Upper School - Creativity and Design Courses

List of 3 items.

• Advanced Design Portfolio

  Advanced Design Portfolio is a year-long elective for ninth graders that takes place in Fay’s Center for Creativity & Design. This course is a full academic course and is graded on the same scale as the course courses in math, English, science, history, and world languages. It is designed to build each student’s design skills and understanding of professional design tracks through the creation of design objects and systems. Advanced Design Portfolio focuses on the following themes:

   

  • Human-centered design — a design philosophy and methodology that places the user’s needs and experience at the center of the design process
  • Digital fabrication — the use of the CC&Ds laser cutter, 3D printers, vinyl cutter, and other machines to create design objects
  • Understanding the moral, environmental, and technological relationships designs have with the cultures they live in

• Coding for Apps and Games

  This term elective is an interactive course designed to immerse students in the world of coding and app development. This course equips students with the fundamental skills they need to create their own unique apps and games.

  
  

  Students will learn the basics of coding languages such as Python, JavaScript, Swift, and Java. They will explore the process of designing an app, from conceptualizing an idea to implementing functionality and testing for user experience.

  
  

  Students will also delve into the principles of game design, learning how to create engaging and interactive experiences within their apps. Students will also explore more advanced topics such as game physics as they learn how to integrate game elements into their apps.

  
  

  By the end of the course, students will have a solid foundation in coding and app development and will be ready to turn their creative ideas into functional and user-friendly apps and games.

• Robotics

  This term elective provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concepts and skills needed to understand and create robots. Students will learn about the basics of robotics, including the principles of mechanical design and the role of sensors and actuators. Students will also explore the concept of control systems and how they are used to program a robot's actions.

  
  

  Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to hands-on projects, allowing them to experience the process of designing, building, and programming a robot. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of robotics and will be ready to explore more advanced topics.