Summer 2025 Registration Has Closed D
Summer 2025 Workshops Listed by Week
June 16–20, 2025 (four days
Computer Science Principles for Middle School Students
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You have used computers your whole life. Mostly you don’t even think about it. Your phone has several computers in it, your i-Pad, kindle, TV, car, and more have several in it unless it is an antique. Most devices with an on/off switch contain computers these days.” -Dr. Beth Simon, phD, Computer Science, UCSD.
Given the ubiquity of computers in our lives today, it is important for students to understand HOW computers receive instructions to do exactly what we want them to do. This course gives students an introduction to the foundational concepts of computer science and programming. We will learn how computers receive instructions, and the basic logical approaches involved in coding. This course will assume that students have little to no experience in programming, but will use familiar computer applications – such as cartoons and video games – to teach programming. We will also learn some basic computer science concepts by doing “unplugged” activities. By the end of the course, students should be able to show off more than one programs that he/she created from scratch. We will be using a block programming language, such as Scratch or Google Blockly.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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How to Make a Great Podcast: Plan, Record and Launch for Success!
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By letting your students create one, they get an authentic audience and get a voice in a big way!
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 8-12
Course Fee: $340.00
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June 22-26, 2020
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Drone! Learn All About Drones as You Begin to Fly Your Very Own!
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Students will gain an understanding in simple Drone Technology through experimentation and repetition. In pairs, students will learn to navigate drones together as a team. Each student will learn to fly (hover, pitch, roll, etc…) simple drones hands on. Students will also learn the law concerning drones and their use. Course design in Floorplanner will also be used.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $400.00 (includes $60 for student’s personal drone)
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Introduction to Object Oriented Programming with Java
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This course will start with the very basics, assuming no students have any previous Java programming experience or any other programming experience. During the course we will cover the College Board’s AP Computer Science A Java subset for students interested in challenging the AP exam in May, 2021 at their respective high schools. Additional information regarding online sites will be provided where they can continue to hone their java skills throughout the 2020-21 school year in anticipation of taking the AP Computer Science A exam.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 9-12
Course Fee: $340.00
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June 29-July 2, 2020 (four days)
Programming Sphero Robots to Explore the Country’s Amusement Parks
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How to program a Sphero Mini robotic ball to navigate through a mini amusement park made just for Sphero Mini devices. Use Sphero Edu block programming language to write, save, and run navigational programs that control the Sphero as it goes on mini amusement park rides. Add extra fun movements such as spins, twirls and jumps—even make the Sphero Mini light up!
This course focuses on how to program a robotic ball called a Sphero Mini so students can make it move, jump, spin, and dance. Learn how to navigate the Sphero Mini through a fun-filled course that includes rides and thrills in a mini amusement park. Save your code so that the Sphero Mini will be able to race through the park at lightening speeds. Exciting rides include the roller coaster, bumper cars, and merry-go-round. Use your programming skills to command the Sphero Mini to win the arcade games and to navigate through the fun house. No prior coding skills needed.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $272.00
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Learn to Develop Your Own Apps for Your Android Mobile Dev9ce
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Students should have some familiarity with the Java programming language prior to taking this class. In addition, while the Supercomputer Center will provide students with desktop computers during the week, they are encouraged to bring their own laptops, either a Windows or MacBook.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 9-12
Course Fee: $272.00
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July 6-10, 2020
3D Star Wars Animation with Alice Programming
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How to create a 3D animated virtual reality video using ALICE 3.0 object-oriented software, experience virtual reality in the ALICE world, code in block or Java side-by-side view, run and evaluate your programs, export video files of your 3D animations to share with family and friends.
. You can even record your animations and share them with your family and friends. Prior coding experience recommended but not necessary to enroll in this course.
In this course students will program their custom made avatars to travel through the universe in action packed adventures while learning to code. Using the 3D object-oriented software called ALICE, this course begins by showing student projects including spacecrafts flying through the galaxy, avatars bearing lightsabers, and Star Wars adventures taking place in the virtual world of ALICE. Students will learn computer programming principles and get a taste of using the Java programming language. Students will create several of their own 3D animations from conception to finished product. Students will be able to export and share their video animation files with others.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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July 13-17, 2020
Building Minecraft Action-Filled Games with SCRATCH Programmingi
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 5-6
Course Fee: $340.00
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Classic Game Coding with Sphero Robotics
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Do you love to figure things out? Do you like to solve problems? Do you enjoy games? This fun and exciting class will have you working in teams to provide solutions to design challenges through coding and robotics ultimately designing a classic arcade game.
