Registration for this Masterclass is FULL. Please add yourself to the Wait List using the link above and we will contact you if space becomes available.
The Smithsonian Science Education Center is welcoming your game designer to a multi-day, virtual STEM Master Class in Game Design and Coding! Students in Grades 6-8 have the chance to learn how to design their very own game! They will learn what goes into the systems and design of a digital game while engaging with a scientific phenomenon centering on recreating a food chain.
No coding experience is necessary for this course. A laptop or desktop computer is strongly recommended, as students will not be able to have full functionality of Scratch™ if using a tablet or mobile device. Students should also have access to an internet browser on that device to use during the class sessions.
The week prior to the class beginning, students will receive pre-course materials to familiarize themselves with the basics of the game design engine, Scratch™. Parents will need to help students sign up for a free account on Scratch™ (if they don’t already have one) and make sure you have confirmed the email address for the account (this will be necessary to share their project).
Virtual Class Schedule:
Monday, August 8, 2022: Introduction to Scratch™ Game Design and then students will start to tinker around with the program and start building their games.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022: Instructor will lead some optional tutorials but this will be mainly be a time for informal co-collaboration and debugging. Students will have open work time to continue building their games, ask questions, and share ideas with other students.
Friday, August 12, 2022: Virtual Presentation Day. Each student will present their final product to the class.
Registration Details:
This course is FREE and is limited to 25 middle school students. Registration is first-come, first-serve, and you must complete the entire registration process on this webpage to be enrolled. Once your transaction is complete, you will receive an email receipt from Smithsonian Associates. Any/all questions or concerns should be directed to SummerCamp@si.edu. Registration will close when the class is full.
Note:
This Master Class is also being offered August 1-5, 2022.
About the Instructor:
Victor Lucena is the Instructional Designer and Producer at the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC). He is responsible for designing digital media, games, and simulations for learning to pair with and extend SSEC curricula and initiatives. With a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a minor in music from Cornell University, he taught online CS courses to children from 8 to 16 years old on everything from block-based coding to advanced algorithms. He recently completed his master’s in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education under the Learning Design Innovation Technology.
This program was developed with generous support from Johnson & Johnson. For more information on SSEC, please visit www.ssec.si.edu.
