll probably learn it more deeply than from a lecture, although we won't technically cover as much. If this sounds appealing, this will likely be an amazing class for you.
Prerequisites
A strong understanding of high school algebra, and excitement about doing interesting math problems.
M13624: Introduction to Markov Models
Markov models are widely used in many fields ranging from biology to text analysis. This class will first go over some of the background knowledge such as probability, and then we will apply these models in some example problems.
M13254: Hydras, Chess, and Ordinal Numbers
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Jackie Bredenberg,
Della Hendrickson
What happens when you keep counting past infinity, and never stop? You discover the ordinal numbers! We'll introduce this exciting tool and use it to understand some more finite problems.
M13256: Weirdness with Infinity
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Vincent Bian,
Steven Qu
How and why things break when we introduce infinities...
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of algebra recommended :)
Prerequisites
A basic understanding of algebra recommended :)
M13297: There are different sizes of infinity
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Gurbir Dhillon
You probably know that you have fewer hands than there are letters in the English alphabet. You also probably know that there are fewer letters in the English alphabet than there are whole numbers. But are there `fewer' whole numbers than say, points on the number line between zero and one? Is it even well posed to ask whether one infinite collection of objects has `fewer' constituents than another infinite collection of objects?
We will walk through how one makes sense of such questions. By the end, we will see that there really are different sizes of infinity (in fact, infinitely many).
A great feature of this story is that, aside from remembering what numbers are, you don't need prior background in math, and the style of reasoning is pretty different from what you meet in a normal high school math class. So, people who think they don't like math are especially encouraged to give it a go.
We will walk through how one makes sense of such questions. By the end, we will see that there really are different sizes of infinity (in fact, infinitely many).
A great feature of this story is that, aside from remembering what numbers are, you don't need prior background in math, and the style of reasoning is pretty different from what you meet in a normal high school math class. So, people who think they don't like math are especially encouraged to give it a go.
Pop (and not-so-pop) Culture
P13522: From the Depths of Wikipedia
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mathew Suazo
Wikipedia has nearly 5.5 million articles in the English language. This class will explore some of the most interesting hidden gems, from "Lawsuits against God" to the "World's littlest skyscraper."
P13557: Farther than Far Away: Survey of Star Wars' Old Republic
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shawn Kant,
Trevor Pike
Ever wondered who ran the Jedi Council before Yoda? Ever thought about why the Jedi-Sith conflict started in the first place, many millennia before Darth Sidious or Darth Vader? Ever play Knights of the Old Republic I or II, or the MMORPG The Old Republic? Or do you just have questions about Star Wars lore before all the movies?
If the answer to any of that is yes, this class deserves your attention. We will be taking a look at what the Star Wars Universe was like in the days of the Old Republic, with a focus on aspects relevant to the many games that have been developed in this space. We will talk about the old Sith Empire, the machinations of the immortal emperor, the gray Jedi Revan, the Shan legacy, and so much more. That, and we'll be taking a tour through the galaxy to talk about some planets in the Star Wars Universe you may never have heard of--as a teaser, did you know there was a planet full of Force-sensitives called Mystics that claimed to predict the future, but rejected Jedi and Sith teachings alike? Come to the class to learn more!
Prerequisites
An interest in Star Wars, exo-planets, and/or science fiction.
If the answer to any of that is yes, this class deserves your attention. We will be taking a look at what the Star Wars Universe was like in the days of the Old Republic, with a focus on aspects relevant to the many games that have been developed in this space. We will talk about the old Sith Empire, the machinations of the immortal emperor, the gray Jedi Revan, the Shan legacy, and so much more. That, and we'll be taking a tour through the galaxy to talk about some planets in the Star Wars Universe you may never have heard of--as a teaser, did you know there was a planet full of Force-sensitives called Mystics that claimed to predict the future, but rejected Jedi and Sith teachings alike? Come to the class to learn more!
Prerequisites
An interest in Star Wars, exo-planets, and/or science fiction.
P13523: Depths of Wikipedia 2: Electric Boogaloo
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mathew Suazo
Wikipedia has nearly 5.5 million articles in the English language, and as such, just one class isn't enough to cover all the cool stuff it has to offer. This class will explore even more interesting hidden gems, from the "Indiana Pi Bill" to the "Oak Island mystery."
P13558: The Wonderful World of Warhammer
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shawn Kant,
Trevor Pike
Ever wanted to delve into the grim darkness of the far future, but didn't know how to start? Have you heard the term "Space Marine", but had no idea where it came from? Well then you've come to the right place. This class will dive into the world of the 41st Millennium and the Warhammer 40K Hobby, a miniature war game set in an age of endless conflict and incredible technology. We'll talk about the backstory of the universe, the various games available, and how to get an affordable start in a notoriously expensive hobby. This class is geared towards beginners, but veterans of the series are also welcome! Not interested in the game itself, but fascinated by the setting? That's cool too! There's a rich history of books and video games that allow you to explore the Imperium of Man for a fraction of the price, and we'll talk about those as well.
Prerequisites
An interest in Science Fiction or Tabletop Gaming
Prerequisites
An interest in Science Fiction or Tabletop Gaming
P13500: International Gayzz
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amelia Dogan,
Sophia Mirda
Ever watched a trashy Peruvian gay web series? Ever stayed up till 6AM on a school night because you found a show about gay best friend pilots from Portugal? Ever impulse bought a royal gay British romance novel? So have we. Come learn about queer representation from around the world as we decenter white gay cis narratives.
Prerequisites
bring fun gay energy & tolerance
Prerequisites
bring fun gay energy & tolerance
P13215: The Science of Star Wars
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Emma Liu,
Varnika Sinha
Have you ever wondered about the science behind Star Wars? If so, this is the class for you! We will explore topics ranging from lightsabers to hyperspace travel to droids. Learn about the scientific inaccuracies in the movies and the analogies to modern technology. All are welcome regardless of Star Wars knowledge.
P13361: Why You Should Trust the Government
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Trevor Ferry,
Nicole Thumma
things sure can sound scary now-a-days. we hear from the news things about the rapid destruction of the planet's LOVEly ecosystems, foreign powers interfering blantantlY with OUR elections, and our GOVERNMENT's involvement in foreign coups.
But don't worry about all that! :) The government is here to protect us in their beloved, authoritarian way. With your image in every important database and the "birds" watching your every move, our senselessly caring government can keep you safe every second of every day. The vague, yet ever vigilant government agencies each have their own unique ways of restricting your ... potential vulnerabilities. We have nothing to fear because we have nothing to hide. And we have nothing to hide because our wonderful government is too efficient to hide things from. This class is to remind you why we should all love our terribly protective government, our terribly, terribly protective government. As an added bonus, the powers that be will remember favorably those who attend this convenient education session. You may ask yourself, "How will they know if I go?" Don't worry, the government always knows. Have fun and remember to love your government!
But don't worry about all that! :) The government is here to protect us in their beloved, authoritarian way. With your image in every important database and the "birds" watching your every move, our senselessly caring government can keep you safe every second of every day. The vague, yet ever vigilant government agencies each have their own unique ways of restricting your ... potential vulnerabilities. We have nothing to fear because we have nothing to hide. And we have nothing to hide because our wonderful government is too efficient to hide things from. This class is to remind you why we should all love our terribly protective government, our terribly, terribly protective government. As an added bonus, the powers that be will remember favorably those who attend this convenient education session. You may ask yourself, "How will they know if I go?" Don't worry, the government always knows. Have fun and remember to love your government!
P13309: A Sampling of Memes
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Robert Henning,
Mendel Keller
Why are memes so popular? How did memes begin? How have memes evolved over time? What's all this fuss about "expanding brain" and "epic handshake?" In this class we will take a look at the history of memes, from the proto-memes of the early internet to the image macros and copypastas of the modern day.
P13548: Poolside Convo: An Examination of Frank Ocean's Music and Career
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Maggie Erwin,
Miles Hudgins
In this course we will examine the music and artistry of Frank Ocean's discography. Students will engage with the music via listening to song excerpts and evaluating song lyrics. Everyone is encouraged to sign up regardless of musical taste or experience!
P13602: Memes 101
Difficulty: *
What more needs to be said? I mean, I guess I can elaborate a little bit. Basically, we will be taking a close look at the history of memes. When did memes? What were they like at first? How have they evolved over time? Come join us for our amazing class combining Memeology and history into one. I mean you literally get to look at memes, I don't know what more I can say than that.
P13519: Analyzing Beyoncé's Impact
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Catalina Romero,
Josiah Washington
Were you mesmerized by Beyoncé's Coachella performance? Did you watch the Lion King only for Beyonce? Do you still want to know when the Formation Tour DVD will be released? If you answered yes to these questions, then this is the class for you! Learn how Beyoncé has placed herself as an icon in global media, set herself as an artistic standard, and cemented her title as a legend
P13481: Tetris for the Semi-Serious
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Vincent Bian,
Jason Lee
Want to get into competitive Tetris? Curious about strategies to win vIcToRy rOyAlE in Tetris 99? Have no idea how aquatic birds relate to Tetris? This is the class for you!
In this class, we'll focus mostly on Tetris battles and different techniques in gameplay. Computers will be provided.
Prerequisites
Prior Tetris experience is helpful but unnecessary.
In this class, we'll focus mostly on Tetris battles and different techniques in gameplay. Computers will be provided.
Prerequisites
Prior Tetris experience is helpful but unnecessary.
P13250: Why did Spiderman Leave the MCU? Why is he back?
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alyssa Spencer,
Janice Tjan
Marvel movies are ever-present in today's cinemas, but how did this even begin?
During this class we did discuss the development of the MCU into the franchise it is today as well as the politics behind Disney-Fox merger and the cross-studio deal between Disney and Sony that caused a stir.
During this class we did discuss the development of the MCU into the franchise it is today as well as the politics behind Disney-Fox merger and the cross-studio deal between Disney and Sony that caused a stir.
P13201: Overwatch: Climbing SR and the Path to Pro
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Julian DuBransky
Do you play Overwatch, or are you interested in getting the game?
This course will give a basic introduction to the video game Overwatch, along with a short breakdown on how you can go from zero to pro, with personal insight from a former semi-professional player and current coach. With a focus on positioning, mechanical skill, teamwork, and the meta, this course will aim to help you on your potential path to becoming an Overwatch pro, or help nudge you into the next SR tier and above.
This course will give a basic introduction to the video game Overwatch, along with a short breakdown on how you can go from zero to pro, with personal insight from a former semi-professional player and current coach. With a focus on positioning, mechanical skill, teamwork, and the meta, this course will aim to help you on your potential path to becoming an Overwatch pro, or help nudge you into the next SR tier and above.
P13607: Country Music for Beginners
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kylee Carden,
Westley Wu
Howdy, y'all! Ever wondered what the folks down yonder in the South listen to? Ain't no need to wait! Come listen to some darn-tootin' country music and have so much fun that you'll be happier than a dead pig in the sunshine!
P13165: CinemaSins
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jeffery Yu,
Wayne Zhao
The Youtube channel CinemaSins sins movies, making videos like "Everything Wrong with X". Come to learn all the common themes: roll credits, deux ex machina, Prometheus school of running away from things, product placement, too many seconds of logos, and much more! We'll learn some film theory along the way too. By the end, you won't be able to watch another movie without sinning it yourself!
Prerequisites
None, but knowing movies will help you understand some references.
Prerequisites
None, but knowing movies will help you understand some references.
P13210: History of Westeros
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jake Kinney
Crash course in the history of Westeros prior to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones, from the First Men to Aegon's Conquest to Robert's Rebellion. You like dragons? We got dragons. You like vicious murders? We got vicious murders.
You like complicated political scheming? We got complicated political scheming.
You like complicated political scheming? We got complicated political scheming.
P13524: Depths of Wikipedia 3: Return of the Wiki
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mathew Suazo
Wikipedia has nearly 5.5 million articles in the English language, and as such, even two classes aren't enough to cover all the cool stuff it has to offer. This class will explore yet more interesting hidden gems, from the "Corrupted Blood incident" to the "Boston Molasses Disaster."
P13282: Cook veggies like a European! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
David Netter
Learn how to cook vegetables in an easy and delicious way!
(Vegetarian course)
(Vegetarian course)
P13403: Theme Parks: Creating an Immersive World
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Anthony Roman
The greatest theme parks are pinnacles of technology and theatrics, using cutting-edge innovations and clever designing to immerse people into a fantastical world. This class will unveil what exactly goes into the creation of an incredible theme park, including the astounding feats of imaginative engineering from the past, present, and future that bring stories and worlds to life.
P13525: Depths of Wikipedia 4: Ever After
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mathew Suazo
Wikipedia has nearly 5.5 million articles in the English language, and as such, even three classes aren't enough to cover all the cool stuff it has to offer. This class will explore- you guessed it- a variety of interesting topics, from the "Ytterby" to the "Great Stork Derby."
P13526: Depths of Wikipedia 5: A Trilogy in Five Parts
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Mathew Suazo
Wikipedia has nearly 5.5 million articles in the English language... yada yada yada, you already read the other descriptions. Come learn even more interesting tidbits, from the "Salton Sea" to the "Stargate Project."
P13243: Intro to Lightsaber Dueling and Spinning Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shayna Ahteck,
Claire McLellan-Cassivi
“I’ll try spinning, that’s a good trick!”
In this class we will dive into some basic stage combat with learning a simple 4+6 beat lightsaber duel routine and some types of basic spins for flair. Please wear comfortable clothing!
Prequel and OG Trilogy memes highly encouraged.
In this class we will dive into some basic stage combat with learning a simple 4+6 beat lightsaber duel routine and some types of basic spins for flair. Please wear comfortable clothing!
Prequel and OG Trilogy memes highly encouraged.
P13636: Digital Life: Instagram Influencers, China's Dystopian Tech, and More Interesting Phenomena
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Doreen Chin,
Leslie Yan
What if your favorite society/tech/culture/etc. podcast was a Splash class? We'll have brief informal discussions and debates about the fascinating cultural phenomena we observe in our everyday lives and around the world today as relating to technology, media, and more. For example, how and why did online shopping kill off the American mall? Why is everything "sponsored"? Should we be using Facebook? Be prepared to be an active discussion participant and bring in articles, podcasts, or discussion topics!
P13285: Video Game Analysis - Thinking Critically About Our Favorite Games
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
William Chen,
Sebastian Perez
As a lifelong gamer of many titles across many genres, I've come to believe that video games are just as worthy of analysis as books, movies, or TV shows. Join me in exploring the methods you can use to think about video games on a deeper level. We'll discuss general methods of analysis and then apply them to a few specific examples of games ranging from very popular to very niche.
Prerequisites
Have some experience playing video games. Having played and enjoyed some story-based games in the past is a bonus, but not required. We'll be investigating a wide variety of games so as long as you enjoy gaming you should hopefully get something out of this class.
Prerequisites
Have some experience playing video games. Having played and enjoyed some story-based games in the past is a bonus, but not required. We'll be investigating a wide variety of games so as long as you enjoy gaming you should hopefully get something out of this class.
P13415: Revelio: What Harry Potter Teaches Us About Writing Shocking Plot Twists Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Eryn Gillam,
Nelson Niu
Think of that one book or movie with a killer twist ending, a shocking reveal that blew you away and left you stunned in your seat, marveling at the storyteller's cunning and cheek. (Don't tell me what it is, though: I don't want to be spoiled.) Ever wondered how the writer or director managed to pull it off?
Now think of that other twist ending that was absolutely atrocious, that left you feeling confused, cheated, or rolling your eyes because you'd seen it coming from a mile away. (Again, don't tell me what it is: spoilers for bad stories are spoilers, too.) What makes some twists work and others flop?
This is an intriguing topic that is very difficult to discuss, because, as you've probably already noticed, talking about plot twist is difficult without, well, actually talking about those twists, thereby spoiling them. Fortunately, there's one series chock-full of excellent surprise endings that nearly everyone of our generation has already been exposed to: Harry Potter.
We'll examine and discuss the techniques J. K. Rowling employs to create some of her most shocking revelations, as well as the broader thematic ideas that a clever twist can convey. And perhaps you'll come out of this class ready to craft your very own mind-blowing plot twist.
Prerequisites
You should be familiar with all seven books in the Harry Potter series.
Now think of that other twist ending that was absolutely atrocious, that left you feeling confused, cheated, or rolling your eyes because you'd seen it coming from a mile away. (Again, don't tell me what it is: spoilers for bad stories are spoilers, too.) What makes some twists work and others flop?
This is an intriguing topic that is very difficult to discuss, because, as you've probably already noticed, talking about plot twist is difficult without, well, actually talking about those twists, thereby spoiling them. Fortunately, there's one series chock-full of excellent surprise endings that nearly everyone of our generation has already been exposed to: Harry Potter.
We'll examine and discuss the techniques J. K. Rowling employs to create some of her most shocking revelations, as well as the broader thematic ideas that a clever twist can convey. And perhaps you'll come out of this class ready to craft your very own mind-blowing plot twist.
Prerequisites
You should be familiar with all seven books in the Harry Potter series.
[Deprecated] Science
S13630: What's in Your Cabinet? The Chemistry of Household Chemicals
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alex Li,
Joshua Park
"Don't try this at home", your chemistry teacher says. Booooring. There's so much you can do at home 😈! Learn the power of home chemistry, whether converting Aspirin to Tylenol or making grape flavoring from gloves -- all using things you can buy off the shelf.
Prerequisites
Basic experience in chemistry is preferred but not required
Prerequisites
Basic experience in chemistry is preferred but not required
S13579: How to develop a pharmaceutical drug?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yesim Tuncay
Have you ever wondered how the drugs are developed and tested before it becomes available at the drug stores? Let's go through the steps together!
S13529: Race Through Organic Chemistry
Difficulty: ****
How much of organic chemistry do you think can be covered in 2 hours? How about all of it..? - at least that's what we'll try! From the basics of classes of compounds and simple reactivity to total synthesis, all will be covered in this Clais(s)-en condensed form.
Prerequisites
AP Chemistry
Prerequisites
AP Chemistry
S13572: How do you make sound? Physiology of the larynx
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Junzi Shi
Ever wonder how we produce sound with our throats? What makes good singers great and the rest of us just noise? How do we hear and register the sounds that we make? After this class, you will understand the anatomy, physiology, and imaging of the larynx and inner ear. Taught by Junzi Shi MD, radiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
S13527: Exploring Ocean Life: Climate Change Edition
The climate is changing—so is the field of marine biology. Learn about how acidic oceans, rising ocean levels, and warmer climates affect the ocean and the life it supports. We'll be applying higher level chemistry, biology, and geology in order to fully understand the intricate connections between the climate and the ocean.
