ESP Biography

Python is one of the easiest programming languages to learn! This class will not teach you Python from the ground up, but it will show you some of the awesome things you can do with a rudimentary knowledge of the language. You'll learn how to make a very simple website, send emails and write a simple interactive program.

If you've never written a program before then Python is the place to start. We'll cover the fundamentals of Python programming, simple games like tic-tac-toe or hangman, and maybe even a simple website. With the ever-increasing demand for programming in all professions, the skills and concepts we cover may beneficial you in the future. This class is ideal for students who have never programmed before.

Python is one of the easiest programming languages to learn and can be used to make fun and powerful programs. The first half of the class will be a gentle introduction to fundamental programming concepts in Python. The second half of the class will cover Arduino basics and how to make software interactive through games. This class is designed for students with basic or no programming experience as an enjoyable introduction to coding.

Photography is a rewarding hobby that requires a balance of creativity, technical knowledge, and patience. Learn how to take better photos using any camera by choosing the best subject, lighting conditions and positioning. Post-processing tools such as Photoshop or GIMP will be mentioned but not covered in detail - this class is more about getting the best picture possible the first time around!

Computers, other mobile devices, and the Internet have a guiding influence on the course of our lives. On average, there are more than 2 computers per household in the United States, they provide information, allow us to get work done and communicate with people hundreds of miles away instantly. However, computers have made it easier for our identities to get stolen, for people you've never met to know as much about you as your closest friends, and for individuals to compromise the security of an entire state or nation. Come find out the benefits of digital technology and discuss how we should mitigate the risks it creates

In this class we'll dive into the nitty-gritty details as we learn how a computer works all the way from transistors to a complete modern processor. Topics covered will include: transistors, digital logic, basic CPU architecture, pipelining, out-of-order execution, multi-threading, and semiconductor manufacturing. Feel free to come with your own questions too - if we can't answer them we're also very good at making things up. Note that this is the first class in a two-part series. Each class can stand alone, but if you want to learn more about the software side of computers then sign up for our other class, "Computers from the Ground Up: HDDs to OSes" too!

In this class we'll dive into the nitty-gritty details as we learn how a computer works all the way from the parts in the box to compilers and operating systems. Topics covered will include: hard drives, solid state drives, RAM, caching, basic GPU architecture, operating systems, compilers, parallelism, and running applications. Feel free to come with your own questions too - if we can't answer them we're also very good at making things up. Note that this is the second class in a two-part series. Each class can stand alone, but if you want to learn more about the hardware side of computers then sign up for our other class, "Computers from the Ground Up: FETs to CPUs" too!

In this class we'll dive into the nitty gritty details, as we describe how a computer works all the way from transistors and logic gates through compilers and operating systems. Topics covered will include: transistors, digital logic, basic CPU and GPU architecture, pipelining, out-of-order execution, multi-threading, caching, memory, hard drives, monitors, operating systems, compilers, and running applications.

The basics of various alternative energy sources, their respective merits and downfalls, and why we should consider using some of them to fuel our needs.