iD Blog Author: Ryan
February 28th, 2012 by: Ryan
I just came across a great write-up about our iD Gaming Academy held at the University of Denver, one of our summer camps in Colorado. Here is an excerpt, but the full article written by Justin Andress (@justinandress) can be found on Examiner.com.
iD Gaming Academy offers a thinking person’s summer alternative
By Justin Andress
…Kayaking, archery, tromping through the woods. All these sound like activities that take place miles away from the nearest air-conditioning unit or electrical outlet. They sound like a punishment. And after an entire year of hitting the books, wouldn’t you rather spend your vacation focusing over the finer things in life?
New this summer, Denver teens aged 13-18 can check out iD Gaming Academy, and learn the basics of designing and programming your own video games. Hosted locally at the University of Denver, this summer program is also held at prestigious universities across the country…
Click here to read the entire article on Examiner.com
February 28th, 2012 | Tags: Build Your Own Game, summer camps in Colorado, Teen Summer Programs
Posted in: Colorado State University, iD In The News, University of Denver
February 23rd, 2012 by: Ryan
Here is an excerpt from a great article about our Summer Camps in Illinois and STEM education. The full article is currently posted online and will appear in the March edition of Chicago Parent. Enjoy!
Science Deficit
By Robyn Monaghan
…But the real burst came when they sent Andrew to iD Tech camp at Northwestern University about four years ago. iD Tech Camps, also offered at Lake Forest College, are hands-on STEM courses that focus on preparing students for today’s job market. Science buffs 7-17 enroll in weeklong, day and overnight summer programs where they can rub elbows with mentors who are real pros in tech jobs. During the past 13 years, more than 130,000 students at 60 universities worldwide have learned to create video games, iPhone apps, Java programs, websites, movies, 3D animations, ad designs, and even robots.
This summer, Andrew’s going to an iD Tech camp at Stanford University.
“It gives me the chance to be creative, not just a book-learning experience,” Andrew says. “I get to meet people who are really making a living doing the things I love to do.”
Click here to read the entire article on ChicagoParent.com
February 23rd, 2012 | Tags: Chicago summer camps, STEM education, STEM summer camps, summer camps in Illinois
Posted in: iD In The News, Lake Forest College, Northwestern University
February 21st, 2012 by: Ryan
Being around programming, development, and design on a daily basis makes it easy to believe that the demand for tech skills is on the rise. But, it’s always nice to see it validated in print as well.
According to WANTED Analytics, jobs requiring robotics skills greatly increased in January 2012, as corporate recruiters and staffing firms placed about 2,100 online job ads requesting such know-how. A premier source of up-to-date business intelligence for the talent marketplace, WANTED reports that these 2,100 jobs represent 44% growth when compared to January 2011.
We often hear the question – “how do you decide which tech courses to offer?” While feedback from past students and parents is one factor, stats like these can’t be ignored. Common job titles that advertise the requirement of robotics skills include Controls Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, and others.
When you wonder if game design, computer programming for kids, and robotics courses help prepare students for life ahead, these numbers and other reports don’t lie.
February 21st, 2012 | Tags: Computer Programming for Kids, Learn to Program, programming camps, robotics camps, Tech Courses
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
February 13th, 2012 by: Ryan
I just read an interesting article about the need for girls to get more involved with technology; shifting their interests over to activities that may be more worthwhile down the road like computer science and more.
Dare 2B Digital, a conference organized to encourage girls to take part in science and tech careers, recently partnered with Sylvia of “Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Make Show!” at eBay’s San Jose, California campus with the goal of attracting female participants to workshops like “Sylvia’s hands-on Robotics – Kits and Demos.”
At the live show, Lukas Blakk of Mozilla Firefox was running a table of female tweens constructing fox faces with eyes that illuminated upon being connected to an electrical outlet. He had this to say about girls and technology: “Girls need an active invitation to participate…I think a lot of them have had little ‘aha’ moments.”