Prerequisites
- Basic chemistry knowledge (acid/base equilibrium) - Basic biology knowledge - Basic geology knowledge
Prerequisites
- Basic chemistry knowledge (acid/base equilibrium) - Basic biology knowledge - Basic geology knowledge
S13366: Frontiers of Climate Dynamics and the Search for Habitable Exoplanets - Session 1
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Zahra Essack,
Kasturi Shah
We cover the frontiers of geophysical and planetary research. Today, there is much concern about the future of our planet and its habitability. Citizens, scientists and (some) politicians the world over recognize an increasingly urgent need to understand processes on Earth. Planetary scientists turn to other planets to help understand our Earth better and to probe their habitability. In this class we aim to give you a fundamental understanding of Earth’s dynamics and exoplanets. This class is split into two parts: a compelling lecture in Section 1 and hands-on, data-driven activities in Section 2, building on material taught Section 1. Please note that due to the nature of material introduced in Session 1, we strongly recommend that you attend Section 1 if you would like to do the data-driven activities in Section 2 .
S13671: Frontiers of Climate Dynamics and the Search for Habitable Exoplanets - Session 2
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Zahra Essack,
Kasturi Shah
We cover the frontiers of geophysical and planetary research. Today, there is much concern about the future of our planet and its habitability. Citizens, scientists and (some) politicians the world over recognize an increasingly urgent need to understand processes on Earth. Planetary scientists turn to other planets to help understand our Earth better and to probe their habitability. In this class we aim to give you a fundamental understanding of Earth’s dynamics and exoplanets. This class is split into two parts: this section is a hands-on, data-driven activities in Section 2, building on material taught Section 1.
Prerequisites
Due to the nature of material introduced in Session 1, we strongly recommend that you attend Section 1 if you would like to do the data-driven activities in Section 2 .
Prerequisites
Due to the nature of material introduced in Session 1, we strongly recommend that you attend Section 1 if you would like to do the data-driven activities in Section 2 .
S13414: Atomic Theory I: The Basics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Christopher Miller,
Hantoa Tenwhij
From "opposites attract and likes repel" to why we say an atom has protons, neutrons, and electrons - an experimental journey into the basics of chemistry.
S13327: Paradoxes of Relativity
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kevin Ren
Have you heard of Einstein’s theory of relativity? The theory about time dilation, length contraction, and...weird paradoxes??? This class will give a quick overview of the theory and focus primarily on resolving a few of relativity’s mind-blowing enigmas. You will come in with questions, and come out with more questions, and with your view of the world completely changed.
Prerequisites
Know in general what relativity is and what it predicts (time dilation, length contraction), but please don’t look up the paradoxes beforehand! You should also be familiar with algebra, trig, and geometry as taught in high school.
Prerequisites
Know in general what relativity is and what it predicts (time dilation, length contraction), but please don’t look up the paradoxes beforehand! You should also be familiar with algebra, trig, and geometry as taught in high school.
S13682: Speleology: The Study of Caves
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Riley Drake,
David Yang
What are caves anyways? We'll discuss why and how caves form, what lives in caves and why caves are important to understanding the microbial ecosystem.
S13369: Severe Weather and Thunderstorms!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Rohini Shivamoggi,
Sydney Sroka
Learn about the processes that lead to the formation of clouds and thunderstorms! We'll talk about some of the severe weather that you might see around Boston and the principles behind how these systems form!
S13600: Potion Making
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Eve Schoen
We are going to go through some fun reactions while teaching kids about balancing equations, diffusion and other basic principles of chemistry. Come learn how to make to make some potions!
S13458: The Science of Dr Stone
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brian Mills,
Venkat Sivaraman
Do you like the anime Dr Stone? Ever wonder if all of the science actually checks out? Take this class! We will focus on the Senku's pulley system and his counting of 116,427,065,520 seconds, but other questions about things from the anime are welcome.
Prerequisites
An interest in the anime Dr Stone.
Prerequisites
An interest in the anime Dr Stone.
S13517: Interesting Results from Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Keith Phuthi,
Evan Tey
What is Einstein's theory of General Relativity? Unfortunately that's too difficult a question to answer in one year let alone a class! But we can discuss what the theory has told us about Black Holes, gravitational waves and the why the lead acid batteries in cars work!
Prerequisites
None, this is not a math class.
Prerequisites
None, this is not a math class.
S13177: A Brief Introduction to Time Travel
Difficulty: **
Learn about various types of time travel as portrayed in the movies from the perspective of physics students. We will be talking about paradoxes, implications, as well as the physics of time travel. Warning: will include spoilers for various time travel stories, most notably the movie, "Predestination."
Prerequisites
None but some knowledge of relativity would be helpful.
Prerequisites
None but some knowledge of relativity would be helpful.
S13435: The Beautiful Brain: Pretty Pictures with Modern Microscopes
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniel Barabasi,
Kamal Maher
Have you ever wondered about the brain, or how it lets you perceive, think, and read this text right now?
In the past 10 years, scientists have developed methods for visualizing the brain that drastically improve our ability to study and appreciate the brain. In this course, we'll give you a whirlwind tour of some of humanity's best looks at the brain, and tell you a little about how these images are revolutionizing our understanding of the mind.
Topics to be discussed:
-Two photon imaging
-Super-resolution Microscopy
-Expansion Microscopy
-Electron Microscopy
-Tissue clearing
-High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging
Prerequisites
none
In the past 10 years, scientists have developed methods for visualizing the brain that drastically improve our ability to study and appreciate the brain. In this course, we'll give you a whirlwind tour of some of humanity's best looks at the brain, and tell you a little about how these images are revolutionizing our understanding of the mind.
Topics to be discussed:
-Two photon imaging
-Super-resolution Microscopy
-Expansion Microscopy
-Electron Microscopy
-Tissue clearing
-High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging
Prerequisites
none
S13590: Introduction to Computational Biology
Difficulty: **
In a world of unprecedented technological advances and large, complex omics data, how is a biologist to draw any meaningful conclusion from it all? Come and learn the basics of RNA sequencing analysis and how a tangled spool of seemingly random RNA fragments can be spun into an intriguing tale about biology!
Prerequisites
Some biology class, minimal coding experience
Prerequisites
Some biology class, minimal coding experience
S13564: The Science of Music: Mystyfing Tunes, Temperaments, and Overtone Singing
Difficulty: **
Learn more about the science behind music!
We will cover an overview of audio signals, the math behind it and how this relates to the music you hear. This includes an introduction to Fourier Transforms. Math and program implementation will be covered (programming knowledge not required, please prerequisites).
After this, we will explore being able to hear interesting properties of music and dive into the basics of interesting musical phenomena including tuning systems, microtonality, audio quality (LoFi) and harmonics. An introduction into music processing will also be covered.
We will explore a fun application of this knowledge with the strange and mystifying art of Overtone singing and Tuvan throat singing. We will record our voice and examine the frequencies to augment our singing.
If you are here for only the overtone singing part, you can come to the latter half of the class.
Prerequisites
Know basic calculus (derivatives and integration) If you are here for only the overtone singing part, there are no prerequisites. If you are interested in learning about the programming of Fourier Transforms (this is not required), basic programming knowledge in Python is recommended.
We will cover an overview of audio signals, the math behind it and how this relates to the music you hear. This includes an introduction to Fourier Transforms. Math and program implementation will be covered (programming knowledge not required, please prerequisites).
After this, we will explore being able to hear interesting properties of music and dive into the basics of interesting musical phenomena including tuning systems, microtonality, audio quality (LoFi) and harmonics. An introduction into music processing will also be covered.
We will explore a fun application of this knowledge with the strange and mystifying art of Overtone singing and Tuvan throat singing. We will record our voice and examine the frequencies to augment our singing.
If you are here for only the overtone singing part, you can come to the latter half of the class.
Prerequisites
Know basic calculus (derivatives and integration) If you are here for only the overtone singing part, there are no prerequisites. If you are interested in learning about the programming of Fourier Transforms (this is not required), basic programming knowledge in Python is recommended.
S13509: Physics in the Age of Spin (1/2)
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Ali Ghorashi
We'll explore the world of modern physics using the concept that gives us the most bang for our buck- spin 1/2. Wanna learn about the underlying concepts behind the 2019 Breakthrough Prize without reading through arcane papers? Or delve into Lorentz covariance while bypassing the boring stuff like length contraction? This class will aim to cover the basics of the most interesting physical phenomena through a paradigm that minimizes mathematical pain.
Prerequisites
Linear algebra (know what a matrix is) and basic multivariable calculus (what a partial derivative is).
Prerequisites
Linear algebra (know what a matrix is) and basic multivariable calculus (what a partial derivative is).
S13416: Atomic Theory II: Modern Concepts
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Christopher Miller,
Hantoa Tenwhij
Discover the reality of the quantum model. Figure out what stops protons from pushing each other out of the nucleus.
Impress your chemistry teacher with these and more!
Prerequisites
Intro high school chemistry
Impress your chemistry teacher with these and more!
Prerequisites
Intro high school chemistry
S13421: The Science of Sustainability
Difficulty: **
From the nitrogen cycle to the Three Gorges dam to the electric arc steel furnace, this physics-based class examines how we're screwing up the planet - and how we might be able to save it.
S13386: Climate Change
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Matthew Hutchinson,
Tyler Millis
You've probably heard the term "climate change" tossed around a lot, but you might not be familiar with the science behind it and the facts behind what is going on. Well, we, the teachers, aren't familiar with it either. We have had a friend in Earth, Atmosphere, and Planetary Sciences make a PowerPoint on Climate Change that we haven't seen before and know nearly nothing about, so watch along as we do our best to explain it.
S13320: Intro to field biology - what was that stuff I saw in the woods?
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tetiana Husak
Have seen many interesting organisms while hiking and curious to learn about their life? Want to learn how to notice nature wonders around you? Then this class is for you!
S13363: Your Body Is a Clock: Chronobiology
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nicholas Jean,
Lauren MacLachlan
Circadian rhythms - everyone has one, right? Turns out that some people have rhythms that make them nocturnal (hi), while some people have rhythms that better suit them for life on Mars. This class is for anyone who HATES waking up early, anyone who's ever felt like they got run over by a bus after an international flight, or anyone who is interested in why exactly the number "24" isn't just a construct but is woven into our DNA.
We'll definitely be getting into some neuroscience and genetics here, but we're also gonna talk about what it's like to live in a cave and whether that sleeping cure your Grandma tells you "works every time" is real or not.
Prerequisites
A bit of genetics or biology would be helpful, but definitely won't get in the way!
We'll definitely be getting into some neuroscience and genetics here, but we're also gonna talk about what it's like to live in a cave and whether that sleeping cure your Grandma tells you "works every time" is real or not.
Prerequisites
A bit of genetics or biology would be helpful, but definitely won't get in the way!
S13332: Quantum Computing!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Emma Batson,
Anjali Nambrath
Quantum computing is apparently the future - people are putting the word "quantum" in front of everything these days. This class will teach you the basics of how quantum computers work, how we build them, and some neat stuff that we can do with them. It'll be up to you to decide how much of a difference they'll ever make!
Prerequisites
We will be using 2x2 matrices. If you don't know what that means, google it before coming to the class.
Prerequisites
We will be using 2x2 matrices. If you don't know what that means, google it before coming to the class.
S13595: Wildfire Ecology
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Clair Travis
Learn about wildfires and some basic ecology. This course will cover how wildfires start, current and past firefighting policy and methods, the dangers they pose, and their importance in their natural ecosystem. We will go over current fires (if there are any), last year's major fires, and some interesting case studies.
S13592: All About CRISPR
Difficulty: **
~CRISPR~... Learn what this biology buzzword actually means and how this incredibly powerful tool can be used for everything from gene editing to genome wide screening!
Prerequisites
Basic biology knowledge
Prerequisites
Basic biology knowledge
S13351: Conceptual Quantum Mechanics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kenneth Wang
Want to sound cool to your friends? Just tell them you took a quantum mechanics course :)
This course seeks to explain quantum mechanics in a completely conceptual way, avoiding any calculus. You will learn the key concepts of quantum mechanics, and emphasis will be placed on its impact on our physical intuition and the quantum mechanical world! We will also discuss some of the many interpretations, which have led to philosophical debate, of the wacky results from quantum mechanics.
Prerequisites
Classical physics is highly recommended, but not required!
This course seeks to explain quantum mechanics in a completely conceptual way, avoiding any calculus. You will learn the key concepts of quantum mechanics, and emphasis will be placed on its impact on our physical intuition and the quantum mechanical world! We will also discuss some of the many interpretations, which have led to philosophical debate, of the wacky results from quantum mechanics.
Prerequisites
Classical physics is highly recommended, but not required!
S13513: Intro to Quantum Mechanics and Why it is Different from Classical Mechanics
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hikari Iwasaki,
Keith Phuthi
I'm sure you hear a lot of the word "quantum" in your daily lives from quantum computers to Antman's "quantum realm". So what does it really mean to say something is "quantum" and what are some real examples of it?
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of Newton's Laws of motion would be useful in getting a good picture.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of Newton's Laws of motion would be useful in getting a good picture.
S13284: Geoengineering: "Hacking" Climate Change
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Avery Nguyen,
Sarah Weidman
Ever heard that we can seed clouds to create rain? Spray sulfate particles into the sky to reflect sunlight combat climate change? Capture carbon in the earth? Let's learn the truth about these technologies, examine the science behind them, and uncover the real consequences of attempting to treat the symptoms of climate change, rather than the causes.
S13384: Epidemiology: Disease Snapshots
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Kenneth Cox
We hear a lot about diseases in the news, but how much of that information is accurate? What are these diseases anyway, and how do they spread? How concerned should we be about a massive flu outbreak, or an epidemic of a completely unknown disease?
In this class, we will begin the process of answering these important and complex questions by first briefly looking at general characteristics of diseases and disease prevention, and then considering some specific cases.
Prerequisites
None! The only requirement is an interest in disease science.
In this class, we will begin the process of answering these important and complex questions by first briefly looking at general characteristics of diseases and disease prevention, and then considering some specific cases.
Prerequisites
None! The only requirement is an interest in disease science.
S13417: Atomic Theory III: Mostly Particle Physics
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Christopher Miller,
Hantoa Tenwhij
Break protons and neutrons into quarks and gluons, think about waves, learn about energy and the rest of the Standard Model.
For pure enjoyment - topics you won't see for 4+ years. First half is an overview, the rest is pure math.
Prerequisites
Intro chemistry & physics
For pure enjoyment - topics you won't see for 4+ years. First half is an overview, the rest is pure math.
Prerequisites
Intro chemistry & physics
S13163: 23 & You
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Grace Kuffner
How do companies like 23 & Me read your genetic data from your spit? What do you learn from that data? What are the ethics involved in knowing (or not knowing) information about the genes you carry?
S13205: The N-Dimensional Universe
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Sujay Kazi
Have you ever wondered why we need to live in 3 spatial dimensions? Come see how your life would be different in a different number of spatial dimensions, from planetary orbits all the way down to the periodic table!
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of calculus and classical mechanics
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of calculus and classical mechanics
S13199: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Norman Cao
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants." -- Isaac Newton
Often times science seems kind of... opaque. How did all of these formulas, principles, and laws get discovered? It's cool to learn about them in textbooks, but were they just plucked out of thin air by scientific geniuses like Isaac Newton or Albert Einstein? Or perhaps there were some hints that guided them along the way?
Join us in learning how some of the most significant discoveries in physics were made, and in the process, gain a better intuitive understanding of how physics works. Maybe you'll be able to make discoveries like these some day!
Often times science seems kind of... opaque. How did all of these formulas, principles, and laws get discovered? It's cool to learn about them in textbooks, but were they just plucked out of thin air by scientific geniuses like Isaac Newton or Albert Einstein? Or perhaps there were some hints that guided them along the way?
Join us in learning how some of the most significant discoveries in physics were made, and in the process, gain a better intuitive understanding of how physics works. Maybe you'll be able to make discoveries like these some day!
S13444: Methylene blue stories of pathology
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Thompson
The basic dye, and redox indicator, Methylene blue will be the central character is a series of tales which will serve to explain several key concepts in human pathology. Antihistimines, antipsychotics malaria, sickle cell disease, viagra, fish tanks, and a variety of seemingly disparate topics of biology will be explained with the help of methylene blue.
Prerequisites
Understanding basic high school biology and acid base chemistry useful.
Prerequisites
Understanding basic high school biology and acid base chemistry useful.
S13635: Chaos Theory: Physics of the Complex System
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nicholas Cuccia
Have you ever wondered where the term 'butterfly effect' comes from? Are you ever curious about the underlying cause of fractal patterns in nature? Do you yearn to see the utter breakdown of modern physics' ability to make simple basic predictions? If any of these apply to you, then you are in luck! In this class, we will answer all of these questions, and more, through the study of chaotic systems and chaos theory.
Chaos theory is built on the modern discovery that certain simple deterministic systems can behave unpredictably and chaotically. It may seem like a contradiction to say that a deterministic system can be unpredictable, but that is the beauty of chaos theory.
Across many different areas - oscillating mechanical systems, chemical reactions, fluid flow, lasers, population growth, the spread of diseases, cryptography, mosh pits, and many more - physicists and mathematicians have developed entirely new frameworks in order to understand their complex chaotic behavior. We will delve into why chaotic behavior occurs and look at a variety of real-life examples which exemplify chaos.
Any student can expect that this class is going to be chaotic in all the right ways.
Prerequisites
We will stick to mostly simple algebra, with a sprinkle of calculus. High school physics is recommended, with AP physics preferred. Even with these requirements, though, this course is meant to be more visual than mathematical, so don't be spooked away!
Chaos theory is built on the modern discovery that certain simple deterministic systems can behave unpredictably and chaotically. It may seem like a contradiction to say that a deterministic system can be unpredictable, but that is the beauty of chaos theory.
Across many different areas - oscillating mechanical systems, chemical reactions, fluid flow, lasers, population growth, the spread of diseases, cryptography, mosh pits, and many more - physicists and mathematicians have developed entirely new frameworks in order to understand their complex chaotic behavior. We will delve into why chaotic behavior occurs and look at a variety of real-life examples which exemplify chaos.
Any student can expect that this class is going to be chaotic in all the right ways.
