9:00-9:45 – Creative Character Design for Narrative Writing with Bryan Tillman Bryan Tillman, author of Focal Press’s Creative Character Design, talks about ways to bridge the gap between the technique of drawing characters and the theory of good character design. Topics include archetypes, color, design, silhouettes, story, and much more.
10:00-10:45 – Creating an interactive classroom with Makey Makey and DC Coder Kids Makey Makey is a super cool kit that allows you to turn just about any conductive object into a controller for a computer. That means you can use bananas, lemons, limes, play-doh, cups of water, pieces of aluminum foil, and even other people to control games, make music, and much more! In this workshop we will show you the basics of connecting the Makey Makey, determining which materials will work with it, and using it with a computer. Bring a laptop with the Scratch 2.0 Offline Editor installed (https://scratch.mit.edu/download) and a Makey Makey if you have one. We'll have some loaner Makey Makey kits to share, and a bunch of conductive materials for experimentation.
11:00 -11:45 – Hack the Sun with Dr. Odenwald In this workshop, you will learn some very basic things about our sun that you can ‘hack’ using your smartphone. We will explore free apps that let you measure the sun’s brightness, track its path across the sky, estimate its temperature, and check out its sunspots and corona. We will also explore its interaction with Earth by measuring the electrical power it can generate in a solar panel, check whether magnetic storms are happening, and see whether aurora will be visible. During the workshop, we will also brainstorm ideas for experiments that we can perform with these apps that stimulate curiosity and personal exploration of the sun and its terrestrial effects, and turn every child into a Citizen Explorer!
12:00-12:45 – Mutants, Elves, & Aliens: Teaching Science Fiction & Fantasy to Gifted Students Josh Shaine Sometimes kids feel disconnected from their communities and schools and start wondering if they are changelings or aliens. Regardless of whether they attend traditional school or are homeschooled, these quirky, intense, inquisitive kids experience a connection gap between themselves and the children around them that can manifest in a sharp feeling of alienation. They seek like minds to form groups where they can find their "home planet," and at last be themselves. Through Science Fiction and Fantasy, these children can form connections to literature, their classmates, and even the world beyond. In this session, we will discuss techniques that work and those that don't, cover specific materials, and address issues that can arise in such courses. Discover how to help these amazing children "find their people" through Science Fiction and Fantasy!
1:00-1:45 - Striving and Thriving in the Technological Future From HAL 9000 and the CYLONS, Frankenstein and Planet of the Apes, Science Fictions warn of the dangers of technology and science run amok. Join Dr. Manorama Talaiver in exploring the International Society for Technology in Education Student Standards and using the standards to facilitate, organize, and personalize learning experiences for your students/children through digital storytelling projects and develop creative communication, critical thinking, and imagination.
Continental breakfast and light lunch to be provided.