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July 19th, 2006 by: Nancy
Kids get plugged in at tech camp
By Erikah Haavie
Ian Slakas was looking for something special to give his friends during his birthday party next week.
He decided on video games he would create.
”It wouldn’t be the average thing to give out,” said Slakas, an 11-year-old from Croton, Westchester, County.
Slakas is among 90 students from across New York attending iD Tech Camp at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie this week.
The weeklong computer camps are teaching students from elementary school to high school how to create video games, produce digital movies and music videos, program computers and design Web sites.
Vassar is one of 40 colleges and universities across the country hosting the camps, offered by the Campbell, Calif.-based company iD Tech Camps.
Tuition for a week of instruction ranges from $699 for a day program to $1,099 for an overnight program.
The youngest students are learning how to create digital artwork using Adobe Photoshop, while more advanced students are customizing existing video games.
2-time attendee
Jessica Jackson, a 15-year-old from the Town of Poughkeepsie, is attending the camp for the second year.
Her dad piqued her interest in computers, since he works with them every day as an accountant.
She has been designing her own artwork and Web site this week.
”You don’t feel like you’re just sitting around,” Jackson said. ”You get to meet new people.”
While most students come to camp to pursue their technology interests, Pete Vigeant, director of Vassar’s camp, said he hopes students will get a taste of college life and make new friends with similar interests.
”They’re not shy here because everyone here is like them,” Vigeant said.
Doug Mansell, an 18-year-old Salt Point resident, is teaching video-game creation to six students this summer.
He said he has been impressed with their creativity. Students have created games with hedgehog-shooting elephants and mummies that shoot fruit in outer space.
Slakas is working on two video games he’ll share with his friends, a series of challenges named Helicopter and Helicopter 2.0.
He is attending three weeks of computer camp.
”Here it’s always new things,” Slakas said. ”It’s always an adventure.”
Erikah Haavie can be reached at ehaavie@pough keepsiejournal.com
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July 19th, 2006 | Tags: Vassar College Computer News Article
Posted in: Columbia University, Fordham University, New York University, Vassar College
July 12th, 2006 by: Ryan
Schools & Education
July 12, 2006
July 12th, 2006
Posted in: Concordia University, iD In The News, Lake Forest College, Northwestern University
July 5th, 2006 by: Ryan
Computer camp excites imagination
By Sharon Schiff
As computer screens radiate, so do the minds of the savvy children enrolled in computer camps at the College of William & Mary. They not only learn technology, they create it as well.
Enthralled by his own video game creation, 9-year-old Adam Bloack could barely take his eyes off his monitor as he explained his game.
“See, you have to get this guy John Minor out of these jewel caves, and collecting jewels gives you extra points and they are hidden under rocks,” Bloack said, hardly stopping to blink. “I’m doing very well in my game……Look, look at this – charge! Ahh, he vaporized me.”
Bloack, who went to the camp with his 10-year-old cousin from New Jersey, is among 32 kids aged 7-17 immersed into techie world. “I’m really glad I am going here.” Bloack said. “I have really learned a lot.” The campers explore the world of technology through robotics, programming, digital videography, video game design and web design.
Caitlin Kelley, 13, sat before a 3-D video game she created. She used characters from her favorite show, “Charmed,” as the basics for her animation. She finds working in 3-D especially challenging because one has to create an allusion for things to look real.
One group of campers that was participating in a digital video session made a five minute movie. They wrote a script, acted, filmed, and produced an intentionally inaccurate comedy using software Final Cut Pro. In the film Thomas Jefferson attempts to write the Constitution but is prevented from doing so by Benjamin Franklin’s rude intrusions. “Benjamin wipes his face on the Constitution, blows out a candle and distracts Thomas Jefferson by playing his guitar,” explained Allie Nyguen, 13, who has a passion for film. “It was fun, I really liked getting to film from all different angles.”
Instructor Rob Yip has been working closely with his campers to teach them programming & robotics. Using Java script, the kids have created electronic “Mad Libs,” built a calculator and are working on creating a function for a robot they put together.
Camp director Kevin Kvalvik is stepped in educational technology. For him, the “inquiry-based” instruction works very well. Already he has been impressed with “the cream of the crop” children he’s had the opportunity to work with. “We have groups of kids that are not timid about what they are learning.” Kvalvik said. The children enjoy the experience, ask lots of questions and produce top-notch projects. “When you have them for a week, you can create a culture and take giant steps,” Kvalvik said. “Kids here instantly vamp up to college-level work. “They just get it.”
The instructors are mostly college students, graduate students or those experienced in the field of technology. The camp was founded by a family-owned company, where the idea originated while Alexa Ingram Cauchi was working on a business project at the University of Washington. She started up the camp with the help of her parents and brother and it has taken off.
Want to go? A company called Internal Drive runs the camps. Sessions are available at 40 colleges across the country. Tech camps are in their eighth season, but this year is the first time at W&M. Sessions began June 18 and run through July 28th. The price is $699 for day camp and $1,099 overnight. Space is still available. Log on to internalDrive.com or call 888-709-8324.
July 5th, 2006
Posted in: American University, College of William & Mary, iD In The News, Towson University, University of Virginia
July 2nd, 2006 by: Ryan
Tech camp at U seeks budding geniuses
By Leslie Brooks Suzukamo
July 2nd, 2006
Posted in: iD In The News, Macalester College