Prerequisites
We will stick to mostly simple algebra, with a sprinkle of calculus. High school physics is recommended, with AP physics preferred. Even with these requirements, though, this course is meant to be more visual than mathematical, so don't be spooked away!
S13344: Solid State Physics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kenneth Wang
In this class, we will explore the theory of one of the most ubiquitous states of matter that we interact with, the solid phase. We will explore why some materials conduct heat and electricity, why others don't, and why others sorta do (semiconductors). To do this, we will use some simple quantum mechanics (which is necessary!) and sketch out a quantum theory for the solids. Along the way, we will also explore the vast and deep consequences of symmetry. If you want to learn more about how materials work, this is a solid choice for you.
Prerequisites
Interest is most important! Some physics, chemistry and mathematics at the pre calc level will be helpful. Some linear algebra can also be helpful but not required.
Prerequisites
Interest is most important! Some physics, chemistry and mathematics at the pre calc level will be helpful. Some linear algebra can also be helpful but not required.
S13657: Introduction to Quantum Field Theory
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Ting-Chun Lin,
Ziqi Zhou
This is an introduction to Quantum Field Theory.
QFT is a powerful tool that explains many phenomena. High energy people care about it (Standard Model); Condensed matter people care about it (superconductor, topological material); mathematicians care about it (topological invariant). QFT is indeed a subject by itself.
The main goal of this class is not to teach you how to compute anomalous magnetic dipole moment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomalous_magnetic_dipole_moment) (one of the most accurate predictions in physics), but to introduce you different ways to think about physics. So I will give motivations what QFT means, why it works, how is it different from other theories... (Hopefully, I will update with a more detailed outline.)
**Caution:** This topic is rather difficult even for graduate students and professors. (There are also much ongoing research just about this topic) I will try my best to explain them. But be prepared to be confused/surprised!
Prerequisites
If you want to be amused by crazy physicists talking nonsense: Welcome! All you need is to come and enjoy yourself! (Actually, physics talks on youtube do a better job than I will... SITP has a lot of nice talks in this category!) If you want to get a sense of what QFT is and understand things I am talking about: Be sure to be familiar with quantum mechanics, calculus, linear algebra... (I'll compile a set of sample questions that you would want to what they mean.) If so, this is the right place for you! If you want to truly understand what QFT is: Fantastic! There is life long journey ahead of you!
QFT is a powerful tool that explains many phenomena. High energy people care about it (Standard Model); Condensed matter people care about it (superconductor, topological material); mathematicians care about it (topological invariant). QFT is indeed a subject by itself.
The main goal of this class is not to teach you how to compute anomalous magnetic dipole moment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomalous_magnetic_dipole_moment) (one of the most accurate predictions in physics), but to introduce you different ways to think about physics. So I will give motivations what QFT means, why it works, how is it different from other theories... (Hopefully, I will update with a more detailed outline.)
**Caution:** This topic is rather difficult even for graduate students and professors. (There are also much ongoing research just about this topic) I will try my best to explain them. But be prepared to be confused/surprised!
Prerequisites
If you want to be amused by crazy physicists talking nonsense: Welcome! All you need is to come and enjoy yourself! (Actually, physics talks on youtube do a better job than I will... SITP has a lot of nice talks in this category!) If you want to get a sense of what QFT is and understand things I am talking about: Be sure to be familiar with quantum mechanics, calculus, linear algebra... (I'll compile a set of sample questions that you would want to what they mean.) If so, this is the right place for you! If you want to truly understand what QFT is: Fantastic! There is life long journey ahead of you!
S13217: Women in Physics Full!
Difficulty: **
We'll pick a famous lady physicist and discuss her work and life path to becoming a physicist! At the very end of the class, we'll briefly discuss what you can do to help pursue a path in physics (or in any other STEM field, really).
Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of classical mechanics and E&M.
Prerequisites
Some basic knowledge of classical mechanics and E&M.
S13394: Marine Toxins
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Albert Lee,
Maggie Libby
Why is meat tenderizer a good treatment for jellyfish sting? Why does hot water relieve stringray injuries? Are you really supposed to pee on a sea urchin sting? Learn about these and other toxic ocean-dwellers.
S13660: Materials Science & Engineering: How Materials Advances Shape the World
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Daniel Ng,
Mingyu Yang
An introduction to materials science & engineering, with an emphasis on the structure-properties-processing-performance paradigm. Overview of hard and soft materials, including applications in device design, biomedical engineering, and molecular gastronomy. Includes hands-on demonstrations of structure-property relationships.
Prerequisites
Middle school chemistry
Prerequisites
Middle school chemistry
S13555: Clouds! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Megan Goodell
Ever wondered why clouds look so different on different days? Ever wondered what clouds are like on other planets? Come learn about the science behind clouds, from how they form to how they affect weather and climate.
S13209: Insights into Eyes
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shardul Chiplunkar,
Joe Bob Scherrer
Learn about the human eye, how to see stereograms, how to take a look at your own retina, and more! There's a lot going on when you look out at the world and most of it isn't... in plain sight. We will have some eye-opening demos looking at how our eyes work.
Come and see!
Prerequisites
Normal or corrected eyesight. Glasses/contacts are perfectly fine, but if you have other medical issues with one or both eyes, you may have difficulty with some of the class activities.
Come and see!
Prerequisites
Normal or corrected eyesight. Glasses/contacts are perfectly fine, but if you have other medical issues with one or both eyes, you may have difficulty with some of the class activities.
S13340: Ultracold Atoms and Molecules
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Kenneth Wang
Want to be cool? Take this class! Get it?
Okay, sorry, excuse the pun. In this class, we explore the physics of ultracold atoms and molecules. In the ultracold regime, quantum mechanical effects become important, and thus they can be used to simulate real quantum systems and potentially used in an implementation of a quantum computer. We will explore how we can take advantage of quantum mechanics to make very cold (ultracold!) atoms and molecules under a micro Kelvin above absolute zero! We then discuss how we can trap and utilize these atoms and molecules. Join us in an adventure to the ultracold world, a cutting edge frontier of modern research!
Prerequisites
Most importantly, interest! No quantum mechanics knowledge is required, but would be helpful! Some basic physics, and chemistry would also be helpful.
Okay, sorry, excuse the pun. In this class, we explore the physics of ultracold atoms and molecules. In the ultracold regime, quantum mechanical effects become important, and thus they can be used to simulate real quantum systems and potentially used in an implementation of a quantum computer. We will explore how we can take advantage of quantum mechanics to make very cold (ultracold!) atoms and molecules under a micro Kelvin above absolute zero! We then discuss how we can trap and utilize these atoms and molecules. Join us in an adventure to the ultracold world, a cutting edge frontier of modern research!
Prerequisites
Most importantly, interest! No quantum mechanics knowledge is required, but would be helpful! Some basic physics, and chemistry would also be helpful.
S13302: The Science Behind Sexual Behavior
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Sarah Bi
What internally happens to our body when we are sexually aroused? How did the common sexual positions develop? Why do men cheat more? The physiology, neuroscience, and psychology behind how the human body responds to sexual attraction is a great demonstration of how much our bodies are designed for reproduction. This class is strictly intended for MATURE students, taught from a scientific point of view.
S13292: Thermodynamics/Stat. Mech: Beyond the Basics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Shreyas Balaji,
Sujay Kazi
You know the Ideal Gas Law, you know what Entropy is, and you know what a Carnot Engine is—fed up with this abstract nonsense, you come in ready to learn some REAL LEGIT THERMO. Come for a crash course on the kinetic theory of gases, diffusion, and partition functions. If time permits, we'll talk about applications to chemistry and/or quantum physics.
Prerequisites
high school physics thermodynamics, calculus, probability
Prerequisites
high school physics thermodynamics, calculus, probability
S13237: Speaker for the Facts: Understanding Science as a Social Practice
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Lilly Chin,
Lizhou Sha
Science is the most successful system for discovering and organizing knowledge that humanity has ever invented. But who gets to decide what counts as scientific facts, really?
In this class, we will explore science not as just another subject you have to learn in school, but as a living, breathing social practice of interpretation. We aim to lift up the mysterious shroud that the public perceives and help you see science as the social practice it is: ever-so-fascinating, sometimes messy, but always intimately human. We will also expose how pseudoscience and anti-science weaponizes routine debates among scientists to cast doubt on the entire scientific enterprise. In the end, we hope you will gain a deeper appreciation of how new science is generated and use this framework to evaluate scientific claims.
The class is divided into two halves. In the first hour, the co-instructors will introduce key concepts and present case studies in a lecture-like format. In the second hour, we will have a roundtable discussion on the topics presented.
In this class, we will explore science not as just another subject you have to learn in school, but as a living, breathing social practice of interpretation. We aim to lift up the mysterious shroud that the public perceives and help you see science as the social practice it is: ever-so-fascinating, sometimes messy, but always intimately human. We will also expose how pseudoscience and anti-science weaponizes routine debates among scientists to cast doubt on the entire scientific enterprise. In the end, we hope you will gain a deeper appreciation of how new science is generated and use this framework to evaluate scientific claims.
The class is divided into two halves. In the first hour, the co-instructors will introduce key concepts and present case studies in a lecture-like format. In the second hour, we will have a roundtable discussion on the topics presented.
S13187: Introduction to Global Health Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andy Brady,
Theodora Christopher
This course will provide you with a glimpse into the most pressing global health issues faced in today’s world. Through discussions and interactive games you will be able to understand both the problem, ongoing relief efforts, and how you can personally get involved.
S13451: ADME stories of p̶a̶t̶h̶o̶l̶o̶g̶y̶ pharmacology
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Thompson
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion: An introduction to pharmacokinetics. How pharmaceuticals and other xenobiotics get in, get to where they need to be, and get removed from the body. The first half will cover the basics through examining the behavior and fate of some common cold medications. The second half will reinforce the first by examining the adventures of adverse or unwanted interactions, between medications, the host, and the environment.
Prerequisites
An understanding of basic high school biology and acid base chemistry is useful.
Prerequisites
An understanding of basic high school biology and acid base chemistry is useful.
S13328: Black Holes! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Emma Batson,
Anjali Nambrath
Black holes live in the middle of galaxies, spew out hot plasma, and gulp up stars. We'll talk about the history of black holes, what happens when you get too close to a black hole, what black holes do to space and time, and some cool black hole thought experiments. If you want to learn more about all sorts of astrophysical weirdness, this class is for you!
Prerequisites
If you've taken high school algebra, you should be okay. There'll be a little calculus, but don't worry!
Prerequisites
If you've taken high school algebra, you should be okay. There'll be a little calculus, but don't worry!
S13583: Introduction to Cosmology
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Keith Phuthi,
Evan Tey
Learn about the universe we live in, what it looks like, and how we know all of this! We'll talk about the expansion of the universe, the formation of elements, dark energy, and more! Come see how far we can get through a basic course in cosmology.
Prerequisites
Calculus is probably nice to have but not necessary. We'll just be talking about what equations mean (rather than how we derived them).
Prerequisites
Calculus is probably nice to have but not necessary. We'll just be talking about what equations mean (rather than how we derived them).
S13270: The Science of Flavor
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Elisabeth Sepulveda
Why do some things taste spicy and others sweet? How can you tell if someone's a super taster (and what does that even mean)? Discover the science behind classic flavor pairings from a variety of cuisines, and practice pairing your own. By the end of this class, you'll be well on your way to food-tasting expertise!
S13411: Mind-Reading and Mind-Control: How to measure and manipulate your brain
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Zoe Lee
As science and technology advances at an incredible rate, it seems that we are getting closer to the realization of sci-fi mind-reading and mind-control. But how close are we, really?
In the first hour, we will discuss various neuroimaging methods of how scientists measure the brain's activities, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), EEG (electroencephalography), and DTI (diffusion tensor imaging), and the physics behind their mechanism. We will try reading someone's brain activities in real time, using EEG. (You can volunteer if you are ok with getting some goo on your hair/scalp! Not harmful, comes off with a wash.)
In the second hour, we will discuss some non-invasive neurostimulation techniques (ones that don't require making a hole in your skull) for manipulating the brain's activities, such as TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and LIFUP (low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsation), and the physics behind their mechanism.
In the third hour, we will explore some ways that these neuroimaging and neurostimulation methods are being used by scientists, doctors, and civilians. We will end the class by assessing how effective the techniques are and how close we are to mind-reading and brainwashing.
In the first hour, we will discuss various neuroimaging methods of how scientists measure the brain's activities, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), EEG (electroencephalography), and DTI (diffusion tensor imaging), and the physics behind their mechanism. We will try reading someone's brain activities in real time, using EEG. (You can volunteer if you are ok with getting some goo on your hair/scalp! Not harmful, comes off with a wash.)
In the second hour, we will discuss some non-invasive neurostimulation techniques (ones that don't require making a hole in your skull) for manipulating the brain's activities, such as TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and LIFUP (low-intensity focused ultrasound pulsation), and the physics behind their mechanism.
In the third hour, we will explore some ways that these neuroimaging and neurostimulation methods are being used by scientists, doctors, and civilians. We will end the class by assessing how effective the techniques are and how close we are to mind-reading and brainwashing.
S13216: Doing Physics in Math: Electromagnetism
Difficulty: ***
There are four fundamental equations that determine physics of charged substances: Maxwell equations. But why are there four? Why not just one? Why do they look so complicated? This class will solve such questions!
In this class, we will first go through the physical meaning of Maxwell equations, then introduce mathematical concept of differentials, and finally write Maxwell equations in terms of electromagnetic field.
Prerequisites
Physics: Some exposure to Maxwell equations is helpful but not required (as long as you can accept they hold!). Math: Multivariable calculus, especially familiarity with the chain rule.
In this class, we will first go through the physical meaning of Maxwell equations, then introduce mathematical concept of differentials, and finally write Maxwell equations in terms of electromagnetic field.
Prerequisites
Physics: Some exposure to Maxwell equations is helpful but not required (as long as you can accept they hold!). Math: Multivariable calculus, especially familiarity with the chain rule.
S13410: Holograms and how to make them
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Richard Luhtaru,
Boris Velasevic
Have you ever wondered how holograms work? And no, we are not talking about the plastic pyramid you put on your iPhone nor projections on stage, we are talking about real holograms. We will explain what holograms are, the physics behind them, and how to create them. We will also show you cheap homemade holograms created with a vintage film camera.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
S13456: Rare diseases: understanding how your body functions
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Emre Ergecen
Did you know that you can live a healthy life without half of your brain? Did you also know that a single mutation in your DNA can make your bones as fragile as glass? In this class, we will discuss and interactively diagnose some interesting rare diseases to understand how your body functions on a grander scale. This class is perfect for you if you are curious about how small defects in cells can affect bodily functions!
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of internal organs and their functions, basic knowledge of cell and its structure (DNA, RNA, proteins etc.)
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of internal organs and their functions, basic knowledge of cell and its structure (DNA, RNA, proteins etc.)
S13528: Exploring Ocean Life: From Mangroves to the Marianas
Learn about diverse ocean ecosystems around the world. We will be focusing on what makes each ecosystem unique and how ocean life interacts with the environment and each other. Some cool animals we'll be learning about include 512-year-old Greenland sharks, an octopus named after how adorable it is, and coral polyps (yes, corals are animals!).
S13260: Let's Talk about Weather (in a Tank?)! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shannon Duffy,
Sarah Weidman
Have you ever wondered how hurricanes or tornadoes form? Or how thunder snow happens? What is a Nor'easter, and why do the occur? Learn about the basic physics that create the weather we observe every day.
After we understand some basic principles, we'll model basic weather and climate phenomena using rotating tanks, in MIT's own fluids lab! Help us run experiments to understand how rotation affects the weather we experience every day.
After we understand some basic principles, we'll model basic weather and climate phenomena using rotating tanks, in MIT's own fluids lab! Help us run experiments to understand how rotation affects the weather we experience every day.
S13437: Cortisol Communities: Stress, the Balkan Wars, and the Psychophysical Origins of Turkish Nationalism
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Benjamin Church,
Matt Yarnall
The Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 were a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and its former European territories which triggered brutal violence against Balkan Muslim civilians. Of the 2.3 million Muslims living in the Balkans prior to the wars, approximately 27% died in under six years as a result of attrition, famine, and disease outbreaks, and another 35% fled as refugees to Anatolia and Eastern Thrace. This tragedy represented a defining moment in Turkish national history. Before 1912 most Ottoman Muslims had associated with numerous linguistic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds; however, the traumatic expulsion of 813,000 Balkan Muslims to Anatolia catalyzed a surge in the popularity of ethnic ‘Turkish’ nationalism among the geographically-consolidated Ottoman-Muslim polity. I argue that this defining moment in Turkish history has continued to impact the modern population, not only through historical memory, but through heritable biochemical memory. This course will question whether the psychophysical stress of Balkan Muslim refugees sustained during the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 left an epigenetic mark on their living descendants.
This course will serve as an introduction to the field of intergenerational psychoepigenetics, a discipline which spans biochemistry, psychology, and history. I will provide an overview of the biochemical research project I am planning to perform in Turkey the year after I graduate college in 2020 (I am working towards a dual degree in Biochemistry and Ottoman History). We will perform a literature review of existing intergenerational psychoepigenetic studies, learn the basics of what epigenetics is as a biochemical phenomenon, and parse out common misperseptions about what this discipline can and cannot tell us; specifically, we will be interested in the intergenerational epigenetic impact of trauma. Next we will situate ourselves within the historical context of the Balkan Wars, and their relevance to the modern country of Turkey. Last we will talk about how my proposed biochemical project would be conducted, which living people in the modern population would be best to include in the present study, and methods of biochemical analysis.
Prerequisites
No background in Turkish history is necessary. Introductory Biology is highly recommended, as this class will be half biology/biochemistry. Come with questions and/or dank memes.
This course will serve as an introduction to the field of intergenerational psychoepigenetics, a discipline which spans biochemistry, psychology, and history. I will provide an overview of the biochemical research project I am planning to perform in Turkey the year after I graduate college in 2020 (I am working towards a dual degree in Biochemistry and Ottoman History). We will perform a literature review of existing intergenerational psychoepigenetic studies, learn the basics of what epigenetics is as a biochemical phenomenon, and parse out common misperseptions about what this discipline can and cannot tell us; specifically, we will be interested in the intergenerational epigenetic impact of trauma. Next we will situate ourselves within the historical context of the Balkan Wars, and their relevance to the modern country of Turkey. Last we will talk about how my proposed biochemical project would be conducted, which living people in the modern population would be best to include in the present study, and methods of biochemical analysis.
