Summer Scholars Academy: Programs for High School Students Summer 2012

SPECIAL UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH ATHENS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (AIT):
COURSE 1

Introduction to Robotics: Theory and Practice 1. Course profile

Duration: 30 hours in 2 weeks + Final Presentation; June 22 July 5, 2012 Distribution: 10 sessions of 3 hours held every weekday 9:30 A.M. 12:30 P.M. (Theory & Supervised Team work) + Final Presentation. (no class on July 4) Cost: 500 Euro Class size: 10 students. Instructors: AIT professors & assistants (TBA)

2. Description
The course will teach students the basic principles of robotics and robotic design and challenge them to build their own special-purpose robot to compete in a Robot Derby at the end of the semester. Students will begin with the basics of modeling, design, planning, programming and control of robot systems. They will combine knowledge from geometry, physics, kinematics, statics, dynamics and computer programming. The course will be broken up into two strands: theoretical and practical. During the theoretical strand, students will learn how transform all their knowledge into detailed plans to solve a problem and to implement them, i.e. devise and implement an algorithm a skill of paramount importance in engineering. They will also learn design principles for building special-purpose robots: built for speed or light-weightedness, or to utilize sensors, display results, etc. During the practical strand of the course, students will work a LEGO robotics platform and learn the tools to build and program LEGO robots. They will learn principles of programming and the NXT Lego programming tools. They will be exposed to many examples and many designs as well as how to utilize input from sensors. As a final challenge, students will be organized into teams of 3 or 4 and be required to design, build and program a special-

The Institute for Innovation and Creativity is an initiative of ACS Athens

purpose robot for a specific task. A robot derby competition will be held at the end of the course, in which teams will be tested and evaluated on how successful they have been with their design. Their performance will be measured according to specific criteria related to task completion, speed, durability, accuracy, etc.

3. Who benefits?
This course is a simplified transfer of a corresponding first year University course to the 10TH/11th/12th grade highschool students, who are serious about following a career in science and engineering. It will help them acquire basic programming skills and be exposed to the multi-disciplinary way of thinking that characterizes todays science and engineering. Students will draw on different areas of knowledge, such as geometry, physics, mathematics, programming, and efficient design, to successfully complete the course. Further, the exposure of the students to a challenging Technical University environment as well as the need to work in teams will open up new directions in their thinking about university education options and careers paths.

4. Course structure
Summer 2012 (JUNE 21 JULY 5, 2012) 1. Lecture 1 (3 hours): Course Overview, History of Robotics, Videos, Robotic Applications, Related Courses at AIT, Splitting into Working teams 2. Lecture 2 (3 hours) Programming Motion, Angles, Rotations. The Brick, The Tools Commands, Programming the BRICK, The PC Tool, transferring code PC Brick 3. Lecture 3 (3 hours) Sensors & Sensor Readings, Exploring Motions, Exploring sensors, Exploring Display 4. Lecture 4 (3 hours) Program Flow: Conditions and Loops 5. Lecture 5 (3 hours) Nested Loops, Specialty Blocks Programming 6. Lecture 6 (3 hours) Building Tips, First Challenge: Designing Robots for a purpose Line Following Robot (2 techniques) 7. Lecture 7 (3 hours) Lab work: Supervised term project work 8. Lecture 8 (3 hours)) Lab work: Supervised term project work 9. Lecture 9 (3 hours) Lab work: Supervised term project work 10. Lecture 10 (3 hours) Supervised term project work 11. Final Presentation (TBA) --- Presentation by students to their peers Students will earn .5 ACS credit (recorded on transcript) for successful completion of the course.

