Category Archives: Technology

Python programming with PyGame (Eric Menninga)

My goal is to teach fundamental programming skills to students with some familiarity with programming using the language Python with the pyGame library. It is not necessary to know Python if you have done some programming already and if you are very motivated, but are nervous about being a beginning programmer, we can make that work too, but you might need to work a little extra at home for the first few weeks.

I find Python (especially with the free PyCharm IDE from JetBrains) to be a good way to learn programming. Programming computers can be fun, but it can take a lot of practice to become fluent (just like everything else!) Writing programs that are colorful, graphical, and fun is a good way to improve your programming ability.

Some topics we can explore with pyGame include: games, fractals, and simulations. After you take this class, you should have a better understanding about how computer programs work and can create a simple python program with graphics.

About the instructor: I was a programmer at Adobe and Amazon. At work I wrote C++ and did page layout programs. I have taught Python with the PyGame library for a few years. I also know HTML, CSS, JavaScript and other languages.

  • Outside work: A moderate amount (e.g., 30-60 min) for each session
  • Minimum students: 3
  • Sessions per week: 2

Tech Space (TSam) (Sam)

 

Technology is an ever-growing part of life. We use cell phones, midis for music, as well as computers for gaming and research. This will be a space for people to come and be creative on solo projects and collaborate on group ideas. 

This space will be a place for people to come and work on digital art, coding, podcasting, digital music, DJing, designing, and more.  We will be able to take these projects and use them for our personal endeavors or incorporate them into our school community.

  • Outside work: Occasional throughout the term

Shop Life (Scobie)

If you like making things, fixing things,  and  being competent with tools, you should always take as much Shop Life as you can possibly get your hands on! Here’s what we’ll be doing:

  1. Learning about tools and the skills to use them effectively and safely.
  2. Working on improving, organizing, stocking, and cleaning our ever-developing shop.
  3. Contributing to the school and our larger community with fixes, furniture, and projects.
  4. Completing projects that result in gifts you can give to yourself or others.
  5. Possibly learning about our new CNC cutting machine, when to use it, and for what. (If you wish to use this aspect of the shop, please understand there may be significant outside-of-class work to learn about drawing and preparing cut files)Outside work is elective and almost entirely voluntary in this class, almost never assigned.
  • Outside work: See course description above