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Explore ideas, experiment with materials, and build your own devices. Our technology and engineering courses will allow you to learn new skills to bring your ideas to life.

Technology and Engineering electives

Computer-Aided Design

In this course students learn introductory CAD skills to aid them in the drafting, designing, and engineering process. They learn basic concepts, processes, and skills required of architectural and industrial design professionals. Students design virtual objects and print them on a 3D printer. They begin by designing a piece of furniture. Students are introduced to set design for theatre, and by the end of the class, students have all of the skills necessary to digitally design their “dream house.”

Coding for Visual and Interactive Media

This course blends art and coding by giving students the skills and tools to easily write computer code with visual outcomes. Based on the Processing coding language (simplified Java), students learn the fundamentals of computer programming in a visual context. Students who are new to programming will find the experience intensely satisfying to make something appear on their screen within moments of writing introductory lines of code. The Processing language is used widely in educational settings as well as in interactive museum exhibitions and professional art shows. The textbook is ​Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists, 2nd edition, by Reas and Fry. Pre-requisites: Completed or concurrently enrolled in Algebra 2; ESL 3 or above.

Open Source Engineering

This course introduces students to the world of open source engineering, develops their love of technology and design, as well as improves their problem-solving skills. The lessons and activities are centered on Arduino, an internationally popular open-source software and hardware ecosystem. The course starts with case studies of engineering solutions to real-world problems and then moves on to more complex projects such as monitoring and controlling devices using software, sensors, and actuators. All students work in small groups, maintain engineering notebooks, generate CAD drawings, and write Arduino code. Extension projects include fabricating parts on the school’s 3D printer, programming machines using Python, and participating in off-campus design competitions. Prerequisites: ESL Level 3; completed or currently enrolled in Algebra 2. One of the following: completed Robotics; currently enrolled in Physics; or permission from instructor.

Robotics

This class introduces students to the exciting world of robots. Students learn to identify what a robot is and what it isn’t. They study the myths that surround robots, examine how robots are used in popular media and stories, and consider applications of robotics in many aspects of technology and human experience. Through hands-on design and construction work, students explore how robots are constructed, how they operate, and what their limitations are. The class greatly benefits from lectures by experts in the field of robotics to expose students to the commercial uses of robots as well as future trends. There are field trips to local robotics companies as well as to robotics events and competitions. Students focus on the origins, applications, and latest trends in robotics and learn how robots are built and controlled. There are individual as well as team-based projects for students to test their ideas and compete with each other as well as with outside teams. Prerequisites: ESL Level 2 or higher; instructor approval

Graphic Design

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to elements of graphic design. Students utilize computer programs from the Adobe Creative Cloud such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Class projects include poster design, photo manipulation, logo design, and creating a business identity. Students learn valuable skills in color, composition, and typography and the importance these have on creating eye-catching design.

Introduction to Programming

Introduction to Programming is an exciting course where students learn important concepts related to Computer Science. Students learn with hands-on projects how to go from creating simple programs in Python such as creating a wind chill calculator to more complicated programs including creating a chatbot or a graphics program for playing a game such as scrabble. Important topics include Object Oriented Programming, Standard Algorithms, and Data Structures such as arrays, lists, tuples, Iteration, Recursion, String manipulation, and creating GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces). Prerequisites: Completed Algebra 1. ESL 3 or above

 

Software Engineering

The Software Engineering course is designed to let students experience the software development lifecycle. The objective of the course is to give students a real world use for the skills they have obtained through programming. Java will be the main programming language that will be used, but others will be discussed, such as Javascript and C. In this course students learn how to design specifications, implement ideas, and finally release a finished software product. The course also covers Quality Assurance Testing, Fundamentals of Computing, Ethics, and Algorithms. Students complete a project comparing Greedy Algorithms to Dynamic Programming, which are both used for sorting and searching data. Prerequisites: Completed Algebra I; ESL 3 or higher; or at the discretion of the teacher based on student’s prior programming knowledge

Technology and Engineering AP electives

AP Computer Science A

The Advanced Placement Computer Science A course is taught using the Java programming language.  The course objectives are to understand object-oriented software design, to gain fluency in Java, to improve proficiency in selecting appropriate algorithms and data structures, to understand algorithm efficiency especially with regard to sorting, and perhaps most importantly to prepare for the AP Computer Science A exam. There are a variety of exercises, labs, and case studies in this course. The course textbook is Java Methods. Prerequisites: ESL Level 4 and completion of Algebra II or instructor approval

Faculty

Devyn Rogers
STEAM Teacher
drogers@catsboston.com
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Devyn Rogers

STEAM Teacher
drogers@catsboston.com

During the school year, Devyn spends his time teaching students the various methods and practices on how to develop software. He teaches three different levels of computer science, Intro to Programming, AP Computer Science, and Software Engineering. These courses explore topics such as algorithm development. Database management, web design, and the software development lifestyle. Outside of the classroom he also runs the Coding Club, which students have entered a national app building competition. He also shows the students in the Coding Club how to properly design video games. Devyn’s teaching experience started while in college, where he was in charge of running many leadership workshops and conferences. Prior to arriving at CATS, he had recently received his degree in Computer Science with a specialty in Software Engineering and was doing freelance work. Working as a freelance developer gave Devyn a chance to discover new and exciting ways he could put his knowledge to use. He has been a part of teams to develop videos games and applications that help manage influencers manage their social media following. Outside of the world of programming he enjoys doing graphic design and video editing. In his free time he is an avid gamer, who is involved with the local competitive gaming scene, and considers himself to be a professional binge watcher.

Eileen McMahon
STEAM Teacher
emcmahon@catsboston.com
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Eileen McMahon

STEAM Teacher
emcmahon@catsboston.com

BA Literature/Theater, Bennington College. Ed.M. Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology, Harvard University Graduate School of Education

Eileen McMahon teaches electronics, coding, and 3D and 2D design and fabrication classes. She is a seasoned educator who has taught technology classes at Harvard University, UMass Boston, UCLA and the American Film Institute as well as in K-12 public school classrooms in Massachusetts including in Lexington, Cambridge, and Chelsea. She also designed and produced Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in technology related subjects for MIT. Ms. McMahon worked as an independent multimedia producer and designer specializing in children's media for National Public Radio (NPR) and public radio stations WGBH, and KCET as well as for Disney, SONY, Paramount, Universal Studios, CBS, NBC, Activision, and others. She has been involved in the Maker/FAB Lab movement for over 10 years. After starting Boston Makers, a successful Boston based maker space, she worked for The FAB Foundation which supports and connects digital fabrication labs (aka FAB LABS) around the world.

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