COURSE 2

Invitation to Computer Science using Java 5. Course profile

Duration: 30 hours in 2 weeks + Final Quiz Distribution: 10 sessions of 3 hours held every day, 12:30 P.M. (Theory & Supervised Team work) + Presentation. Frequency: Offered once in summer each year. Cost: 500 euros 9:30A.M. Final

The Institute for Innovation and Creativity is an initiative of ACS Athens

Class size: 10-20 students. Instructors: AIT professors & assistants (TBA)

6. Description
What is Computer Science; what are its applications in other disciplines, and its impact in society? We provide a broad introduction to computer science and programming through real-life applications. The course does not assume any prior knowledge of programming or computers. The course is a step-by-step introduction to the art of problem solving using the computer and uses the Java language. Labs provide opportunities to experiment with the concepts presented in class and problems that arise in real-life. The goal is to help students develop an understanding of programs like the ones we run on our computers, on the web and on our smart phones (iphone, android phones, ipads). Productivity tools, Digital design, Games and Graphics all are the result of careful and inspired programming. Programming is actually both a science and an art. It requires mathematical knowledge as well as a good mind for structuring and presenting information. Further it requires good knowledge of a new language, a computer language like Java, C++, Visual Basic, Python, and lots of others. It also requires the skills to use a program that will allow you to transcribe your ideas and goals into that language and convert it to an error free set of instructions that the computer understands. The end result is a computer-understandable transcription of the thoughts, design and grand plan of a human or group of humans, for the benefit of other humans! If done correctly, programming is also beautiful in its design, efficient, fast, responsive and enchanting in its outcome: you only have to take a look at your favorite computer game! The course will be a blend of theory and hands-on practice on a development platform. Since Java is universal, students can use their favorite computers and operating systems (Windows, MacOS or LINUX) to develop platform-independent programs that will actually do useful stuff.

7. Who benefits?
This course is a simplified transfer of a corresponding first year University course to the 10th, 11th & 12th grade high-school students. It is intended for all students interested in programming, not only those intending to major in computer science, even though it also addresses advanced topics. It will help them acquire basic programming skills and be exposed to a new way of thinking necessary to progress todays science and engineering. Further, the exposure of the students to a challenging computer science course, as well as the need to work in teams will open up new directions in their thinking about university education options and careers paths. Main topics:

How does a computer work? Logic, gates, circuits, designing logic circuits, machine organization. Designing algorithms. Analyzing the efficiency of algorithms. Implementing algorithms in Java. Computability and Complexity Social issues of computer science.

There will be labs throughout the semester. Since there are no other assignments besides labs, the labs are designed to be finished during lab time. Students will earn .5 ACS credit (recorded on transcript) for successful completion of the course.

The Institute for Innovation and Creativity is an initiative of ACS Athens

8. Course structure
Summer 2012 (June 20 July 3) Tentative List of Lectures 1. 2. Introduction and overview. What is (not) Computer Science? What is an algorithm? Computer Organization: Binary numbers and conversions. Boolean logic, logic gates, logic circuits. Von Neumann architecture. The fetch-decode-execute cycle. Introduction to algorithms and Java programming. Pseudocode elements. Basic instructions. Conditional instructions. The infamous Hello world! program Programming basics: Basic types and operations: input, output, variables, assignment and arithmetic expressions, if-then-else. Loops & Nested loops Programming style. Class work. Arrays in Java. Examples, Problems, Class work: Search array Strings. Examples, Problems, Class work Algorithm efficiency Searching: Sequential search. Binary search. Efficiency. Sorting. Class work Methods (in Java). Array basic methods. For loops Classes and objects in Java. Examples Social Aspects of Computer Science.

3.

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5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Minimum enrollment for both AIT courses is 6 students. Should minimum enrollment not be met, the course will be cancelled (and offered again in the fall) and tuition will be refunded.
Athens Information Technology (AIT)... AIT is a non-profit, independent technology institute that combines its talented faculty, industry links and partnerships to foster world-class education and advanced research in innovative technologies. A faculty of internationally renowned professors - all graduates of top Universities in Greece, Europe or the USA with prior careers abroad and in Greece - creates an exceptional environment for technology research & education and ensures success in future academic or industry networking and placement. AIT is affiliated with top Universities (Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, Aalborg) and provides educational opportunities that span the full range of information technology study starting from an Accredited Undergraduate Program in Computer Engineering all the way to an accredited Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, as well as 3 Master Programs with different emphasis and specializations. Our unique educational method of Problem Based Learning (PBL - supported by UNESCO) leading to hands-on problem solving, the integration of cutting-edge research into the curriculum, the dynamic curricula, our international student body, and the state-of-the-art facilities ensure success in academia and the market place. For further information please check our website http://www.ait.gr

