What is the "Computer Club"?

   Computer Club is a series of workshops open to the public, focusing on improving digital literacy of students by empowering them to create

projects involving computer graphics, animation, video, sound, gaming, programming in an instructor led setting once a month.  The target age

for the workshops are 9 years to 16 years old.

   We are starting up a monthly computer club program this year for students 9 years old to 16 years old at Park University.  Park

University has been generous enough to allow us to use the computer lab in Mabee Science Hall Room #812 for the students.  You are invited to

participate in this program in the computer lab in Mabee #812 every first saturday of the month from 9am to 11am.  It's an excellent

opportunity to work on interesting computer projects involving gaming, animation, sound, graphics, video and other projects.  There is no

requirement that you have any particular knowledge, other than a desire to create things with computers and a desire to learn more about

technology and media while having fun.  Parents are invited and encouraged to stay!  It is our hope that parents are able to learn along

with the students, as we make various projects.

When is Computer Club?

TIME	DATE	LOCATION	TOPICS	TOOLS
9am - 11am	Saturday, November 1st, 2008	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Movement, Gliding / Position, Bouncing / Location, Change Appearance, Graphic Effects, Presence & Layers Music & Sounds, Pen & Color Control, Pen Control & Stamp	Scratch from http://scratch.mit.edu, freely downloadable, runs on Windows, Mac, Solaris, Linux, others
9am - 11am	Saturday, December 6th, 2008	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Beginning & Waiting, Repeating Actions, Broadcasting, Conditional Actions, Stopping, Mouse / Keyboard Collision Detection, Timer & Volume, Variables	Scratch from http://scratch.mit.edu, freely downloadable, runs on Windows, Mac, Solaris, Linux, others
PARK UNIVERSITY IS CLOSED	Saturday, January 3rd, 2009	PARK UNIVERSITY IS CLOSED	PARK UNIVERSTITY  IS CLOSED ON JANUARY 3RD, 2009	PARK UNIVERSTITY  IS CLOSED
9am - 11am	Saturday, February 7th, 2009	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Math / Random Numbers, Comparing Numbers, Logic Operations, More Math Functions, Project Reviews	Scratch from http://scratch.mit.edu, freely downloadable, runs on Windows, Mac, Solaris, Linux, others
9am - 11am	Saturday, March 7th, 2009	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Alice Introduction, Dr. Java Introduction, Media Computation	Alice from http://alice.org and Dr. Java from http://drjava.org, freely download-able, runs on Windows, Mac, others
9am - 11am	Saturday, April 4th, 2009	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Sound Projects using Alice and Java	Alice from http://alice.org and Dr. Java from http://drjava.org, freely download-able, runs on Windows, Mac, others
9am - 11am	Saturday, May 2nd, 2009	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Projects showcase, Prizes given out for best project shown	any tools
6pm - 8pm	Monday, June 22nd, 2009	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Picture Projects using Alice and Java	Alice from http://alice.org and Dr. Java from http://drjava.org, freely download-able, runs on Windows, Mac, others
6pm - 8pm	Monday, July 27th, 2009	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Drawing Projects using Alice and Java	Alice from http://alice.org and Dr. Java from http://drjava.org, freely download-able, runs on Windows, Mac, others
6pm - 8pm	Monday, August 24th, 2009	Park University, Mabee Science Hall Room #812	Picture Projects using Alice and java	Alice from http://alice.org and Dr. Java from http://drjava.org, freely download-able, runs on Windows, Mac, others

  Calendar version of above table: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=parkucomputerclub%40gmail.com&ctz=America/Chicago 

  We hope you will join us.  If you have any questions, please reply by email (parkucomputerclub@gmail.com) or call 877-481-0917.  Please feel free to pass this on to any local area students and parents that you think would be appropriate. 

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION: Prizes given out for best project - What's that all about?  

ANSWER: The May meeting will be a projects showcase, where students can demonstrate projects they've been working on using the tools and techniques they've learned throughout the year.  We will be giving away prizes for categories like most intersesting project, funniest project and so on.

QUESTION: Does it cost anything to participate in Computer Club?  

ANSWER: It costs $10 for a 2GB memory stick that we have to use at Park University.  Park University does not allow installation of software onto the computers in their computer labs so we have to run everything off of memory stick.  We've put over 800MB of software on the memory stick you get and the memory stick is a convenient way to move your projects back and forth between computers, between computer club and home, between computer club and school, and so on.

QUESTION: Can I bring my own memory stick and avoid having to pay $10 to participate in Computer Club?  

ANSWER: Yes, that's fine.  Make sure the memory stick has at least 2GB of storage as Park University does not allow installation of software onto the computers in their computer labs so we have to run everything off of memory stick.  

QUESTION: Can I bring my own laptop and avoid having to pay $10 to participate in Computer Club?  

ANSWER: Yes, that's fine.  We will not, however, have time in computer club to fix errors, viruses or other issues your laptop may have.  Additionally, please install Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu), Alice (http://alice.org), Java (http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads) and Dr. Java (http://drjava.org) on your laptop before arriving as we will not have time to work through software installation issues during class time.

I have a question that's not listed here, what do I do?  

ANSWER: Please e-mail parkucomputerclub@gmail.com or post comments below and the page will be updated with information pertaining to you question.