Prerequisites
No background in Turkish history is necessary. Introductory Biology is highly recommended, as this class will be half biology/biochemistry. Come with questions and/or dank memes.
S13271: The Psychology of Design Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Elisabeth Sepulveda
Why are some things beautiful while others make us cringe? Why do some rooms put us at peace while others make a statement? Explore the psychology of design and the principles that interior decorators, website designers, fashion bloggers, and graphic designers use to create an aesthetic appeal.
S13335: Highlights of the Sciences
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Tianhui Jie,
Dion Sukhram
Ever wondered what great stuff your science teachers have been hiding from you all these years? This class is a casual presentation and discussion of interesting and (hopefully) fun topics you would probably never hear of in a regular high school setting.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics recommended.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics recommended.
S13581: Stargazing, Telescopes and more! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Evan Tey
Come learn the basics of observational astronomy, from identifying constellations to using a telescope. We'll go through some of the cool things you can see in the sky, and hopefully end with how you can continue to stargaze.
S13338: Intense Crash Course in Chemical Bonding Full!
Difficulty: ***
Everything you've learned in high school about chemical bonding is probably WRONG! Come to understand how the true nature of chemical bonding. This is the only class you'll need to understand chemical bonding!
Prerequisites
Prior basic chemistry experience
Prerequisites
Prior basic chemistry experience
S13566: Topics in Quantum Computing Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Erik Porter
What are the limits to your everyday computer and how can we break those limits? Some problems that can't be solved in the lifetime of the universe on classical computers can be done in seconds on quantum computers. This class is meant to be a collection of different topics and interesting problems, without going too deeply into the mathematics.
S13514: Entropy
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Keith Phuthi
An introduction into understanding the concept of information entropy, building intuition about it and relating it to thermodynamic entropy.
Prerequisites
Understand a logarithm and basic probability would be useful
Prerequisites
Understand a logarithm and basic probability would be useful
S13339: Biology, Ecology, and Sustainability: A Brief Look at Life
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jonathan Sandlin,
Swochchhanda Shrestha
Want to learn more about the amazing world you live in? Interested in learning how life emerged and became so diverse? Passionate about sustainability and conservation?
We'll cover all that and more!
The class will go over the history of life, emergence of several plant/animal species, and the current ecological state of the planet, with some fun thrown in for good measure.
Come take a dive into the natural world!
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of biology would be nice, but this class is open to people pf any bio background!
We'll cover all that and more!
The class will go over the history of life, emergence of several plant/animal species, and the current ecological state of the planet, with some fun thrown in for good measure.
Come take a dive into the natural world!
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of biology would be nice, but this class is open to people pf any bio background!
S13343: The entire periodic table in 50 minutes Full!
Difficulty: **
With approximately 25.42 seconds per element, we will take a whirlwind tour of the periodic table. We briefly visit each element, leaving you with some interesting tidbit about each. No chemistry knowledge required!
S13404: Gravity - A History
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Orisvaldo Neto
(No actual work on Formulas involved) If you love physics, this class might be really interesting for you. Now, if you HATE Physics, this class is made for YOU. You are going to learn who might really discovered gravity and what really is gravity (Force? That's what they tell you). This class encompasses from understanding why Newton actually is not quite correct to what really are Gravitational Waves, Black Holes, Gravitational Lens, Einstein-Rosen Bridges and so much more. If it calls your attention, you should sign up! If it doesn't but you want to be able to say "Hey, I had a Physics class at MIT!" and listen your friends say "Wooow that is so cool!", you also should sign up.
P.S.: I will distribute free KitKats to those who answer the questions correctly, so you should come...
P.S.: I will distribute free KitKats to those who answer the questions correctly, so you should come...
S13616: How Does Global Warming Work? An Introduction to The Greenhouse Effect and Other Mechanisms
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Alexander Liu,
Lily Zhang
The Sun is constantly emitting radiation... but what happens after it reaches the Earth? Learn about the radiative processes that occur within our atmosphere to understand the mechanisms behind global warming.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of algebra recommended
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of algebra recommended
S13450: Special Seminar in Special Relativity
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Gabriel Mintzer,
Derek Yen
In 1905, Einstein shocked the world with his theory of special relativity, illuminating the counterintuitive phenomena that existed at the fringes of physics (both literally and figuratively). His theory, which suggests not only the relativity of length but also the relativity of time itself, was met with massive opposition, and yet, its core axioms are still integral to the physics of today. Join us as we explore the strange but true nature of the universe via special relativity.
Prerequisites
Algebra
Prerequisites
Algebra
S13681: Gene Editing Full!
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Riley Drake,
David Yang
What is gene editing anyways and what's it ever done for us? We'll go over the history of gene editing in the 21st century and talk about new directions and recent discoveries
S13329: The Standard Model!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Emma Batson,
Anjali Nambrath
The Standard Model is (as far as we know) the best description of our universe. It summarizes the particles that make up everything around us (as far as we know), and also some things that aren't usually around us. If you want to unlock the mysteries of the universe (as far as we know), join the club and take our class!
Prerequisites
Caring about physics!
Prerequisites
Caring about physics!
S13349: Statistical Thermodynamics and the Physics of Life
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Amir Bitran,
Kenneth Wang
Ever wondered what entropy actually was? How about temperature? In this class, we explore the microscopic origins of these very important concepts that are ubiquitous in everyday life and across the sciences. We will see that these concepts naturally arise when studying large systems in a statistical way (i.e. statistical mechanics) and thus that they are rigorously defined in a microscopic way. We will then apply these concepts to study complex biological systems, such as proteins. For proteins to function, they must acquire specific structures in the crowded, chaotic cellular environment. Using statistical mechanics, we can understand what causes proteins to become structured, or "fold" correctly, and under what conditions folding is disrupted, potentially leading to diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.
Prerequisites
Interest! Some physics, chemistry and biology background would be helpful but not required. Math, including exponentials, logarithms, combinatorics/factorials, and basic probability will be used
Prerequisites
Interest! Some physics, chemistry and biology background would be helpful but not required. Math, including exponentials, logarithms, combinatorics/factorials, and basic probability will be used
S13438: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR): Physical Theory and Chemical Applications
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Benjamin Church,
Matt Yarnall
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is one of the most imporant tools in organic chemistry for identifying the composition and detailed electronic structure of compounds. NMR is a quantum mechanical effect of the interaction of the nucleus of an atom (or generally each nucleus comprising a complex molecule) with a strong applied magnetic field. Specifically, the effect is due to the strange nature of quantum spin, intrinsic angular momentum carried by the nucleus and how spin couples to external magnetic fieds. Furthermore, this interaction effect is senstive to the nearby nucleli and electronic envioronment so that each nucleus will have a distinct NRM resonance figerprint associated to its position in the molecular structure alowing NRM spectroscopy to ID the molecule. In this course we will discuss the physics of quantum mechanical spins in magnetic fields and the process by which they absorb radiation at specific resonance frequencies. We will then shiow how NRM spectroscopy is used in practice and the process by which compounds may be identified. Finally, if time permits we will discuss other chemical and medical applications of NMR phenomena.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of introductory chemistry and phyiscs.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of introductory chemistry and phyiscs.
S13307: Hacking Health
Difficulty: *
From 3D printed organs to robotic surgery, technology is changing the face of medicine. But how is it also affecting our day-to-day health?
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
S13314: How does the nervous system work? What we learned from poisons and psychoactive drugs.
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tetiana Husak
What processes in nervous system are targeted by sarin, curare, strychnine, botulinum toxin and other poisons? Why can some allergy medicines make us sleepy? How does caffeine work or why can the principle "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" can applied to molecular biology? What does drug addiction reveal about our brain reward system? How can shellfish poisoning cause irreversible loss of memory formation ability? What can hallucinations tell us about our visual cortex structure and connections in our brain?
S13233: Exoplanet Excavation Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Wiliam Moses,
Lizhou Sha
How can we discover exoplanets when they're so insanely hard to detect? We'll look at the current methods of discovering planets beyond our solar system and see exactly why these objects are hard to confirm. The class will also discuss what we can deduce about these planets, why this science matters, and what the future looks like for this field.
S13308: Evolution Revolution: Why Darwin Was Wrong
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Robert Henning,
Mendel Keller
You might have heard in school about a fellow named Darwin, something about a boat and birds and then a book with words.
What they might have left out was all the ways in which Darwin was dead wrong. In fact, as written, Darwinism is total bogus!
I will be discussing how life really came to be. I will use proper evidence to draw the story of the tree of life, with an emphasis on how very wrong Darwin was.
What they might have left out was all the ways in which Darwin was dead wrong. In fact, as written, Darwinism is total bogus!
I will be discussing how life really came to be. I will use proper evidence to draw the story of the tree of life, with an emphasis on how very wrong Darwin was.
S13290: Build a cooler future: How we can solve climate change in five days
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
brandon leshchinskiy
Come be the first to watch a presentation that will be seen by high school students around the country!
Join to learn about climate change and what it means for you. Stay for a fun negotiation activity. Leave with the tools you need to solve the challenge of your time.
And remember: you live on Earth, too!
Join to learn about climate change and what it means for you. Stay for a fun negotiation activity. Leave with the tools you need to solve the challenge of your time.
And remember: you live on Earth, too!
S13365: Intro to Statistical Mechanics
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Rokas Veitas
This class will provide a rough sketch of statistical mechanics, one of the most underrated branches of physics. From first principles and reasonable approximations, we can answer all sorts of human-scale questions of materials, like how fast they heat up, what their phase transitions look like, and if they conduct or insulate, in addition to some more out-there ideas, like the principles governing neutron stars and Bose-Einstein condensates.
Prerequisites
High school physics and calculus are important. Multivariable strongly recommended, but probably not strictly necessary.
Prerequisites
High school physics and calculus are important. Multivariable strongly recommended, but probably not strictly necessary.
S13479: How to Calculate the Speed of Sound
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Cameron Kokesh,
Rachel Raybuck
As you read this, the imaginative projection of my voice in your head does not travel as a wave. However, if I was sitting next to you RIGHT NOW and reading this description, my words would reach your ears in ____ seconds. WAIT, how many seconds you ask? That is what we will find! We will understand the functions of waves, perform a fun interactive experiment, and FIND THE SPEED OF SOUND! WHAT!? (*finger guns*)
Prerequisites
Geared towards those who have never performed the experiment or have a minimal physics background.
Prerequisites
Geared towards those who have never performed the experiment or have a minimal physics background.
S13640: Biology/USABO Problem Solving
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Mihir Khambete
Interested in competing in the USA Biology Olympiad? Want to learn how to solve interesting problems in cell biology, biochemistry, genetics? This class is for you!
We'll cover problem solving in Molecular Biology (spanning Campbell Biology Chapters 2-21). I can also talk about what it's like to compete in the USA Biology Olympiad, and discuss strategies with interested students on how to prepare for the exams.
Prerequisites
High School Biology and/or Chemistry; AP Biology Preferred.
We'll cover problem solving in Molecular Biology (spanning Campbell Biology Chapters 2-21). I can also talk about what it's like to compete in the USA Biology Olympiad, and discuss strategies with interested students on how to prepare for the exams.
Prerequisites
High School Biology and/or Chemistry; AP Biology Preferred.
S13568: Quantum Computation Full!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Erik Porter
Want to find out how quantum computers work? Quantum computers can solve problems quickly that a classical computer couldn't do in the lifetime of the universe. We will go over the basics of several quantum algorithms, techniques for actually building a quantum computer, and what the future has in store for the field. This course has a larger focus on math than "Topics in Quantum Computing."
Prerequisites
Knowledge of vectors, basic circuitry, and classical mechanics are strongly recommended.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of vectors, basic circuitry, and classical mechanics are strongly recommended.
S13445: Formaldehyde- stories of pathology
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Thompson
An introduction to pathology's favorite tissue fixative. We will explore the chemistry of formaldehyde molecule and it's role in tissue preservation and embalming, billiard balls, mirror manufacture, moonshine, and a variety of other areas of life.. Then we will circle back to pathology with the discovery of antigen retrieval, and how this opened a new era of immunohistochemistry.
Prerequisites
basic high school biology useful
Prerequisites
basic high school biology useful
S13428: The Art and Science of Meditation
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Aaron Schwartz
Life is busy. Life is stressful. Life is full of distractions. When was the last time you stepped back and lived in the present moment, spent a couple of minutes in the here and now? That’s the idea behind meditation, and lucky for you, ANYONE can meditate and benefit from a daily mindfulness practice. In this class, you’ll learn how! But that’s not all – this is MIT of course, so we’re also going to take a deep dive into the scientific literature to understand how meditation affects the brain, and whether (according to peer-reviewed scientific journals) it really offers benefits to its practitioners. ABSOLUTELY NO previous meditation experience expected or necessary!
S13383: Introduction to Neuroscience Full!
Difficulty: **
Ever wonder how a 3 pound blob of fat in your head gives rise to all your thoughts, emotions, and experiences? Or whether mind control is really possible? Come learn about how your brain works, from the level of individual neurons to massive networks of cells. We'll also talk a lot about some of the groundbreaking new techniques that neuroscientists use to study the brain here at MIT.
We're excited to explore the brain with you!
Note: The class will include a sheep brain dissection and an arm muscle control demo that involves a minor electrical shock. Students will not be required to participate in these if they so choose
We're excited to explore the brain with you!
Note: The class will include a sheep brain dissection and an arm muscle control demo that involves a minor electrical shock. Students will not be required to participate in these if they so choose
S13143: The Arrow of Time: Clocks, Causality, Heat, Entropy, Memory, Black Holes, and Continuing Mysteries
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alex Lew,
Samuel Tenka
Why do we remember the past but not the future? Why are rubber bands so stretchy? Is the universe right-handed or left-handed, and what does this even mean!? We know absolute zero is unattainable --- but can we reach $$\texttt{negative}$$ Kelvin?! And can your atoms ever escape from a black hole? Our common theme will be IRREVERSIBILITY in physics --- that is, processes that go forward more than they go backward.
Some of this fast-paced survey of ALL OF TIME will be based on Richard Feynman's freely available lecture "The Distinction between Past and Future". I invite you to check it out beforehand!
Prerequisites
You'll need prior exposure to differential calculus, logarithms, and time. If you can tell which of the following equations is $$\texttt{wrong}$$, then you're set! $$ \left(\frac{d}{dt}\right)^2 (f(-t)) = - \left(\frac{d}{dt}\right)^2 (f(t)) \\ $$ $$ \log(5 W) - \log(5) = \log(W) \\ $$ $$ \frac{d}{dt} \log\left(\frac{1}{t}\right) = - ~ \frac{1}{t} $$
Some of this fast-paced survey of ALL OF TIME will be based on Richard Feynman's freely available lecture "The Distinction between Past and Future". I invite you to check it out beforehand!
Prerequisites
You'll need prior exposure to differential calculus, logarithms, and time. If you can tell which of the following equations is $$\texttt{wrong}$$, then you're set! $$ \left(\frac{d}{dt}\right)^2 (f(-t)) = - \left(\frac{d}{dt}\right)^2 (f(t)) \\ $$ $$ \log(5 W) - \log(5) = \log(W) \\ $$ $$ \frac{d}{dt} \log\left(\frac{1}{t}\right) = - ~ \frac{1}{t} $$
S13144: Microbiome 101: What's in your poop? Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Michaela Gold,
Prachi Sinha
Come learn about the microbiome and where you can find it! We will discuss current methods to study the microbiome, correlations with diseases and the environment, and how you (and your poop!) can help somebody through microbiome science. Who doesn't love talking about poop!
S13319: Evolution of vision: from bacterial proteins to human visual cortex
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tetiana Husak
What do photosynthetic bacteria and human eyes have in common? Can bulls actually the see red color of corrida cloth and what does it have to do with dinosaurs? Do mantis shrimp have better color vision then humans? Why and how do some animals see light polarization? Why does our retina have a weird inverted structure, and why is it not the case for octopi? How did our nervous system coevolve with eye complexity in different animals? How do brains make sense of visual information? Eye complexity was one of the most popular arguments against evolutionary theory. Paradoxically, vision evolution is actually one of the best studied evolutionary topics due to plenty of genetic and biodiversity evidence - come and learn how different animals see the world!
S13565: Biological Warfare 101: The Game
Difficulty: **
Do you have what it takes to infect the world or fight an epidemic? Find out in this class! We will spend some time going over a representative sample of infectious diseases, their strengths and weaknesses as agents in a plague, and different ways to fight them. The class will then split into an evil organization whose goal is to infect the world, and an international team whose goal is to stop them.
[Deprecated] Walk-in Activity
W13241: Crosswords
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Wayne Zhao
Come do crosswords online! Collaboratively! Some of them may also have gimmicks?
W13402: Acrylic Painting
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Candace Tong-Li
We'll be using mini canvases to create dynamic (and pocket-sized) paintings. Come create a piece of art that you can take home with you!
W13258: DIY Crafts with UA Sustain!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kayleigh Dugas
Come try a DIY activity with UA Sustainability, one of MIT’s sustainability-oriented groups on campus! Make a reusable tote bag, craft a wool dryer ball to replace your dryer sheets, create a small pouch for your knick-knacks, or pot a little plant to take home. Or just come and hang with us between your classes!
W13211: (Not Jigsaw) Puzzles!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jenna Himawan
Do you love the "a-ha" moment of solving a puzzlehunt-style puzzle? Do you love the satisfaction that comes with filling in the last square of a crossword? Do you love making slow and steady progress through a logic puzzle?
Stop by and have fun!
Stop by and have fun!
W13685: A Cappella Sing-along!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shardul Chiplunkar
We’re the MIT-Wellesley Toons! Want to learn how to read and sing an a cappella arrangement, or want to sing a bunch of fun rounds? Come sing and jam with us! No a cappella/singing experience necessary :)
W13535: Jewelry Workshop
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sophie Mori
Come by and make something nice for you, for your friend, for your mom, for your dad... Materials, tools, and assistance provided.
W13253: Science Bowl
Difficulty: **
Come play high school Science Bowl and try to win for bragging rights and learn some awesome things about science! Know lots of science trivia, love hitting buzzers, or just want to try to answer questions ridiculously fast? This is the walk-in for you! You do not need to have familiarity/experience with this game to participate!
W13589: Linguistics Problem Solving
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Adam Hesterberg
Do you enjoy unraveling logic puzzles, want to learn about other languages, or crave the feeling of a good riddle?
Come solve fun problems from the Linguistics Olympiads, NACLO and IOL!