The Institute for Innovation and Creativity is an initiative of ACS Athens

OTHER IIC COURSES Course 3

SAT PREP ACADEMY

A program for students in grades 10 11
June 21 July 5, 2012 (10:00 1:00 daily)
WEEKDAYS ONLY; NO CLASS ON JULY 4)

Ten intensive daily sessions, led by experienced instructors Classes meet for three hours between 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Two classes per session: Mathematics /Critical Reading and Writing Maximum class size: 7-8 students Classes will focus on specific test taking strategies, test taking practice and content review and reinforcement. Cost: 500 euros (ACS Athens students) Minimum of 5 students required for course to run. Maximum number of students who can be enrolled: 15. COST: ACS ATHENS STUDENTS 500 EUROS NON-ACS STUDENTS 750 EUROS
Course 4

HEALTHY CHOICES/HEALTHY LIVING

A program for students entering grades 10-12 June 21 July 5, 2011 (10:00 1:00 daily)
WEEKDAYS ONLY; NO CLASS JULY 4

This discussion-rich, project-based course offers an intensive study of the important health and nutrition topics necessary for all high school students to know, so that they can make informed choices to promote physical, mental and emotional health. The student will study such topics as self-esteem, stress management, abuse, First Aid techniques-CPR, nutrition and exercise, human sexuality, sex and family planning, substance abuse, and STDs. Successful completion of this course will earn students .5 credits and satisfy the ACS graduation requirement for Health. COST: ACS ATHENS STUDENTS 500 euros NON-ACS ATHENS STUDENTS 750 euros

Minimum enrollment: 5 students. Maximum enrollment: 15 students.

The Institute for Innovation and Creativity is an initiative of ACS Athens

Course 5

SCULPTING/BUILDING FOR DESIGN AND STOPMOTION ANIMATION PUPPETS CREATING FOR THE MOVIES
Open to students entering grades 10 - 12 June 21 July 5, 2012 (10:00 1:00 daily)
WEEKDAYS ONLY; NO CLASS ON JULY 4

This class is a hands-on design course starting with research and drawing methods and following with sculpting and/or building to create concept models. Students will be encouraged to animate the character or vehicle at the end of the course, but this is optional. Creating sculptures and scale models is still the easiest and most direct way to create and express a design. In this digital era being able to express a concept/design as a physical object, has never been more pertinent. Sculptures are very often scanned in 3D to make virtual models for SFX and video games and creature design has never been more popular. Students taking this class will have the chance to create a character design or mock-up model from scratch and learn the same methods a professional in the entertainment industry would use. Students will first design a character in 2D and then translate it into a real phisical model(3D). They will also be shown how to make their own tools. The computer will be used only for the purposes of aiding in the research & development of the character design via finding images on the Internet of textures, animals, art and other examples of creature design and puppet sculpting. Students may draw on a laptop using a drawing tablet. The finished result will be a product that every student can take home with him/her to work on further, and/or use as point of reference if they wish to explore the field further. If the students choose to work on an exceptionally ambitious project they can continue to work on it after the class is over using the methods/techniques learned and eventually add it to their portfolio. After working for 10 years on Film and TV productions in Montreal as a modelmaker/sculptor/designer, instructor Dimitri Kaliviotis has recently relocated to Athens, Greece. He graduated from ACS Athens in 1995 and went on to get a degree in design/art at Concordia University in Montreal. He has also given lectures on building and sculpting techniques concerning for stop-motion animation for university students. Minimum enrollment: 5 students. Maximum enrollment: 15 students Successful completion of this course will earn students .5 Arts credits in fulfillment of ACS Athens graduation requirements. COST: ACS STUDENTS 500 euros NON-ACS STUDENTS 750 euros

The Institute for Innovation and Creativity is an initiative of ACS Athens

To enroll: Contact Ms. Marietta Garbis, garbism@acs.gr or 210-6393-200, ext. 302, by June 11, 2012. Students may sign up in person with MS. Garbis in the Arts Center/Institute Office in the Arts Center lobby. Payment should be made directly to the ACS Athens Cashier by June 11, 2012.

The Institute for Innovation and Creativity is an initiative of ACS Athens

The Institute for Innovation and Creativity is an initiative of ACS Athens