The article goes on to make key points that with females using social media tools more than their male counterparts, “young women are more likely to be “digital natives” than ever before.”
You can read the full article here.
February 13th, 2012 | Tags: 2012 Summer Camps, Girl Summer Camp, Girls and Technology, Summer Camps for Girls
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
February 9th, 2012 by: Ryan
This post is a result of Valentine’s Day being only a few days away, an obsession with baseball (and my third viewing of Best Picture nominee Moneyball over the last few weeks), and being constantly surrounded by an abundance of tech talk, info, and facts on a daily basis.
“It’s hard not to be romantic about baseball.” These were the words from Brad Pitt, acting as Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane that got me thinking…
While I can wholeheartedly identify with the statement, “being romantic” about something can really apply to any situation where any person has an undying interest in an activity, hobby, pastime, or amusement. For instance, “it’s hard not to be romantic about music,” or “it’s hard not to be romantic about video games.” If you have a passion for listening to or playing music, or playing and even learning how to create video games, you would probably agree.
And for good reason. With music, the combination of instruments and lyrics is endless, allowing one to appreciate that feeling that comes about when a perfect song blares over the airwaves. Likewise, video games can be dreamed up and created about anything imaginable – including a world where a pudgy plumber can find love with the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom (in the spirit of Cupid’s day), or something as simple as a yellow circle buzzing around a maze eating pellets and avoiding ghosts.
If something is worth enjoying then it most definitely has a “romantic” side to it – or at least some aspect where we get so engrossed in learning about and consuming it that it becomes an extension of our being. Once that happens, why not fully pursue that activity? Do what you can to turn a love for playing video games into a working knowledge of how to create your own game, or transform any other personal interest into a potential career and maybe even more.
February 9th, 2012 | Tags: Create Your Own Game, How to Create Video Games, Video Game Courses, Video Game Developer, Video Game Summer Camp
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
February 1st, 2012 by: Ryan
Move Over Arts and Crafts
by Candice Szymczak
Article about our Summer camps in NJ and PA!
February 1st, 2012
Posted in: Princeton University, Villanova University
January 30th, 2012 by: Ryan
I’m willing to bet that you’re utilizing some piece of technology to read this blog post. Ok, that was an easy one, but I also say that if you look left or right, you’ll most likely see something else tech-related. From desktops and laptops, to tablets, smartphones, and TVs…the list goes on.
Getting to the point, technology is all around us. And as if the benefit of offering “tech” courses that directly correlate with booming, well-paying STEM jobs wasn’t cool enough, an abundance of technology allows us to expand our course list to include a variety of different options in interest areas that might not be immediately related to technology. Take movies for example. Sure you have your Avatar-type flicks and other big budget blockbuster films that instantly take your mind to technology as you stare in awe of special effects, amazing animations, and more. But really, even the most basic film couldn’t have been produced without technology.
Now that Oscar nominations have been announced, this is the perfect time to reiterate the fact that technology is more than a computer, allowing us to be more than a “tech” camp. Technology is about our NY film school, and our CA film camp classes. It’s about Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects, filming techniques, and high-end video cameras…really, it could be about anything you want it to be, as you’d be hard-pressed to find a hobby that couldn’t be enhanced with technology.
Basically, technology is becoming less about watching movies or playing video games, and is increasingly evolving to describe a collection of tools or skill set one can acquire to work better/smarter, and to take their interests to the next level.
January 30th, 2012 | Tags: Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro, CA Film Camp, Movie Making Camp, NY Film School
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
January 25th, 2012 by: Ryan
Born and raised in California, I’ve always felt my home state was the biggest; the best. Sure, Texas may have us beat in terms of square miles, but there sure are a lot of people packed in CA.
But really, whichever way you look at it, bigger certainly means one thing…more families; more schools. Above all else, more students with hobbies who might not have an outlet for their pent up creativity or an option to explore how to take their interests to the next level.