A variety of languages, problem styles, and difficulty levels will be provided for you to solve. Logic and reasoning are your main weapon here – no prior linguistics knowledge required!
Come solve fun problems from the Linguistics Olympiads, NACLO and IOL!
A variety of languages, problem styles, and difficulty levels will be provided for you to solve. Logic and reasoning are your main weapon here – no prior linguistics knowledge required!
W13604: How to draw an owl griffin
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Zoë Bentley,
DD Liu
1. Draw some circles
2. Draw the rest of the owl griffin
2. Draw the rest of the owl griffin
W13606: Ruby Red Appreciation
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Lin,
Byron Xu
ESP loves to drink juice. Come learn to appreciate the best juice: Ocean Spray Ruby Red!
W13680: Not Ruby Red Appreciation
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Grace Cai,
Brian Chen
ESP loves to drink juice. Come learn to appreciate the best juice: not Ocean Spray Ruby Red!
W13506: Find the missing card
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
CJ Quines,
Wayne Zhao
I give you all the cards of a standard deck except one. You can do whatever you want with the remaining cards. How quickly can you find the missing card? It sounds more fun than you think!
Our record is 18 seconds. Can you go faster? What techniques are the fastest? How does this relate to computer science?
Our record is 18 seconds. Can you go faster? What techniques are the fastest? How does this relate to computer science?
W13212: SET and Its Variations!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jenna Himawan
Have you ever played the card game SET? How about 3-deck SET with colored borders, using the borders as an additional attribute? How about SET with cards facedown? SET Sudoku?
If your answer to any of those questions was "No", come play! Players with any level of experience are welcome!
Prerequisites
Being colorblind will be inconvenient.
If your answer to any of those questions was "No", come play! Players with any level of experience are welcome!
Prerequisites
Being colorblind will be inconvenient.
W13588: Food tongue 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Adam Hesterberg
Come learn food tongue, a language in which every word is a food, by immersion!
W13281: Mutant Plushie Lab
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jensen Curtiss
Create an army of mis-matched minions to unleash your vengeance on the world! Or, you know, just see what a teddy with an alligator head would look like. If you would rather play with Sid's toys than Andy's, this is the Activity for you. No prior sewing/gene splicing experience required.
W13591: Making Flowers Out of Socks
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Laura Cui
Finally, a use for those way-too-small stockings with a hole in the knee! Come and learn how to turn your old nylons into some pretty neat flowers (clean nylon fabric will be provided).
W13311: World of Yarncraft
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Carol Pan,
Maggie Zheng
Make small friends out of yarn! Make larger friends with your fellow Splash students! Stitch up a canvas! The world is your yarn-ster, so come visit us and see what you can bring to life. (Note: larger, Splash friends cannot be taken home without consent.)
W13326: Keychains!!!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Valerie Chen,
Michelle Yakubek
Come learn how to make your own custom keychains! We'll show you how to design your own art, transfer it onto keychain paper, and how to bake and polish and link to chains-- not to mention how to embellish your keychain with crosshatching, 3D manipulation and accents, and more!
W13672: Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream(LN2)
Difficulty: **
Want to watch some cool chemistry and eat some cool liquid? Come join us for a delicious treat!!! Lactose-free options are available
W13541: Mutant Plushie Lab
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
E Rosser
Create an army of mis-matched minions to unleash your vengeance on the world! Or, you know, just see what a teddy with an alligator head would look like. If you would rather play with Sid's toys than Andy's, this is the Activity for you. No prior sewing/gene splicing experience required.
W13664: Learn to Juggle
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Collin Perkinson
Juggling, the art of creative object manipulation, was first documented around 4000 years ago in an ancient tomb of an Egyptian prince, and today it is practiced around the world. A unique and beautiful art form, juggling is related to dance, weaving, and mathematics. It provides a good mental and physical workout and is lots of fun!
The MIT Student Juggling Club is here at Splash 2019 to teach YOU how to juggle! Come join us at our walk-in activity and learn to juggle with balls, rings, or clubs. Beginners are welcome!
The MIT Student Juggling Club is here at Splash 2019 to teach YOU how to juggle! Come join us at our walk-in activity and learn to juggle with balls, rings, or clubs. Beginners are welcome!
W13687: Make Your Own Butter
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Byron Xu
Come use up all our leftover cream from LN2 Ice Cream and learn how you can make butter from scratch! You'll be able to take home and enjoy your very own freshly-made butter, while supplies last.
W13395: How to Braid (Hair, Flowers, String Etc)
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Jennifer Xiong
Come learn how to braid! Whether you've never braided a thing in your life or you're learning to expand your braiding skills and techniques, this course is for you! We'll begin with a simple 3-strand braid and then work our way up to French, Dutch, fishtail, waterfall, etc braids. Long hair is not required! Bring a friend if you'd like to braid hair that's in front of you.
W13440: Introduction to Canadian Fish (Best Card Game!)
Difficulty: **
Want to learn the best card game and test the limits of your memory? Come learn Canadian Fish (commonly called Fish, also known as Literature), played between two teams of three people, and see who has the best memory and logic skills!
W13675: NaNoWriMo Writing Space
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Robin Herbison,
Greta Wu
Love being here but need some NaNoWriMo writing time? Need to make your daily word count, catch up, or maybe get ahead of your goal before Thanksgiving? Come to this dedicated quiet writing space!
W13693: Intro To Soldering
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Grace Cai,
Matthew Cox
Come and learn basic through-hole soldering at this walk-in activity! Circuit boards will be provided.
[Deprecated] Miscellaneous
X13688: Hunting for Fibonacci Ducks
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Ana Tidae
Fibonacci Ducks are very sneaky! Not only do they move around a lot (mostly by hitchhiking), but they’ll also hide such that only the tips of their tails are showing.
In order to properly find your Fibonacci ducks, you’ll have to know the Fibonacci numbers (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc) and have this Wikipedia article handy: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_duck_breeds. Also keep in mind that Fibonacci ducks really like numbers! Many of them will pretend to be numbers, but in order to find all of them, you’ll have to do some counting.
Congratulations! You’re now an expert! When you see a Bau, Allier, bLekinge, and kaIya standing in a row, you’ll be able to spot the duck in no time.
In order to properly find your Fibonacci ducks, you’ll have to know the Fibonacci numbers (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc) and have this Wikipedia article handy: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_duck_breeds. Also keep in mind that Fibonacci ducks really like numbers! Many of them will pretend to be numbers, but in order to find all of them, you’ll have to do some counting.
Congratulations! You’re now an expert! When you see a Bau, Allier, bLekinge, and kaIya standing in a row, you’ll be able to spot the duck in no time.
X13569: Optimizing Movie-Watching
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Vincent Huang,
Rachana Madhukara
We will discuss the best ways to watch movies and TV shows, including: deciding what to watch, figuring out whether certain scenes or episodes are skippable or not, and related topics. We will do this by examining the general structure of movies, sharing opinions and recommendations with each other, and doing some movie-watching ourselves as time permits. If you've ever gotten bored or had trouble deciding when to use the restroom midway through a movie, or you'd like to improve your watching experiences in general, this class is for you!
Prerequisites
Interest in movie-watching
Prerequisites
Interest in movie-watching
X13632: Witchcraft and Curses - Ancient Rome
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Aquila Simmons
If the fiery pit of power burns within you, or if you find yourself unduly wronged, or if you want to continue the long and glorious tradition of calling on the gods for vengeance, come learn about cursing the ancient roman way and write a few hexes of your own. Learn about the glorious days when witchcraft was a respected profession and how you can continue on in the tried and true ways.
X13317: A Brief History of in rem Cases in the United States
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Wayne Zhao,
Alan Zhu
Have you ever heard of the Supreme Court case "United States v. Forty Barrels & Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola"? How about "United States v. One Book Called Ulysses"?
In rem jurisdiction refers to when a court exercises power over an object, instead of a person or other entity. This can lead to some relatively ridiculous outcomes—what are they? Find out in this class!
Prerequisites
None.
In rem jurisdiction refers to when a court exercises power over an object, instead of a person or other entity. This can lead to some relatively ridiculous outcomes—what are they? Find out in this class!
Prerequisites
None.
X13480: Interesting Conversations?!?!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nika Silkin,
Meghana Vemulapalli
Do you think tech companies have an obligation to do something about fake news, and if so, how?? If you were the CEO of a dating app, what would you design for? Should younger people have their votes weighted more heavily?? What is the purpose of American education?? Come with an interesting open-ended question and we can explore together!!
X13262: International Relations Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Claire Hsu,
Miller Tan
As part of MIT MUN, we want to enrich
students in the history of the organization
our group is based on. We wish to give an
idea on how international relations work as
well as how it directly relates to MUN
Prerequisites
None!
students in the history of the organization
our group is based on. We wish to give an
idea on how international relations work as
well as how it directly relates to MUN
Prerequisites
None!
X13142: Let's talk about the NFL!
Difficulty: **
It's football season. It's also fantasy football season. By the time it's Splash, it'll almost be playoff time. Come talk about your favorite team, your favorite fantasy football player, holdouts, or anything else you want to talk about.
(We will not be entertaining strong political views, it'll just be football talk!)
Prerequisites
A decent knowledge of the NFL.
(We will not be entertaining strong political views, it'll just be football talk!)
Prerequisites
A decent knowledge of the NFL.
X13323: Crafting Magic Systems
Difficulty: *
Have you ever created your own Harry Potter spells or theorized which element you'd master? Whether you're an aspiring writer or someone who enjoys debating whether Gandalf or Dumbledore would win in a fight, let's take it a step further and learn to develop magic systems from scratch! We'll examine magic in literature and media, discuss Sanderson's Laws of Magic, and create our own magic systems! And eat chocolate, of course. (Please refrain from firebending in class)
Prerequisites
An appreciation for sci-fi/fantasy
Prerequisites
An appreciation for sci-fi/fantasy
X13626: Financial Planning 101 for College Living
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Lori Trojak
What do you need to pack/ purchase for a typical dorm room? What expenses outside of tuition, room and board and books will you need or want to cover each month? Should you have a credit card or bank account? Some expenses can vary greatly depending on the college, nearby town and personal wants but we will cover the basics in this class and leave you with a spreadsheet that you can fill in with your own particular information/ expectations and estimates as you speak with different colleges.
Prerequisites
None.
Prerequisites
None.
X13375: Flirting 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Riya Arora,
Grace Cai,
Matthew Cox,
Laura Cui,
Vincent Huang,
Steven Qu,
CJ Quines,
Jeffery Yu
Learn to flirt!
We'll talk about tips and tricks to smoothly express interest in the person of your dreams. Channel your inner playfulness and have some fun with live demos, audience participation, and social psychology :)
We'll talk about tips and tricks to smoothly express interest in the person of your dreams. Channel your inner playfulness and have some fun with live demos, audience participation, and social psychology :)
X13544: Chalkboard Skills
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Edward Jin,
Raymond Li
Do you want to draw dotted lines as well as Walter Lewin? Come to our class and learn how to: draw dotted lines and circles and erase correctly!
You after taking the class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raurl4s0pjU
Prerequisites
None
You after taking the class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raurl4s0pjU
Prerequisites
None
X13434: Hands-Only CPR/AED
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Hyunji Kim,
Alexander Lam
Learn how to save lives using hands-only CPR! Certified EMTs will teach you how to recognize a cardiac arrest, and what to do next! You'll learn the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and Automatic External Defibrillator usage.
Prerequisites
Comfortable clothing - you will be active and on your knees for much of the class!
Prerequisites
Comfortable clothing - you will be active and on your knees for much of the class!
X13408: The Philosophy of Genius
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Eric Pence,
Mihir Trivedi
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” - Albert Einstein.
An exploration of human intelligence and a reality check on who's really the smartest kid in the class.
An exploration of human intelligence and a reality check on who's really the smartest kid in the class.
X13585: Notebook Binding
Looking for a pizzazzy way to keep your thoughts and ideas? Design your own cover and bind your very own notebook or sketchbook in this class!
X13287: Ultimate Frisbee 101 Full!
Difficulty: **
Learn the basics of how to play ultimate frisbee! No experience necessary; we'll teach you how to throw, cut, catch, and everything in between. Ultimate frisbee is a 7v7 team sport that is somewhat similar to basketball, soccer, and football, and it's incredibly fun!!!
X13609: Intro to Linguistics Puzzles
Difficulty: *
Learn how to use logical reasoning to decipher the words and properties of different languages! First we'll go over the general process of solving a NACLO puzzle and how to organize your thoughts while doing so. Then you'll have the opportunity to solve different puzzles of your choice! No prior linguistics knowledge is required!
X13485: Knitting for Beginners
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ashley Chen,
Meghana Vemulapalli
Have you ever wanted to use some needles in a non-violent fashion and create something that will instantly give you cool grandparent vibes? Or maybe you just enjoy trying new things and creating? Or do you like cool colors and very soft yarn? Then this is exactly the class for you. And if not, it's still the class for you! We will teach you how to hold the needles, go over basic knitting techniques, and complete a small knitting project by the end of the class! It'll be lots of fun!!!
X13227: Riichi Mahjong Full!
Difficulty: *
Have you played mahjong solitaire? Come if you want to learn about the real form of mahjong, that is way more complicated and interesting than a matching game! -H
Come get your mahj-on(g) and hear more bad puns -D
Come get your mahj-on(g) and hear more bad puns -D
X13409: What is Consent?
Difficulty: *
What is consent? How do I obtain it? How can I communicate effectively with others? How can I support a culture of respect and care? Get all these questions answered (and more!) with MIT Pleasure (ft. snacks!)
X13321: How Does Music Technology Work?
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Robert Henning,
Mendel Keller
How do you strum a saxophone? Current music technology lets performers have more control of their sound than ever before. From sensors and interfaces, to synthesizers and interpolation, we will cover how modern music technology works and connects together, focusing on the perspective of the synthesizer.
X13494: Introduction to (Puzzlehunt) Puzzles
Difficulty: *
Come solve puzzles with us! These aren't jigsaw puzzles though - think secret messages in the style of The DaVinci Code, National Treasure, or 39 Clues. If you like finding patterns, decoding ciphers, logic puzzles, or leaps of intuition, there's probably a puzzle for you!
Prerequisites
If you already know what a puzzlehunt puzzle is or have done well with them in the past, this probably is too easy for you.
Prerequisites
If you already know what a puzzlehunt puzzle is or have done well with them in the past, this probably is too easy for you.
X13265: Aliens, History of Adobe Flash, Advanced Cryptography!
Difficulty: **
This course has three teachers (Wayne, Shashvat, and Riya). For each of the subjects "History of Adobe Flash", "Advanced Cryptography", and "Aliens" (these are subject to change), two of us will prepare a presentation on the subject and the third will get to present on it without ever having seen the slides beforehand. Come learn these subjects off slides with us!
Prerequisites
A willingness to go along with the idea.
Prerequisites
A willingness to go along with the idea.
X13247: 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.
X13221: Chess Theory: From the Basics to Advanced Strategy
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Tyrone Davis,
Aileen Ma
Whether you play chess casually or are a competitive tournament player, come join us for a two hour long class about chess theory, strategy, and history. Topics will include openings, middlegame, endgame, Art of Attacking, Art of Defense, AI in chess (technical), and World Champions.
X13186: Public Misspeaking: How to Miscommunicate Anything!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Teresa Gao
Tired of being correctly understood or otherwise socially adept? Never fear! Whether you're giving a class presentation, emailing your teacher, or talking to your crush, this class will definitely help you decrease your communication abilities.
X13497: Self-Calibration
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Katie Dunn,
Dominick Joo
How do we think about our own thoughts, and how confident should we be in our beliefs? We'll see how our brains are imperfect instruments and how we can improve our self-calibration.
Prerequisites
This class would be a good fit for people who like to introspect, reflect to themselves, or think about problems deeply. If you've taken an HSSP class with us before about this, this will not be anything new and we'd recommend you try new things instead.
Prerequisites
This class would be a good fit for people who like to introspect, reflect to themselves, or think about problems deeply. If you've taken an HSSP class with us before about this, this will not be anything new and we'd recommend you try new things instead.
X13628: Traveling the USA: Discovering America through its People, History, Cultures and Landscapes
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Lori Trojak
America (USA) is one of the most diverse nations on Earth in its people and its landscape. We will discuss the different regions of this vast nation looking at highlights of what to see and the idiosyncrasies of its cultures that make it unique and yet blend into one nation. This is a class on travel and discovering an America you are just getting to know.
[This class is one of 2 parts-one part is discussing what to see, the other is planning how to do it. You can do either or both classes.]
Prerequisites
A sense of adventure and wonder!
[This class is one of 2 parts-one part is discussing what to see, the other is planning how to do it. You can do either or both classes.]
Prerequisites
A sense of adventure and wonder!
X13373: No Physical Fitness Necessary
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Nine Morch,
Sara Zangi
Run around! Play tag! Human knot? NINJA?! Be active for 50 minutes and play such funky games as Sharks and Minnows and Red Light Green Light. (or whatever we decide to play, actually.) :D
Prerequisites
have Running Around Energy
Prerequisites
have Running Around Energy
X13246: Build Your Inner Strength so You Can Get What You Want in Life
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Patricia Craig
Having a rough time in school, at home, or with your fiends? Learn how to get through the "hard times" in an easier way. Learn some tricks that great athletes, writers, entertainers, and others have used to succeed, to get what they want, in spite of some tough times. My aim is to teach you some different ways of looking at the world, that can help you feel better. This class will present "The Cliff Notes" version of the book, "The Adversity Quotient." But we will talk about other books and other techniques I've picked up along the way.
X13192: Spontaneous 5-Minute Classes on Whatever You Want
Difficulty: *
You choose the topic, 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.
X13599: How to Use Chopsticks for Beginners
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Raymond Bahng,
Brandon Pho
Have you ever tried to use chopsticks before and failed? Never even heard of these wonderful utensils? We will attempt to teach you how to use chopsticks in this class, and have some fun, competitve chopsticking challenges! If you know how to use chopsticks, please don't take this class.
Prerequisites
-Not knowing how to use chopsticks
Prerequisites
-Not knowing how to use chopsticks
X13304: Sunrise Movement: People Power and Climate Justice
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Yanisa Techagumthorn,
Jocelyn Ting
As students it often feels like we don't have much power to change the influence of big fossil fuel money in politics, but recently Greta Thunberg and the 4 million people around the world that came out for the climate strike show that we DO have the power and we WILL make the change we want to see. We are part of the Sunrise movement and would like to teach you all about what we do and how you can join the movement to fight climate change and ensure good jobs and a livable future for all people!
