Believe it or not, there are some problems computers simply can't solve, even if you give them unlimited memory and time. These aren't some wishy-washy philosophical meaning-of-life problems either but very well-defined, fairly simple mathematical statements. This class will focus on the absolute limit of what a computer can do and what implications this has both in theory and in practice. It turns out there are a fair number of philosophical implications here as well, so we'll talk about some of those too.

Whether or not you know it, you're at the center of a huge number of challenging ethical, legal, and practical issues. Every day, thousands of people grapple with questions that have a profound impact on your daily life. What rights do you have as a minor? As a student? (Public, private, or home school---pick your poison, each is a rabbit hole of complex questions!) How about as a child, as a patient, as a sibling, as a business owner? (Lemonade stands and iPhone apps anyone?) This class will focus on US law, particularly as it applies to minors and students. We'll start with a brief crash course on how the US government works and how laws pertaining to children end up getting applied and enforced. We'll then move on to a bunch of history and prior cases that have shaped the answers to these questions over time. Come prepared with an open mind to discuss some very complex and fascinating issues. No prior knowledge of law or politics will be expected.

Whether or not you know it, you're at the center of a huge number of challenging ethical, legal, and practical issues. Every day, thousands of people grapple with questions that have a profound impact on your daily life. What rights do you have as a minor? As a student? (Public, private, or home school---pick your poison, each is a rabbit hole of complex questions!) How about as a child, as a patient, as a sibling, as a business owner? (Lemonade stands and iPhone apps anyone?) This class will focus on US law, particularly as it applies to minors and students. We'll start with a brief crash course on how the US government works and how laws pertaining to children end up getting applied and enforced. We'll then move on to a bunch of history and prior cases that have shaped the answers to these questions over time. Come prepared with an open mind to discuss some very complex and fascinating issues. No prior knowledge of law or politics will be expected.

Believe it or not, there are some problems computers simply can't solve, even if you give them unlimited memory and time. These aren't some wishy-washy philosophical meaning-of-life problems either but very well-defined, fairly simple mathematical statements. This class will focus on the absolute limit of what a computer can do and what implications this has both in theory and in practice. It turns out there are a fair number of philosophical implications here as well, so we'll talk about some of those too.

We all use it every day. Many of us can't remember life without it. It's on our desks and in our pockets. It has revolutionized the way we work, the way we learn, the way we keep in touch. But how does it work? This class will introduce you to the basics of the Internet as well as many of the technologies that rely on it, such as the World Wide Web and email. We'll talk about both the theory behind these technologies as well as their histories and futures.

The first amendment: freedom of speech. Fourth: freedom from search and seizure. Those and many of the other rights awarded by our Constitution seem to clearly spell out the rights of America's citizens, and what the government can and can't do. In practice, though, the situation isn't so cut and dry. The history of civil rights awarded to students in public schools is a nuanced and complicated one, with lots of interesting arguments made on either side. Students should come prepared to debate some complicated concepts.

Come listen to some fun stories and learn how to tell your own.

The right to free speech is one of the most treasured institutions of the country, but yours may be a bit more limited than you think. In this class, we'll look at past cases and explore some of the legal boundaries on what students in public schools can and cannot say.

We often hear scare stories about kids who download songs from the Internet and then gets sued for millions. Downloading music and other media is considered by many to be equivalent to stealing. But what is it that the kid steals when he downloads a song, and from whom does he steal it? We would like to think that it is the music itself, but the downloaded file just contains a bunch of numbers that the computer uses to make sound. And why is the fine so high? Surely, the song doesn’t cost thousands of dollars, especially when a CD with a dozen of them costs just a few bucks. In this class, we will discuss the theory behind copyright laws, and what the court cases and battles that go into them are. We will also discuss some of the interesting implications of these laws (such as the fact that 80-year-old Mickey Mouse cartoons are still under copyright).