As mentioned in my last post, one of our goals is to allow that opportunity for as many students as possible – to talk to parents and teachers, listen to their feedback, and then put a plan in action to offer new communities in different parts of the country the chance to experience a fun and challenging tech summer program – right in their own backyard.
Did you know there are 10 different universities that host iD Tech Camps in the state of California? And looking at Texas, we have most of the major cities covered as well – Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Now, as an addition to our 2012 summer camp lineup, we are also hosting Fort Worth summer camps, held at TCU.
As a sports fanatic, I’m familiar with TCU’s Horned Frog football team, a squad that burst on the scene with an undefeated 2010 season and an appearance in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl…only to go undefeated again in the 2011 regular season on their way to claiming their first Rose Bowl title.
There’s no doubt about it. TCU is a school that has not only experienced success on the gridiron, but also on campus and in the classroom as a highly reputable university in the big ol’ state of Texas.
So, when it comes to expanding our university locations so kids and teens across the country can engage in game design and modding, web design courses, movie making, programming, and a whole lot more, I can set my California allegiance aside.
January 25th, 2012 | Tags: 2012 Summer Camps, CA summer camps, Fort Worth Summer Camps, TCU Camps, Texas summer camps, web design courses
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
January 18th, 2012 by: Ryan
Looking for Albuquerque summer camps? Here is some quick info on our summer tech camps held at the University of New Mexico!
We have many goals, ranging from making sure to offer only the most interesting and relevant STEM courses, to hosting summer camps and programs that are fun, yet challenging to inspire and cultivate student interests.
Another goal is to give kids and teens across the nation the opportunity to engage in technology, from California to Rhode Island – and everywhere in between. This 2012 summer camp season’s new “in between” includes New Mexico, and specifically Albuquerque summer camps held at the University of New Mexico.
While some of us might not be thrilled with having to write out the word “Albuquerque” over and over again this season, we are excited to offer technology classes and courses to yet another state and major city. Albuquerque is New Mexico’s largest city, and with 35,000 students, UNM is the largest post-secondary institution in the state.
In terms of our classes for kids and teens in Albuquerque, students have the chance to learn how to make iPhone games, and can take a web design course or can choose from a variety of other options.
All in all, we are excited to see all of you NM kids and teens at our Albuquerque summer camps this summer!
January 18th, 2012 | Tags: Albuquerque summer camps, How to Make iPhone Games, New Mexico summer camps, NM summer camps
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
January 12th, 2012 by: Ryan
Readying to wrap yet another year as one of the nation’s leading technology-related trade shows, the 2012 version of CES (Consumer Electronics Show) appeased the masses as expected.
After all, it is CES that has wowed audiences over the years by introducing massive marvels like Samsung’s 102-inch plasma TV in 2005, and continuing the tech tradition with experiences like the tablet-driven show of 2011. Celebrities ranging from to Adrian Grenier to Jay-Z (appearing in a Bill Gates skit) have taken part in the event, so what makes the 2012 rendition special?
Maybe it was Justin Bieber and a dancing robot, or 50 Cent’s new audio gear. There were plenty of iPad-rival products from Acer, Lenovo, and others trying to push their way to the front in order to make the most of Apple’s show absence. And don’t forget Razer’s ‘Project Fiona’ gaming tablet (pictured above), which is essentially a screen with two handles equipped on both sides for a more ”controlled” gaming experience. Not to mention plenty of new cameras, amazing HDTVs, and a host of other gadgets and gizmos.
All in all, not a bad showing, and who knows what next year will have in store. But, while it might be another year before CES returns to Nevada in 2013, there will be plenty of technology on hand this summer as students begin to show for our Las Vegas summer camps held at UNLV.
January 12th, 2012 | Tags: CES 2012, Las Vegas summer camps, Nevada summer camps, Summer Camps 2012
Posted in: iD Tech Bloggers