The first half of the class will be a presentation to introduce what the Sunrise Movement is. The second half will be a condensed orientation workshop. Come ready to sing, resonate, story tell, and shift the paradigm!
The first half of the class will be a presentation to introduce what the Sunrise Movement is. The second half will be a condensed orientation workshop. Come ready to sing, resonate, story tell, and shift the paradigm!
X13586: How to Solve Problems: Logic Puzzles
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Carina Quiroz,
Evan Tey
Come learn techniques for solving (almost) any problem that might come your way! We'll be going through some logic puzzles and trying to figure out what it takes to solve these problems as well as any we might face in classes, clubs, or any parts of life! If you want a taste of what we'll be doing, take a look at: http://www.begent.org/einstein.htm
Prerequisites
No prior knowledge is needed, just bring your brain and be ready to think!
Prerequisites
No prior knowledge is needed, just bring your brain and be ready to think!
X13521: How to Run A Splash
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Luke Shimanuki,
Sarah Weidman
Splash is run by students -- undergraduate and graduate students at MIT. Beyond MIT, there are Splashes and other similar educational programs at universities and high schools nationwide. Come learn about all of the intricacies that go into running a massive program like Splash and find out how you can do it too. Will cover what goes into organizing Splash at MIT as well as resources and next steps if you want to run something like Splash at your own school. Presented by former Splash Directors.
X13499: Gender Beyond the Binary
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sean Olszewski,
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.
X13608: The Indiana Pi Bill
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Joey Heerens,
Kevin Liu
House bill 246 of the 1897 sitting of the Indiana General Assembly proclaimed, among other similarly outrageous statements, that $$\pi=3.2$$. Despite this, the bill was passed unanimously by the House. Find out how this possibly could've happened, and why the bill never became law.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic geometry.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic geometry.
X13629: Traveling the USA: Budget or Splurge-How to Plan the Perfect Trip
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Lori Trojak
America's (USA) diversity offers many unique travel experiences and planning a trip is challenging and exciting as you get to choose mode of transportation (car,plane,train,ship), accommodations (hostel,tent,hotel,RV), timing (whale migration,Aurora Borealis,desert flowers) and create your own memories. This class is about how to plan such a trip-where to begin, how early to start and how to find your own way of seeing this country.
[This class is one of 2 parts-one part is discussing what to see, the other is planning how to do it. You can do either or both classes.]
Prerequisites
A sense of adventure and wonder:)
[This class is one of 2 parts-one part is discussing what to see, the other is planning how to do it. You can do either or both classes.]
Prerequisites
A sense of adventure and wonder:)
X13464: Why your last group project failed and how this relates to climate change
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Andy Haupt,
Lukas Lobert
Earth is warming! But what does this mean for the nature around us? How are we as humans affected and why is it so hard to adapt to or even to stop it? In this course we will step in the shoes of businesswomen/-men, natural scientists and policy makers to get to know more about climate change and how it interconnects all sorts of disciplines. We will use game theory to understand why we tend to overuse resources, we will dive down to coral reefs to understand the impact of climate change; and finally we will become part of United Nations committee to discuss political actions. Accompany us on our journey and learn that changing the world is difficult but possible. And perhaps that change starts with you?
Prerequisites
none
Prerequisites
none
X13662: Mind Hacks: Mental Tools and Solutions to Ace Your Exams, Socialize, and Succeed
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Prithvi Undavalli
Decrease anxiety during an exam to get a better grade. Hack your way into doing practically anything whether that be playing sports better, getting stuff done, or being happier. Solve any problem that life throws at you. Learn how to negotiate with people to get what you want.
Learn these hacks and more to master your mind, emotions, and life. Learn techniques for self-discipline, happiness, life, and success.
Prerequisites
None
Learn these hacks and more to master your mind, emotions, and life. Learn techniques for self-discipline, happiness, life, and success.
Prerequisites
None
X13229: Introduction to Sudoku
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Matthew Hambacher,
Yuan Yao
Ever seen some grid of numbers on a newspaper titled "Sudoku" and have no idea how to solve them? Fear not! This class will introduce you to the wonderful world of Sudoku and teach the most common techniques used in solving sudokus. There will also be chances to try your hands at some easy/intermediate-level sudokus (and have fun)!
The class is intended for students with little or no prior experience with solving Sudoku.
The class is intended for students with little or no prior experience with solving Sudoku.
X13489: Stationery/Card Workshop
Send a tangible message in a medium that the recipient will know you've held and dedicated time towards. These ain't cookie-cutter cards sold by the dozens, but neat cards bearing your own signature style. This class provides the materials, ideas, and structure to craft your own personalized cards for thank-you's, birthdays, holidays, and more! Experiment with designs incorporating pressed flowers, gold leaf accents, and washi tape aesthetics, and with sealing involving wax or ancient letterlocking techniques. We will work on creating the cards themselves for students to take home and write messages on. Stamps for mailing will also be provided. Show 'em hand-made letters never go out of style.
X13475: Mindfulness
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Emily Flahive
This class aims to introduce you to mindfulness and its importance in stress reduction and life appreciation! We will be discussing a bit about the history of mindfulness meditation and Buddhism, and will do some exercises that you can use whenever you're feeling overwhelmed.
Prerequisites
An open mind and ability to not crack up laughing when it's really quiet in a room!
Prerequisites
An open mind and ability to not crack up laughing when it's really quiet in a room!
X13542: Let's Talk Community College
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sinho Chewi,
Rachel Lum
In this course, we will be talking about Community Colleges and how they can be utilized (or not) during your academic experience. For example, did you know you can take classes from Community Colleges for college credits while you are a high school student? We hope to do our best to address everyone's questions!
X13240: relating games
Difficulty: **
we have icebreakers that aren't corny and team-building exercises that don't suck. authentic relating games is the fancy phrase, but we just like to think of it as games.
stare into each others eyes! talk about your feelings! experience deeper connections! play some games with us and get to know your classmates.
stare into each others eyes! talk about your feelings! experience deeper connections! play some games with us and get to know your classmates.
X13648: Behind the screens
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexander Tsao,
Jose Zavala
Wanna learn how the movies are shown on the big screen? Did you know you and a small crew of friends can run a theater of your own too?? Taught by members of MIT's misleadingly-titled on-campus movie theater group, the Lecture Series Committee (LSC), we're here to show you why playing movies for your friends is more interesting than just pressing Play on your laptop. Whether you prefer to be a popcorn stand mogul or a film projection wizard, you too can learn how to share the moviegoing magic with others!
X13663: How to Win in Life !
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Dexin Li,
Sarah Wang
How do you get people to tell the truth when designing a game? What are the different types of auctions, and what's the best strategy for each? How do you win a negotiation? Beat yo friends, keep yo friends, earn mo money!!
X13279: this course has no content.
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Oomi Pammit,
Colin Tang
look around you. what do you see? why is the world this way? who am i?
Prerequisites
a willingness to sign up for a course that has no content
Prerequisites
a willingness to sign up for a course that has no content
X13195: Being an Immovable Object
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
James Koppel,
Zhutian Yang
If you twist your shoulder in the right way, you can lift twice as much. Tense your abs in the right way, and you can punch three times as hard. Whether you like martial arts or yoga, dancing or football, or even if you just want to seem more confident when presenting, you can do more with less effort when you put your body in a position of stability. So come to this class and get better at everything!
Prerequisites
Wear loose clothing
Prerequisites
Wear loose clothing
X13248: MIT Underground Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alyssa Spencer,
Janice Tjan
MIT has a large interconnected basement that runs along Massachusetts Avenue and reaches the edge of Kendall Square. Navigate below the hustle of Splash and join this tour of the "MIT Tunnels"
X13140: Let's Talk about Baseball!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Marisa Gaetz,
Ahaan Rungta
Come interact with other enthusiastic baseball nerds about the MLB 2019 season, playoffs, offseason, and sabermetrics! Don't know what the last word means? We can talk about that too!
Prerequisites
A little knowledge about what transpired in the most recent MLB season.
Prerequisites
A little knowledge about what transpired in the most recent MLB season.
X13621: Things You Should Know About Life
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Evan Caragay,
Mayukha Vadari
There are things you should know about life. They won't teach you this stuff in school. Things like retirement and how to make your friends' parents like you. Featuring a Q&A at the end.
Prerequisites
None
Prerequisites
None
X13202: Job Negotiation
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amanda Horne
Have you ever received an official job offer, but thought you deserved to be paid more? If so then this class is for you! Over the course of two hours, you will learn how to sell your skills, motivation and experience to employers to get paid the amount you deserve.
Prerequisites
Must have received an official written offer from a company for a paid job of some sort in the past. It can be any job offer - fast food, internship, school job, summer camp counselor, anything. Just make sure you can access a copy of that offer letter during the course.
Prerequisites
Must have received an official written offer from a company for a paid job of some sort in the past. It can be any job offer - fast food, internship, school job, summer camp counselor, anything. Just make sure you can access a copy of that offer letter during the course.
X13298: Cheer 101
Difficulty: *
All these fun classes, but you are looking for something different. You scroll through the catalogue and it all seems the same. You see beginner cheerleading but you are scared you won't fit in. Forget about the movies; step out of your comfort zone and onto our cheer mats. Learn the real meaning of trust and responsibility as we endeavor into a new realm where those who are vertically challenge become the tallest in the room. Discover the value of teamwork and communication as we hold a sentient being 6ft above the ground. Above all enjoy a good workout and the opportunity to try something completely new courtesy of the MIT Cheerleading team.
Beginners and veterans welcomed alike. No experience required.
Prerequisites
Sneakers and athletic clothes would be ideal!
Beginners and veterans welcomed alike. No experience required.
Prerequisites
Sneakers and athletic clothes would be ideal!
X13364: Want to Play in a Game Show?
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Nicholas Jean,
Lauren MacLachlan
My absolute guilty pleasure is watching game shows of all kind. Chain Reaction got rebooted? I'm on it. I've probably seen every episode of Cutthroat Kitchen twice. And don't even get me started when the Big Brother live feeds turn on. But I'm sick of just watching game shows -
- which is why I've created my own for you all to play. There'll be teams, there'll be challenges, and there may even be prizes. Whatever your thing is - solving puzzles, thinking outside the box, competitive drive, cooperation (or manipulation... what?)... Game on.
- which is why I've created my own for you all to play. There'll be teams, there'll be challenges, and there may even be prizes. Whatever your thing is - solving puzzles, thinking outside the box, competitive drive, cooperation (or manipulation... what?)... Game on.
X13342: Patrol Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jesse Ashcraft-Johnson,
Bram Sterling
Shoot your friends!! Its Patrol!!
Patrol is a game sponsored by the MIT Assassins’ guild. Participants are divided into a number of teams. Each player is armed with a dart gun and a small number of rubber darts. Each player also wears a colored headband denoting what team they are on and whether or not they are currently alive. The object of the game is to shoot members of the other teams without getting shot. If shot, the player can resurrect by visiting the resurrection floor. The main goal, however, is to have fun.
Please bring a signed permission slip available here: https://assassin.mit.edu/web/Permission_Slip
Patrol is a game sponsored by the MIT Assassins’ guild. Participants are divided into a number of teams. Each player is armed with a dart gun and a small number of rubber darts. Each player also wears a colored headband denoting what team they are on and whether or not they are currently alive. The object of the game is to shoot members of the other teams without getting shot. If shot, the player can resurrect by visiting the resurrection floor. The main goal, however, is to have fun.
Please bring a signed permission slip available here: https://assassin.mit.edu/web/Permission_Slip
X13463: Social Deception 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Summer Hoss,
Ivy Mao
Are you a good liar? Come prove it by joining us for some Secret Hitler, Avalon, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, and more! We'll talk strategy, eat snacks, have fun, etc.
X13576: Think twice!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Shenal Kotuwewatta
What is correct from the first glance may not actually be correct. Come and see for yourself!
X13661: Practical Nutrition
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Allen Cheng,
Pranav Murugan
Want to be leaner, healthier, and more athletic? Practical Nutrition will give you the ability to use food as a tool to reach the fitness goals you have. We’ll talk strategies and debunk myths while focusing on the universal foundations of diet and nutrition – as you’ll find, it really is a simple process. Regardless of what your fitness goals are, come on by! Everyone is welcome.
X13184: Classy class
Difficulty: ****
Teachers:
Matt Bahner,
Max Fishelson
A course, of course! We begin class by filling the room with the world's coarsest sand. Surviving this sand means you can survive anything! Truly a class for the classiest lass; for fancy little boys who desire a treat. Monied young moppets welcome!
Prerequisites
Look like Mick Jagger Be yolked beyond belief Have a green stepsister Be willing to drink some Elmer's Be the change you want to see in this world
Prerequisites
Look like Mick Jagger Be yolked beyond belief Have a green stepsister Be willing to drink some Elmer's Be the change you want to see in this world
X13516: Let's Talk about the English Premier League
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Keith Phuthi
I'm looking to recruit an expert panel of pundits to talk about the English Premier League. We'll discuss stats, form, make predictions for relegation and suggest solutions to the struggling clubs. Be prepared to give your opinions!
Prerequisites
It would be much more useful if you follow the EPL. I would suggest watching a few Sky Sports or NBC shows analyzing the EPL.
Prerequisites
It would be much more useful if you follow the EPL. I would suggest watching a few Sky Sports or NBC shows analyzing the EPL.
X13273: LaTeX!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ahaan Rungta,
Chase Vogeli
Come learn how to typeset a mathematical document or scientific paper using the powerful language that is $$\LaTeX$$!
Prerequisites
This is a introductory course; if you are familiar with basic LaTeX, the beginning will be slow.
Prerequisites
This is a introductory course; if you are familiar with basic LaTeX, the beginning will be slow.
X13562: How to $\LaTeX$
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Sebastian Jeon,
Dylan Liu
Ever wanted to make your notes and problem set writeups extra nice and pretty? What about filling your documents with beautiful mathematical equations and eye-popping diagrams? No? Well, we'll teach you how anyway. Come learn the fundamentals behind one of the world's most prominent typesetting languages!
X13582: The Business of Business- are you the next big thing
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
SONALI KAKATKAR,
Amit Kakatkar
What is it like to be a Successful Entrepreneur? Do you have a business idea you will like to get Evaluated? Find out the types of Businesses you can start and how to start them. Wether its a tech idea or any other product idea, find ways to convert it into a business.
X13239: Everything You Never Wanted to Know About South Dakota
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Cameron Kokesh,
Alan Zhu
Ever wanted to know anything about the 46th most populous state in the Union? No? Well, too bad, because, in this class, you'll be able to learn everything (and we mean everything!) about the godforsaken land known as South Dakota. Taught by two South Dakotans, this class will discuss topics as strange and varied as cows, The World's Only Corn Palace (TM), Mount Rushmore, and why is our state is better than North Dakota.
Prerequisites
Not being North Dakotan.
Prerequisites
Not being North Dakotan.
X13252: Hacking your memory
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Paolo Adajar,
Zawad Chowdhury
You've been in classes before that force you to memorize something. The periodic table. The names of rocks. Vocab words. Spelling lists. Hard? Maybe.
There's a world of memory tips and tricks that exists. People that memorize 10 decks of cards in an hour. 1 deck in under 2 minutes. 1000 random numbers in an hour.
How? Learn some of the secrets of hacking your memory with different techniques.
As a promise to you guys that can all be done, I'll start off this class by reciitng the order of a shuffled deck of cards. Fingers crossed that I don't make a mistake :P
Prerequisites
None!
There's a world of memory tips and tricks that exists. People that memorize 10 decks of cards in an hour. 1 deck in under 2 minutes. 1000 random numbers in an hour.
How? Learn some of the secrets of hacking your memory with different techniques.
As a promise to you guys that can all be done, I'll start off this class by reciitng the order of a shuffled deck of cards. Fingers crossed that I don't make a mistake :P
Prerequisites
None!
X13538: How to Play Dominion
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Matthew Cho
Learn and then play the card game Dominion!
X13157: Planning Like a Pro: Learning to Bullet Journal
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Emily Levenson,
Lily Zhang
Do you want to be more organized? Do traditional planners box you in? Bullet journaling is a do-it-yourself planning system that is customizable and has lots of room for creativity.
We'll provide the bullet journals, art supplies, and simple instructions. You bring a life to organize!
We'll provide the bullet journals, art supplies, and simple instructions. You bring a life to organize!
X13619: Introduction to Amateur Radio
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Shirley Dulcey
Amateur Radio is an international hobby and service with over 100 years of history. Things that ham radio operators do include operating in radio contests (trying to contact as many stations as possible), digital communications, Morse code, and assisting at public service events
Amateur radio operators play an important role in communications during disasters. Hams have served during 9/11, during major hurricanes like Katrina, Maria, and Dorian, and here in Boston after the Marathon bombing.
This class will be a quick overview of some of the things that amateur radio operators do. There will be live demonstrations and equipment to check out.
Amateur radio operators play an important role in communications during disasters. Hams have served during 9/11, during major hurricanes like Katrina, Maria, and Dorian, and here in Boston after the Marathon bombing.
This class will be a quick overview of some of the things that amateur radio operators do. There will be live demonstrations and equipment to check out.
X13387: Puzzles Within Puzzles: Crosswords with a Twist
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Andy Tockman,
Jennifer Xiong
Cryptic crosswords are a kind of puzzle where each clue has both a standard definition and a "wordplay", which hints at the answer in various puzzle-y ways. Here's a very simple example: "Circle back to reservoir (4)" clues POOL, because "loop" (circle) backwards is a reservoir.
Come learn how to solve them, and then solve them!
If you already have experience with cryptics, you may be bored.
Come learn how to solve them, and then solve them!
If you already have experience with cryptics, you may be bored.
X13196: Being a Proud Tribesman Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
James Koppel,
Gladys Velez Caicedo
Give an American soldier a heavy pack, and moving becomes harder. Give it to an African villager, and moving becomes easier. Turns out they're just better at walking than us. And standing and sitting. Come learn why everything you know about posture is wrong.
Superpowers to be had from this class include the ability to see things directly behind you and being able to sleep on a wooden log. Some increase in height may be expected. Warning: Upon completion of this class, your life may feel like an endless massage. You may also experience a sudden urge to replace all your furniture.
Prerequisites
Bring a jacket, or something else soft and moldable. We will be using it to modify the shape of chairs.