Students will learn the following through daily design challenges:
- code robots through a variety of design challenges
- design multiple prototypes
- critical feedback reflective process
- collaboration skills
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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Learning Apple’s Swift Programming Language to Develop Apps for
iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
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This course will start with the very basics of programming using Apple’s Swift programming language, using Swift 5.x in the Xcode Integrated Development Environment. It assumes students do not have any previous programming experience, either desktop or mobile. It does not require any other programming experience.
Swift is a programming language originally developed and released in 2014 by Apple as the core language for its suite of devices (iPhone, iPad, iMac/MacBook, Apple Watch, and Mac tv). Swift will eventually replace Objective-C 2.0 as the language of choice when developing Apps and Applications for Apple devices.
All development will be done on a Macintosh system running Mac OS 10.15.2 or later. Students are expected to bring either a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air laptop to class each day.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 9-12
Course Fee: $340.00
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July 20-24, 2020
Sew It Up! Creating Wearable Electronics for Today’s Modern Tween!
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This course focuses on how design and produce programmable wearable items. Learn the fundamentals to safely install circuits on clothing items. Practice putting together code that will make the electronics light up and/or play music. This programming course combines fashion with fun!
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 7-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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Optimus (Raspberry) Pi Engineering Challenge
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Raspberry Pi is a series of single-board computers made by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The Raspberry Pi launched in 2012 is an inexpensive computer that runs Linux, and there have been several iterations and variations released since then. All over the world, people use Raspberry Pi’s to learn programming skills, build hardware projects, do home automation, and even use them in industrial applications.
Using a provided robotics kit and set of instructions, students will construct a small robot and program it to complete a fun (secret) challenge! Working together with a partner, students will assemble their robot with the help of an assembly guide and tutorial video using the provided parts. Next, they will work together to write software to test the basic operation of their robot using some basic templates provided to get them started. Finally, they will program and test their robot to complete the fun challenge provided on the first day of the course!
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 8-12
Course Fee: $340.00
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Learn to Develop Your Own Apps for
iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch using Apple’s Xcode!
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Students should have some familiarity with either Swift or another high level programming language prior to taking this class.
Swift is a programming language originally developed and released in 2014 by Apple as the core language for its suite of devices (iPhone, iPad, iMac/MacBook, Apple Watch, and Mac tv). Swift will eventually replace Objective-C 2.0 as the language of choice when developing Apps and Applications for Apple devices.
All development will be done on a Macintosh system running Mac OS 10.15.2 or later. Students are expected to bring either a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air laptop to class each day.
Download the complete workshop description.
Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 9-12
Course Fee: $340.00
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July 27-31, 2020
Beginning Robotics with Lego EV3: Preparing for Fall’s FIRST Lego League
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Students design, build and program robots using LEGO’s most advanced and newest robotics technology – the powerful MINDSTORMS® EV3. EV3 features an easy-to-use graphical programming language that lets students immediately begin simple robotics programming and then advance into developing more complex algorithms.
Classmates work in pairs or individually to complete projects and compete in a tournament. This course has a focus on the engineering design process, building, and programming using EV3. Advanced extensions generally provide additional design, programming and building opportunities.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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Creating Awesome Apps with MIT App Inventor
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How to create advanced mobile apps using MIT App Inventor 2, utilize databases to expand mobile app capabilities, work in tandem with team members to build, test and evaluate mobile apps, export app files to share with family and friends.
In this course students will discover and use the advanced features of MIT App Inventor. The course begins by reviewing the foundational principles of App Inventor. Students will then learn how to apply App Inventor extensions, merge projects, and connect to external sensors. Students will be able to program their apps to make decisions using conditional blocks and learn how to use “getter” and “setter” blocks. Students will learn how to use custom databases and find out how databases can dramatically boost app capabilities. They will also learn how to store data through App Inventor’s TinyDB components.
Students will create two or three of their own apps from design stage, build stage, testing stage to finished product learning from each experience as they share, reflect and receive constructive feedback. Students will be able to export and share their app files with others.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 5-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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Hold the Phone! It’s a Drone! Learning to Fly Your Very Own Drone!
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $400.00 (includes $60 for student’s personal drone)
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August 3-7, 2020
Explore College-Level Engineering: Learn 3D CAD Modeling Software that Lets You Dream It, Design It and Build It!
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3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) modeling is a critical tool used in many Engineering applications and disciplines. Today’s professionals can model almost anything from common household items to planes, trains, and automobiles to homes, buildings, and bridges and even to replacement body parts for injured or disabled people and animals. It allows for quick modifications and iterative designs.