Superpowers to be had from this class include the ability to see things directly behind you and being able to sleep on a wooden log. Some increase in height may be expected. Warning: Upon completion of this class, your life may feel like an endless massage. You may also experience a sudden urge to replace all your furniture.
Prerequisites
Bring a jacket, or something else soft and moldable. We will be using it to modify the shape of chairs.
X13454: Hands Only CPR
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Alexander Lam,
Cathy Nguyen
Learn how to save lives using hands-only CPR! Certified EMTs will teach you how to recognize a cardiac arrest, and what to do next! You'll learn the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and Automatic External Defibrillator usage.
X13357: Crafting 101
Difficulty: *
Want to become a professional crafter??? Come join us in an action-packed, adventure-filled crafting extravaganza! We'll doodle, make balloon animals, origami, yeet paint, and so much more!
(PS. there may be some karaoke involved...?
Prerequisites
~iMaGiNaTiOn~
(PS. there may be some karaoke involved...?
Prerequisites
~iMaGiNaTiOn~
X13368: Science in the Kitchen Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Cori Posner
Did you know that some science experiments can be edible? Sign up for this class if you're interested in learning about the different types of reactions behind the fizzing and popping you may observe in some food and candies!
X13452: How To: Cooking Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Melissa White,
Sara Zangi
Do you have a burning desire to learn how to cook, but the ability to burn anything and everything? One of us did too! Join us and you too can learn how to feed yourself through college!
X13423: Statistical Street Fighting Full!
Difficulty: **
Thousands of years ago, we used to beat each other up with rocks and clubs and fists. Now we beat each other up with numbers and statistics. This class is about defending yourself against getting beaten up. (No humans were or will be physically harmed in the teaching of this class.)
Prerequisites
Comfortable with statistics
Prerequisites
Comfortable with statistics
X13556: How to Make (Almost) Anything with Yarn Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Megan Goodell
Come learn the basics of knitting, and how you can use this knowledge to make nearly anything you want out of yarn.
X13431: How to master the bloody period and why it exists in the first place
Difficulty: *
Goopy gunky gushing gore.
Let's dive into period lore O.o
This class will be on the history of period coping methods, why humans have periods, and, most importantly, what we can do about them. Namely, MENSTRUAL CUPS AND OTHER FUN PRODUCTS :)
Everyone is welcome, whether or not you menstruate!
Let's dive into period lore O.o
This class will be on the history of period coping methods, why humans have periods, and, most importantly, what we can do about them. Namely, MENSTRUAL CUPS AND OTHER FUN PRODUCTS :)
Everyone is welcome, whether or not you menstruate!
X13267: Avalon 101: A Guide to Deception Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Pamela Stark,
Duha Syar
Come play Avalon and learn about the world of hidden traitor games, deception, and social deduction.
X13188: A Treatise on the Modern Meme
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Benjamin Church,
Matt Yarnall
To meme or not to meme, that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler in the Sub to repost
The gifs and jokes of yester year
Or to create OC against the sea of reposts
And in downvoting end them. To OC–to post;
To post perchance to meme–ay there’s the sub,
For in that post of OC what memes may come,
When we have shuffled off this bottom text,
Must give us pause–But that the dread of spici’r OC,
That undiscover’d board, for whose born
no memelord returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather post the memes we have
Than create others we not of?
Thus Four Chan doth make normies of us all.
Prerequisites
10,000+ IQ
Whether ‘tis nobler in the Sub to repost
The gifs and jokes of yester year
Or to create OC against the sea of reposts
And in downvoting end them. To OC–to post;
To post perchance to meme–ay there’s the sub,
For in that post of OC what memes may come,
When we have shuffled off this bottom text,
Must give us pause–But that the dread of spici’r OC,
That undiscover’d board, for whose born
no memelord returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather post the memes we have
Than create others we not of?
Thus Four Chan doth make normies of us all.
Prerequisites
10,000+ IQ
X13176: Chess
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alex Liu,
Howard Zhong
Would you like to become a chess master? Or try to become one? Join this class and we'll have fun playing and learning chess. The only prerequisite: know the rules.
X13447: 3.7 Seconds for Every Pokémon
Difficulty: *
Come learn a few things about every Pokémon up to Generation 7! You may learn about some that you never knew before, or about some funny descriptions of the more well-known ones.
X13372: Drink Tea and Write Poetry
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Maya Collins,
Anna Mervosh
What time is it? It’s contemplation-o-clock. There are many times in your life where you can take things very seriously. This is not one of those times. In this class we’ll relax, chill out, write some poetry together as strangers. We’ll go through a few fun writing exercises, embrace the absurd, and end up with some poetry to take home. Let’s broaden our perceptions of poetry and the creating process. Guess what, you’re a poet now. Call it self-care, a new hobby, or mental cross-training, we’ll have a great time. All while drinking tea.
X13316: Oboe Reeds: A Craft
Difficulty: **
Oboists, come join us and try making reeds! You will be taught, start to finish, the basics of crafting your own little noise sticks.
It'll be a fun, nerdy, double-reedy experience!
It'll be a fun, nerdy, double-reedy experience!
X13488: Escape The Room / Design Edition
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Marianna Gonzalez,
Mohamad Nahleh
Partake in deciphering a series of exciting design-related riddles. In small groups, students will engage hands-on problem solving strategies to decode intricate spatial questions that require cooperation, trial and error, assembly, and creation. Banal and overlooked everyday objects will structure the proposed challenges; participants will learn to consider the potential of common neglected objects beyond their primary functions.
X13539: How to be very smart (like us)
Difficulty: *
Hi, we're MIT students, and we used to be super incompetent, up until we realized that you have to fake it to make it. Now we know everything. Learn to be just like us.
X13288: Thrifting 101 Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jovita Li,
Keili Tucker
Do you like saving money? Are you stressed out by clutter? Do you want to help save the Earth? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, come join us for a conversation about minimalism, sustainability, and smart spending. Learn how second-hand shopping helps the planet, and how to get the most bang for your buck!
Baked goods provided :)
Baked goods provided :)
X13495: Fundamentals of Baseball
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Alyssa Spencer,
Janice Tjan
Ever flip the channel to a baseball game, and just wondered what was happening? Do you wonder why people even like baseball? This course will teach you the basic rules of baseball, share some oddities of the game, and hopefully make baseball a more enjoyable sport to watch.
X13649: The Tea on Tea
Difficulty: *
Ooo Sis, what's the tea??? We sure do have some for you, and we're not talking about that gossip nonsense. In this course, you will learn all about tea, ranging from how to steep both tea bags and loose leaf, to how to look fancy while drinking it. For an added bonus we will also be diving into to the wonderful realm of boba tea, and we will also be making our own boba from scratch!!!
Prerequisites
Being thirsty and interested in tea!
Prerequisites
Being thirsty and interested in tea!
X13234: Quidditch for Muggles Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Zion Moore,
Isabella Torres
Ever wish you could fly through the air throwing balls at people and through hoops? Or chase a snitch all over the pitch? Us too. Join the Marauders (MIT's Quidditch Team) and learn how to play the most renowned sport of the wizarding world! *Note: due to FAA regulations, we are not allowed to fly, so we simulate via running with a broom between our legs.
X13407: Understanding Contraceptives
Difficulty: *
Interested in learning about all the different options for contraception out there? Join MIT Pleasure for for a conversation about contraceptives and how they work, as well as some free snacks!
X13230: Competitive Sudoku Solving
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Matthew Hambacher,
Yuan Yao
Have you been solving sudokus for fun and looking to sharpen your skills? Not satisfied with ordinary sudokus and wanting to learn more? We will meet all your needs to become a sudoku master! This class introduces some more advanced techniques for solving sudokus, and study some sudoku variants. You will also have a chance to face off against other fellow students in a mock sudoku competition!
Prerequisites
"Introduction to Sudoku" class or prior experience in solving intermediate-level sudokus
Prerequisites
"Introduction to Sudoku" class or prior experience in solving intermediate-level sudokus
X13277: Design Thinking Hackathon
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
David Netter
Transform problems into startups! With this course, you will be able to apply the Design Thinking process in order to solve challenges with friends.
X13333: Effective Altruism
Difficulty: *
Effective altruism is the practice of using evidence and reason to determine how to most improve the world. This class will discuss how YOU can be an effective altruist and make the greatest positive impact!
Prerequisites
An interest in doing good!
Prerequisites
An interest in doing good!
X13412: How to Throw Cards
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Aiden Padilla,
Raymond Tran
Learn the art of accelerating a simple playing card to 2.9823e-8 times the speed of light
X13294: Jeffpardy! and Jnacks
Difficulty: **
Jeffpardy! is an American television game show created by Jeff. The show features a quiz competition in which contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers, and must phrase their responses in the form of questions.
(We play Jeopardy and eat snacks)
(We play Jeopardy and eat snacks)
X13345: Learn to play bridge!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Mihir Singhal,
Lucy Zhang
Contract bridge is a trick-taking game similar to Tractor, Hearts, Spades, and more. No experience necessary, and you’ll be able to play the game in just an hour and a half. Played by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, contract bridge can be enjoyed by all!
X13652: How to Ask Good Questions
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Evan Tey
Questions are the way we learn new things. Come learn how to ask better questions and practice asking more questions in your life.
X13418: Origami, Shapes, and You!
Difficulty: *
Shapes are all around us. This course will use modular origami to explore the nature of certain symmetrical 3D objects. What is modular origami? In short, you fold a bunch of basic units, then assemble it into a wonderful complex structure. Most of the class will be spent creating your own 3D origami models to keep, which you can turn into mini-lamps with provided LEDs!
X13354: The Theory of the DISC: How to become an Ultimate Frisbee Master
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Anna Arpaci-Dusseau,
Niki Kim
Do you want to become a master of the game of ultimate frisbee in just fifty minutes? If so, this is the class for you!
Two frisbee aficionados will teach you everything you need to elevate your skills from beginner to advanced. We will be covering throwing mechanics (and the math behind them), the rules of the game, common strategies, and of course lots of niche frisbee lingo.
Join us and discover a cool, new sport that is taking the nation by storm!
No previous frisbee experience is required!
Two frisbee aficionados will teach you everything you need to elevate your skills from beginner to advanced. We will be covering throwing mechanics (and the math behind them), the rules of the game, common strategies, and of course lots of niche frisbee lingo.
Join us and discover a cool, new sport that is taking the nation by storm!
No previous frisbee experience is required!
X13255: How to Make Friends Full!
Feeling overwhelmed when you step into a room of strangers? Want to open up to someone, but not sure how? Do you feel like human interaction is some sort of black box device??? (You're not alone...) We'll talk about the what/how/who/why of friends, and hopefully make some new ones while we're at it!
X13627: Nonverbal Communications 101
Difficulty: *
Want to learn to communicate better without words? Like mimes a lot but not particularly good ones? Have impressive eyebrow skills and want to hone their true potential? Well, this is the class for you!
X13200: Gedankenexperiment: The Power of Critical Thought
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Norman Cao
The thought experiment has been used throughout history to critically evaluate the claims and assumptions we make, while providing us a way to frame and advance our understanding of the world. This class aims to cover some of the most famous thought experiments in science, math, and philosophy (such as Einstein's "Gedankenexperiments", Zeno's Paradoxes, or the Ship of Theseus), with a focus on understanding the thought processes behind them and the practical consequences of the experiments. Hopefully by the end of the class you'll be able to use critical thinking and your own thought experiments to critically evaluate the world around you.
X13449: Sleep for the Weak Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Edward Jin,
Julie Meng
Listen to two very sleep-deprived people talk about gOoD sLEePiNg hABitS :)
Prerequisites
A will to sleep
Prerequisites
A will to sleep
X13222: Trick Your Brain into Making Decisions
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Nine Morch,
Christian de Weck
So, you're [an individual/a team of people/a group of friends/partners working on a project] trying to [choose a school/choose a restaurant/pick a project idea/figure out the best design] and you [are very indecisive/are all arguing for your idea over all the others].
Let me help you fix that.
Let me help you fix that.
X13617: Boba-ology with a side of boba
Do you like the liquid deliciousness, the college student's dream fuel, and the only drink that will make you willingly chew on rubbery balls? Introducing Boba (or bubble tea, as some might call it), an Asian tea drink that is highly popular worldwide, but especially so on MIT campus thanks to addicts like me.
In this class, we will learn about the history and the composition of different types of boba. And you (yes you!) will have the chance to make your own DIY boba. Not only will you get FREE BOBA, you can also learn how to make boba at home, which will save your wallet from the eventual boba addiction. Come to drink boba and hang out!
Prerequisites
None, but please let the instructor know if you have any dietary restrictions. Will provide dairy-free options.
In this class, we will learn about the history and the composition of different types of boba. And you (yes you!) will have the chance to make your own DIY boba. Not only will you get FREE BOBA, you can also learn how to make boba at home, which will save your wallet from the eventual boba addiction. Come to drink boba and hang out!
Prerequisites
None, but please let the instructor know if you have any dietary restrictions. Will provide dairy-free options.
X13461: Fermi Estimation — The Art of Being Close Enough
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Richard Liu,
David Xiong
How many rubber ducks can fit inside the sun? We don't know either, but we can get close. Learn tips and tricks for how to make order of magnitude estimates with ease and efficiency (and not much accuracy).
X13141: Let's Talk About the NBA! Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Francisco Proskauer Valerio,
Ahaan Rungta
Zion. RJ. Ja. AD. LA. The new Splash Bros.
Come discuss storylines from this year's NBA season, predictions, statistics, issues like tanking, referees, or maybe all-time greats. You'll get to shape the discussion based on what topics interest you most.
Prerequisites
Passion for Basketball and the NBA
Come discuss storylines from this year's NBA season, predictions, statistics, issues like tanking, referees, or maybe all-time greats. You'll get to shape the discussion based on what topics interest you most.
Prerequisites
Passion for Basketball and the NBA
X13419: Anime through the Ages
Difficulty: **
This is a two part class: for the first hour we teach about the conception/history of anime, and for the second hour we talk about different genres and production studios in modern-day anime.
X13512: Building the Future: Entrepreneurship 101
Difficulty: **
Do you have an idea that will change the world? Are you interested in the #startup life? Are you interested in learning how small teams can have a big impact? Come join the MIT Sustainable Energy Alliance as we pull from our experiences to learn how you can apply entrepreneurial techniques to solve large problems effectively. We'll divide our time between short entrepreneurial lectures, followed by a mentored, fast-paced, team pitch competition with real-world case studies!
Planned lectures:
1. "Fine, I'll do it myself.": Getting started, decision-making 101, including SWOT analysis, Pugh charts, design evolution
2. "Organization is Inevitable": How to keep on track to meet your goals, including Scrum, OKRs, and other frameworks
3. 'Reality is Often Disappointing': How to overcome typical challenges, introduction of 'definite optimism' thinking.
Prerequisites
Open-mind and willingness to work collaboratively with a team
Planned lectures:
1. "Fine, I'll do it myself.": Getting started, decision-making 101, including SWOT analysis, Pugh charts, design evolution
2. "Organization is Inevitable": How to keep on track to meet your goals, including Scrum, OKRs, and other frameworks
3. 'Reality is Often Disappointing': How to overcome typical challenges, introduction of 'definite optimism' thinking.
Prerequisites
Open-mind and willingness to work collaboratively with a team
X13242: Introduction to Programming Languages Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Toomas Tennisberg,
Wayne Zhao
This class will not actually teach anything related to programming. You will, however, be introduced to Java, C#, pythons, etc., and even Julia regardless.
X13313: Yuppies, Hippies, Tech Bros and Hipsters: Counter-Cultures on the Coasts Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Robert Henning,
Mendel Keller
You might be one. You might try to not be one. Who are these people, and how did they come into existence?
Alternative identities have an interesting history of rebellion and reinvention. For groups that lack organization, they manage to converge on identifiable aesthetics, values, and communities. In this class, we will identify what it means to fit-in while going against the grain.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with mainstream culture and a few counter-cultures.
Alternative identities have an interesting history of rebellion and reinvention. For groups that lack organization, they manage to converge on identifiable aesthetics, values, and communities. In this class, we will identify what it means to fit-in while going against the grain.
Prerequisites
Familiarity with mainstream culture and a few counter-cultures.
X13388: Explosions on a Chessboard Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andy Tockman,
Jennifer Xiong
Atomic chess is a chess variant where every time a capture occurs, all pieces (except pawns) in a 1-square radius explode.
Come learn how to play it, and then play it!
We'll spend most of the time playing games with each other, although we'll cover basic openings, tactics, and endgames for a few minutes first (there are a few things that can catch you off guard if you don't know them).
Prerequisites
Knowledge of how the chess pieces move. No actual chess skill required!
Come learn how to play it, and then play it!
We'll spend most of the time playing games with each other, although we'll cover basic openings, tactics, and endgames for a few minutes first (there are a few things that can catch you off guard if you don't know them).
Prerequisites
Knowledge of how the chess pieces move. No actual chess skill required!
Social Studies
Z13455: Climate change, climate action
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Sam Allon,
Jesse Gordon
What can be done to slow down and reverse the harmful effects of climate change? In this class, we will survey personal, technological, and policy actions that will make a difference.
Z13571: Paradoxes of Democracy: Fair Elections & Voting
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Stephen M. Hou
What if, in hypothetical two-way races during the 2020 primaries, Biden beats Sanders, Sanders beats Warren, and Warren beats Biden? Is this even possible? (Yes.) What would then be a fair way to decide the "best" preferences of Democrats? Whether it's a T-shirt design contest or a presidential election, voting converts preferences of individuals into a single preference for the community. We'll discuss Arrow's Impossibility Theorem, which states that there is no "perfect" way of doing so. We'll demonstrate a few of the mind-boggling flaws that every voting method must have.
Prerequisites
Comfort with arithmetic; interest in voting, political science, decision-making, and/or economics.
Prerequisites
Comfort with arithmetic; interest in voting, political science, decision-making, and/or economics.
Z13169: Environmental Law
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Geng,
Chelsea Kendall
Is there a factory near your home or school that's polluting your air or water? How would you find out? What can you do about it?
In this class, we'll dig into a couple of the major federal environmental statutes (especially the Clean Water Act). We'll learn how to look up companies and check to see if they are following the law, and we'll discuss the kinds of things lawyers can do when they find illegal pollution. Best of all, we'll talk about things you can do right now (even without a law degree) to make a difference in your community.
In this class, we'll dig into a couple of the major federal environmental statutes (especially the Clean Water Act). We'll learn how to look up companies and check to see if they are following the law, and we'll discuss the kinds of things lawyers can do when they find illegal pollution. Best of all, we'll talk about things you can do right now (even without a law degree) to make a difference in your community.
Z13198: The New York City Subway
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Hadrian Merced
New York City has one of the largest and busiest rapid transit systems in the world. Come learn about the intricacies of its network and how it came to be what it is today!
Z13208: How to Read a Law
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Theo Black,
CJ Quines
How does a person, unskilled in the profession of law, reasonably imbibe the impenetrable textual information pertaining to our legal system, notwithstanding the construction of complex or compound sentences, when justice so requires?
In this class, we'll read statutes, bills, and parts of the constitution, and go over some techniques to make understanding legislation easier.
In this class, we'll read statutes, bills, and parts of the constitution, and go over some techniques to make understanding legislation easier.
Z13575: Current Current Events
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Zoe Anderson,
Faraz Masroor
Do you know what's going on RIGHT THIS VERY INSTANT? Let's go over extremely current events taking place in real time!
Z13615: Introduction to Positive Disintegration - Part 1
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Sherene Raisbeck,
Josh Shaine
Dr. Kazimierz Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD) provides a lot of explanations for why some of us feel as if we fit into this world so poorly.
In this session, we will explore the basics of TPD, including OverExcitabilities, Dynamisms, and Levels of Development of personality.
So, if you are looking for alternate explanations for why some things bother you far more than they bother most folks, join us!
In this session, we will explore the basics of TPD, including OverExcitabilities, Dynamisms, and Levels of Development of personality.
So, if you are looking for alternate explanations for why some things bother you far more than they bother most folks, join us!
Z13638: From Galen to Gawande: The History of Medical Science
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Riley Drake,
Sterling Harper
Is the practice of medicine a science? It certainly looks like science with its precision instruments, technical journals, Latin words, and years of required post-secondary education. But for millennia, medical practices were established using expert judgment instead of the scientific method. As a result, physicians of the past employed a dubious array of treatments and inflicted unnecessary suffering on their patients. Thankfully, the last century or so has seen a wholehearted embrace of science by medical practitioners. The pace of change was so rapid, that today’s hospitals are significantly safer even than the ones our parents were born in. Come learn about the history of medicine and its surprisingly slow but powerful adoption of science. You’ll learn about some tragedies such as the near discovery of the cure for scurvy and some astounding success stories such as a 20x decrease in anesthesia-related deaths seen in the 1980s.
Z13518: Introduction to Nuclear Security
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Katherine Irajpanah
Since their birth in World War II, nuclear weapons have transformed international politics. This session provides an introduction to major issues surrounding nuclear weapons today. Join this class to learn more about an important global challenge, and try your own hand at handling a nuclear crisis.
Z13191: American Political Process
Difficulty: **
Ever wonder how people get elected to the American government? Ever wonder how much your vote actually counts? Come learn about the American political system at Splash! Includes things like "How do you register to vote?", "Where do our laws and systems come from?", "What is a caucus / primary?", and "What is gerrymandering?"
Prerequisites
N/A
Prerequisites
N/A
Z13303: How to Win an Argument
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Jonathan Haber
Have you ever had an argument that never seemed to go anywhere, or one where you seemed to be arguing past one another? FInd out why and learn how to make devastatingly effective arguments as well as understand the strength and weaknesses of arguments you hear or read. Arguments are all around us, especially during an election season, and this course will empower you to understand and win them.
Z13152: Gayness Is Defiance
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Hasan Khan
Are you gay? Ever thought you were *too* gay? Are you interested in "gay culture"? Have you ever wondered why Pride is a thing? Have you ever heard straight people say "I don't have a problem with gay people, I just hate it when it's their entire personality"?
Well, buckle up, kids. Gayness IS defiance and we're going to use evolution, psychology, and evolutionary psychology to prove why the capitalist heteropatriarchy fails queer people of all identities the most. Queer rebellion is in!
(content warning: we will be discussing mental, physical, and sexual health problems, including suicide, drug abuse, depression, and more topical issues that plague the LGBTQIA+ community)
Prerequisites
Background knowledge in evolution, psychology, and/or LGBTQIA+ history will be really helpful
Well, buckle up, kids. Gayness IS defiance and we're going to use evolution, psychology, and evolutionary psychology to prove why the capitalist heteropatriarchy fails queer people of all identities the most. Queer rebellion is in!
(content warning: we will be discussing mental, physical, and sexual health problems, including suicide, drug abuse, depression, and more topical issues that plague the LGBTQIA+ community)
Prerequisites
Background knowledge in evolution, psychology, and/or LGBTQIA+ history will be really helpful
Z13510: Weird Laws and Cases
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Elizabeth Parizh
In Newark, it's illegal to sell ice cream after 6pm without a doctor's note.
Silly string is illegal in Marlborough.
Arkansas man head-butted his mother. Twice.
In this class, you can learn all about weird laws like this, which exist in cities everywhere in the country. And then we might talk about some criminals that have gotten into some... unlucky situations. People are fascinating creatures, after all.
Silly string is illegal in Marlborough.
Arkansas man head-butted his mother. Twice.
In this class, you can learn all about weird laws like this, which exist in cities everywhere in the country. And then we might talk about some criminals that have gotten into some... unlucky situations. People are fascinating creatures, after all.
Z13350: Democracy, Voting, and Civic Participation in the US
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kelsey Merrill
Why doesn't popular policy become reality? Does voting matter in a country of 300 million people? Why are people in the US generally ill-informed and how can we solve that problem? What effect does that have on our political system? What do politicians care about and what makes them change their minds? Come learn about this stuff and discuss it with your peers. We may not get to all of this in an hour, but we'll learn a lot and hopefully have a good discussion!
Z13446: How to make a language
Difficulty: **
Are you fascinated by languages? Do you want to deconstruct the concept of a language, and see how it's built?
Come learn how languages work and the cool stuff they do with sounds, words, structure, and much more- while gaining the tools to construct your own language.
We'll provide: something to write on, something to write with
Bring: something to think with!
Prerequisites
Knowing at least one language (note that English is a language)
Come learn how languages work and the cool stuff they do with sounds, words, structure, and much more- while gaining the tools to construct your own language.
We'll provide: something to write on, something to write with
Bring: something to think with!
Prerequisites
Knowing at least one language (note that English is a language)
Z13502: LGBTQ Legal Rights: Recent History and the Present Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Lopreiato
You probably heard about the big marriage equality Supreme Court case back in 2015, but that wasn’t the only US Supreme Court court case to address same-sex marriage - or the only one about LGBTQ rights. There’s a lot that makes headlines about LGBTQ rights, but the context behind those events, and why they happen the way they do, is just as important - and that’s what you’ll learn in this class. We’ll explore how LGBTQ rights in the US got to where they are today, and what issues still haven’t been resolved. Learning about this is particularly important if you’re LGBTQ, so you can understand what your rights are (especially discrimination protections, which we’ll talk a lot about). But it’s also really interesting - so feel free to come if you just want to learn about civil rights law or some court cases!
Prerequisites
None.
Prerequisites
None.
Z13503: Oodles of Data, gallons of knowledge and an ounce of wisdom - getting familiar with some indispensable websites
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Godha Bapuji I.
The Internet is a vast world and there's so much data out there. In this course, I will introduce you to some very interesting websites and teach you how to use their information to make well-informed decisions.
You will also find these websites extremely relevant for your research projects - one example of which will be the theme of our class "Where we stand in the Global world?"
What does future entail?
How to break down tough questions like prioritization in solving world's problems?
Self-Reflection of where countries really stand despite what they think
The knowing-doing gap
Prerequisites
Thirst for research and Scientific thinking. Questions about our readiness for future?
You will also find these websites extremely relevant for your research projects - one example of which will be the theme of our class "Where we stand in the Global world?"
What does future entail?
How to break down tough questions like prioritization in solving world's problems?
Self-Reflection of where countries really stand despite what they think
The knowing-doing gap
Prerequisites
Thirst for research and Scientific thinking. Questions about our readiness for future?
Z13578: Who Gets What and Why Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Paolo Adajar,
Evan Caragay
Ever wondered what connects organ donations, dating, and you getting into this Splash class? In this class we'll talk about how markets work, why they fail, and how we can design better ones. Markets are more than just moving money around!
Z13580: Public Economics Crash Course
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Ashay Athalye,
Isabelle Liu
Learn about the proper role of the government in the economy. The changing role of government and exciting current policy debates motivate the study of this field.
We'll introduce a range of topics from externalities to public goods to political economy and then hone in, depending on class interest, one topic such as education or welfare programs.
Prerequisites
Comfortable with algebra
We'll introduce a range of topics from externalities to public goods to political economy and then hone in, depending on class interest, one topic such as education or welfare programs.
Prerequisites
Comfortable with algebra
Z13170: President Madison on the Founding of the United States
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Bil Lewis,
Mary Mangan
With the assistance of students performing in vignettes as Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Dolly Madison, Paul Jennings, etc., we will explore events from the House of Burgesses, the Constitutional Convention, the “Dinner Party,” the battle over the First United States Bank, etc., that marked the coming of age of the United States.
More than a mere recitation of dates and facts, this will be an exploration into the underlying reasons that prompted them to act as they did. What were their values? What were their experiences in life?
Many of the issues they confronted back then continue to be relevant today.
Should we be one Country?
What debts should be paid?
Who gets the power of Taxation?
Should a Private Bank issue money?
Should we be agrarian? Or a center of manufacturing?
How do we limit the influence of Great Corporations on our public life?
How can we protect the Common Man from the rapaciousness of the Rich and Powerful?
How do we eliminate Slavery?
How do we make real the “Spirit of ’76?” So we can finally say that “All Men are Created Equal.”
Prerequisites
Have you ever heard someone expounding on how lousy the founders were for not snapping their fingers and abolishing slavery, respecting Indian rights, providing fair representation in Congress, balancing the budget, building roads, establishing universal suffrage, abolishing war, implementing Thomas Paine's "Universal Basic Income," etc.? This will be a really good place to talk about all that.
More than a mere recitation of dates and facts, this will be an exploration into the underlying reasons that prompted them to act as they did. What were their values? What were their experiences in life?
Many of the issues they confronted back then continue to be relevant today.
Should we be one Country?
What debts should be paid?
Who gets the power of Taxation?
Should a Private Bank issue money?
Should we be agrarian? Or a center of manufacturing?
How do we limit the influence of Great Corporations on our public life?
How can we protect the Common Man from the rapaciousness of the Rich and Powerful?
How do we eliminate Slavery?
How do we make real the “Spirit of ’76?” So we can finally say that “All Men are Created Equal.”
Prerequisites
Have you ever heard someone expounding on how lousy the founders were for not snapping their fingers and abolishing slavery, respecting Indian rights, providing fair representation in Congress, balancing the budget, building roads, establishing universal suffrage, abolishing war, implementing Thomas Paine's "Universal Basic Income," etc.? This will be a really good place to talk about all that.
Z13574: You: “the perfect voting system doesn’t exi-“ Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Evan Caragay,
Shuli Jones
People complain about the electoral college and about other systems of voting. But can there ever truly be a perfect system? We will use formal logic (in a proof!) to prove this definitively one way or the other.
Z13397: The Most Remote Civilization on Earth
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Oomi Pammit,
Steven Qu
Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands recently got LTE internet one year ago. The tale of mutiny in 1790 hasn’t rested— come learn of a war that birthed a language, a sex trial that jailed a third of the male population (so, effectively, 7 men), and a mere $500 (New Zealand dollars) standing in the way between you and moving your life to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Extremely useless yet interesting trivia about a population-55 town that’s preserved just about everything except the ship they crashed and burned there.
Z13618: Positive Disintegration (part 2) - Taking the Theory Further
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Sherene Raisbeck,
Josh Shaine
This is a course for students who have taken the Introduction to Positive Disintegration course whether this year or a previous one,, or those with familiarity with Kazimierz Dabrowski's work from other sources.
It is *not* for beginners!
Prerequisites
Familiarity with Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration beyond overexcitabilities.
It is *not* for beginners!
Prerequisites
Familiarity with Dabrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration beyond overexcitabilities.
Z13504: Industrial Security and Internet of Things
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Godha Bapuji I.
Internet of Things or IoT seems to be a buzzword on the block. Come in to learn what this is all about.
We will also look at what we mean by Industrial Security and how IoT impacts our societies
I will show you around what our nation considers "ICS" and the exciting career pathways you can choose to be part of the securing our world wherever you are from!
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of Computer Sciences. Thirst for research and scientific thinking. Thinking about future studies or career pathways in Cybersecurity
We will also look at what we mean by Industrial Security and how IoT impacts our societies
I will show you around what our nation considers "ICS" and the exciting career pathways you can choose to be part of the securing our world wherever you are from!
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of Computer Sciences. Thirst for research and scientific thinking. Thinking about future studies or career pathways in Cybersecurity
Z13171: Judge for a day!
Difficulty: ***
Teachers:
Andrew Geng,
Chelsea Kendall
You're the Supreme Court! Have you ever wondered how legal precedents are made? Now you get to participate. We'll divide the class into "judges" and "attorneys," with half of the students presenting mock oral arguments, while the other half asks tough questions and decides the case.
This is your opportunity to decide what the law should be, to figure out how to weigh the perspectives of different sides, and to practice arguing persuasively for one viewpoint while being forced to grapple with the other side's arguments. Law students practice oral arguments as a way to improve their analytic skills and understanding of the law -- now you can too!
Prerequisites
Comfort with public speaking (or the bravery to try it anyway).
This is your opportunity to decide what the law should be, to figure out how to weigh the perspectives of different sides, and to practice arguing persuasively for one viewpoint while being forced to grapple with the other side's arguments. Law students practice oral arguments as a way to improve their analytic skills and understanding of the law -- now you can too!
Prerequisites
Comfort with public speaking (or the bravery to try it anyway).
Z13213: Modeling Decision Making
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Andrew Komo,
Whitney Zhang
This class will explore how people make decisions under risk and uncertainty through interactive games. We will primarily focus on thinking about decision making through prospect theory and expected utility frameworks.
Z13374: Food Sustainability: Making the World a Better Plate Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Maya Collins,
Anna Mervosh
Is food the true love of your life? Do you aspire to be a freegan vegan but can't bear to face a life of denial? Never fear—this class is for you! During our time together, we'll learn about the environmental impact of some of our favorite foods and ways in which we can make more conscious choices. We'll adopt a systems-based approach, looking at the local food movement, plant-based diets, and agriculture policies to explore the dynamics between governments, markets, and individuals. You'll leave this class with a new perspective on food systems—empowered to make more sustainable choices.
Z13646: All the World's a Game: Game Theory in International Relations
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Kelsey Becker,
Marianne Olsen
Game theory tries to predict the choices that perfectly rational decision-makers make in given situations. We'll go over some basic two-player games and discuss how we can apply these theories to the interactions between countries!
Prerequisites
None!
Prerequisites
None!
Z13658: Building Resistance Movements Against Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Amit Gandhi,
Jessica Huang
I took a life-changing class offered between the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Chan School of Public Health on this topic, and now I cannot un-see what I've learned...human trafficking and forced labor is happening all over the globe, in many industries where we make daily purchases. From the migrants and asylum-seekers at our country's border with Mexico to the refugees I have been working with in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, there are so many communities who are being particularly targeted by traffickers today. By becoming more aware about some of the issues, and some of the positive efforts people have been working on to fight against modern slavery, we can better prepare ourselves to do something about this major challenge facing our world. I hope to spend the last 10-15 minutes of this session together discussing potential action steps.
Prerequisites
None - all are welcome!
Prerequisites
None - all are welcome!
Z13433: Crash Course in the History of Everything
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Marissa Abbott,
Jenny Zhao
Have you ever wanted to learn about something or anything? Come learn about everything that ever happened in Crash Course in the History of Everything!
Z13468: Intro to Diplomacy: What Model UN Doesn't Teach You
Difficulty: **
Teachers:
Brock Adler,
Gabriello Adler-Abramo
Have you ever attended a Model United Nations Conference? Have you been confused by the Iran and Iraq delegates co-sponsoring a big resolution? Or wondered how the UN even functions, given the Security Council and the veto power? And what are you supposed to even do about "power delegates" anyway?
Well then this class is for you!
The class will be an open discussion of Model UN, looking at where Model UN fails in depicting international relations, the UN itself, and the general diplomatic process.
There will be slides, but this class is intended to start a conversation, so please come prepared with any questions and/or answers you might have. Questions, answers, and comments will be welcome throughout.
Prerequisites
Experience, or just interest, in Model United Nations (Model UN).
Well then this class is for you!
The class will be an open discussion of Model UN, looking at where Model UN fails in depicting international relations, the UN itself, and the general diplomatic process.
There will be slides, but this class is intended to start a conversation, so please come prepared with any questions and/or answers you might have. Questions, answers, and comments will be welcome throughout.
Prerequisites
Experience, or just interest, in Model United Nations (Model UN).
Z13614: Deal or No Deal: Learning to Negotiate
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Ngoc Nguyen,
Lily Zhang
Learn about the art of negotiation: what brings people to the bargaining table, how to maximize value, and close deals through participation in a negotiation exercise with your fellow classmates!
Z13334: Decision Theory for Dum Dums
Difficulty: *
Teachers:
Robert Chen,
Chanseo Lee
Do you want to win 100 Dum Dums? Compete against your classmates in various games such as the prisoner's dilemma, the ultimatum game, greed control, and more! Be sure to bring your best decision-making and social skills with you—a prize pool of hundreds of Dum Dums is on the line! After each game, we will briefly explore how it relates to psychology, sociology, and rationality.
At the end, we will play a final game to determine who walks out with 100 Dum Dums (in addition to the Dum Dums they won from previous games).
At the end, we will play a final game to determine who walks out with 100 Dum Dums (in addition to the Dum Dums they won from previous games).
Z13453: Development Economics: To Equality and Beyond
Difficulty: **
If you read the news, it might seem like changes in the world are mostly doom and gloom. But if we look at broad trends in quality of living across the world, there is cause for celebration! Over the last 25 years, more than a billion people have lifted themselves out of extreme poverty. How did this happen, and what would it take to get the remaining 8 percent of people out of poverty?
Development economics studies questions like this, as well as other issues related to economy and society in low-income countries. In this class, you’ll learn about how economists tackle questions like the ones above, and how you might apply them to the questions that most interest you!
Development economics studies questions like this, as well as other issues related to economy and society in low-income countries. In this class, you’ll learn about how economists tackle questions like the ones above, and how you might apply them to the questions that most interest you!