Autodesk Fusion 360 is one of the newest 3D CAD modeling tools in the AutoCAD® family. 3D modeling is technology for design and technical documentation, replacing manual drafting with an automated process. Used by architects, engineers, and other professionals, 3D CAD software precisely represents and visualizes objects using a collection of points in three dimensions on the computer.
Students will be introduced to the basics of 3D CAD Modeling and learn how to use this tool. No prior experience is required – key concepts will be explained and modelled for all students. Each day, more features and techniques will be covered allowing students to make increasingly creative and complex parts. Students will work independently on their models at their own pace, but collaboration and peer assistance will be encouraged at all times. On the afternoon of the final day, each student will present a summary of their best work to celebrate their accomplishments with their peers.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 8-12
Course Fee: $340.00
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August 10-14, 2020
Learning to Code with Minecraft
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades6-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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Introduction to Web Development: Programming the Web with HTML, CSS, JavaScript
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This course is intended to provide an overview of web development to student with little to no previous experience. The topics will include the following technologies: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Students will learn these technologies through practical real-life examples and demonstrations, including using JavaScript to control physical hardware. One or more guest speakers may contribute to add additional perspective.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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August 17-21, 2020
Preparing for FLL with the Same Sanctioned Equipment and Challenges!
FLL = Fantastic Learning with Legos
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Discover the ultimate LEGO® challenge by combining LEGO® elements with an EV3 LEGO® MINDSTORMS® programmable brick, motors, and sensors to learn mechanical design, programming, strategy, innovation, robot performance, and innovative solutions to real-world problems.
Students will work as Scientists and Engineers, immersing themselves in motivating STEM activities that develop creative problem solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
This exciting space exploration curriculum includes: the Basics of Gears, Learning Missions, Challenge Missions, and Research Projects. Each mission and project is a fun and engaging STEM learning opportunity.
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Grade Level: Open to students entering grades 6-8
Course Fee: $340.00
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UCSD Zero Tolerance Behavior and Web Responsibility Rules of Conduct
Behavior
- Profanity and vulgar language on the part of the student is prohibited.
- Students may not exhibit aggressive behavior towards another student.
- Students may not place his/her hands on another student.
- Student conduct, either individually or in a group, that is intentionally disruptive to or designed to be disruptive to the program may result in dismissal from the program.
- Disrespect towards UCSD staff and classroom teaching assistants will not be tolerated.
- Possession of a weapon of any kind is strictly prohibited and will result in the student being sent home without a refund. A weapon is defined as any knife, tool, or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily harm.
- Accessing any outside food delivery service is prohibited.
Web
- Digital or photographic artwork must represent the original work of the student and must not include plagiarism or copyright violations.
- Digital and photographic artwork may not contain profanity, vulgar language, or statements that promote hatred towards an individual, race, or community.
- UCSD staff reserves the right to determine what is deemed inappropriate.
- Viewing or accessing material that may be deemed inappropriate by StudentTECH staff will be cause for parental notification and possible dismissal without refund.
- Viewing or accessing video games or social networking sites during class instruction will be cause for parental notification and possible dismissal without refund.
- The student is solely responsible for the content of his/her project creation.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact Ange Mason, SDSC Education and Outreach, via phone at (858) 534-5064 or email at amason@ucsd.edu.
Privacy Policy
The San Diego Supercomputer Center is proud to demonstrate our commitment to your privacy. We will treat personal information received via workshops registration forms in a manner consistent with current Privacy Policy standards. Information submitted to us via email, fax or US mail will not be shared with entities outside of the San Diego Supercomputer Center at the University of California, San Diego and will be used only for the purpose for which it is intended.
Mailing Address
Ange Mason
Attn: SDSC Summer Workshops
San Diego Supercomputer Center
UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
MC 0505
La Jolla, CA 92093-0505
SPECIAL NOTE TO CREDIT CARD USERS:
When using a credit card, rather than a personal check or money order, please be sure that you do not intend to cancel your registration. Our credit card transactions are processed through industry standard authorizee.net, which allows 120 days from time of purchase for credit card refunds. After that time, UCSD cannot process a credit card refund.
Our Refund Policy
In order to best serve our students, SDSC StudentTECH has a firm cancellation policy. Cancellations or changes must be made in writing at least 10 business days prior to the first day of class. Cancellations will receive a refund of 50% of the course registration fee. No refunds will be issued after 10 business days prior to the first day of class. As of summer 2017, credit for future courses will no longer be issued. Students who are no shows will not be eligible for a refund and may not be rescheduled to another course.