Category Archives: After School

AI Academy offering spring & summer introductions to AI

After School, Summer

This spring and summer, AI Academy is offering a hands-on introduction to AI for Grades 6-12, in two levels: beginner cohorts for students with no past experience, and advanced cohorts for experienced students. Student-teacher ratios are kept to 5:1. Instructors are experienced student researchers (see bios).

Students will learn Python coding and AI fundamentals and build an AI project applying these skills to a real-world problem based on their interest in Art, Finance, Healthcare or Robotics. Example projects include applying AI to self-driving cars, stock market indicator prediction, and music recommendations.

The spring session runs from March 17 to May 26. For more information, contact AI Academy.

Tufts Engineering Design Challenge webinar, Grades K-12, Feb. 21

After School, Events, Virtual/Online

Tufts University’s Center for Engineering Education and Outreach will host a live webinar — Engineering Design Challenge — for students in Grades K-12 on February 21 at 4PM. Register here.

“Kids will be presented with an engineering design challenge to do at home with whatever materials they have around the house (cardboard, string, tape, paperclips, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, cups, scissors, paper towel rolls, random LEGO bricks, etc). While attendees build, a panel of Tufts undergraduate students and a professional engineer will talk about engineering and their paths to studying engineering.”

Coder Experience School launches with in-person classes, for Grade 6 through Adult, starting Feb. 26

After School

Ted Zhu has recently launched Coder Experience School, an “in-person coding school with the goal of promoting Engineering and Software principles to a broader audience.” It offers classes for Grade 6 through Adult in areas such as  web application development, interactive 2D games, and practical electronics. All classes are taught in-person at the Newton Marriott (2345 Commonwealth Avenue), in the Lexington Room on Floor 3.

Spring classes start February 26 and meet on Wednesdays after 4PM. To register, send an email to the address on that page.

Ted Zhu describes himself as “a software engineer with a mission to provide true conceptual-based learning to students wanting to learn how to code and how to become an Engineer.” He believes that “steps cannot be skipped in learning, and that deep conceptual understanding of core fundamentals is the key to success in student learning outcomes.”

Penguin Coding School in Newton Centre

After School, Summer

Penguin Coding School, with locations in Acton, Lexington, and Brooklyn, opened last spring at in Newton Centre, a 1223 Centre Street, next to Tatte. It offers coding and robotics programs for ages 5-18 with afterschool and weekend classes in Lego Robotics, Minecraft, Python, Scratch and Roblox. Applications are open until February 26 for the Winter Semester (through April 7).

Summer full-day sessions are available by the week – “a fun filled week of coding, robotics, 3D printing and wacky science experiments” –  from June 24 through August 30. (Use code lovetocode24 for a $100 discount.)

Newton teens may apply to be teaching assistants or instructors, or work on capstone projects with a Penguin Coding mentor.

Free trial classes are available February 19-23, or request a free trial on a different date.

New England Sci-Tech: StratoScience 2024 engineering class

After School

The New England Sci-Tech (NEST) STEM education center (16 Tech Circle, off Route 9 in Natick) will offer StratoScience 2024, an engineering class hosted by the New England Weather Balloon Society. Students will work both independently and together to design and build a scientific payload aboard a high altitude balloon that will fly to the edge of space. Students will participate in the planning, building, launching, tracking, recovery, and analysis of the mission. Register for the required Info Session, which is offered on two alternate dates: October 28 and November 4. Classes begin November 18 and will meet on most Saturdays, 1PM-2PM, until August 24.

LigerBots Open House, Sept. 28

After School, Opportunities

The LigerBots, Newton’s dual-high-school FIRST Robotics Competition team, will host an open house for prospective team members on September 28, 6:30PM – 9PM in the engineering room at Newton South High School (Room 9170). All Newton North and Newton South students are invited. This event will include an introductory presentation about the team and hands-on challenges in many of the skill areas that team members learn, like mechanical and electrical engineering, programming, driving robots, CAD (Computer Aided Design), marketing, graphics, photography, and public speaking. Masks are required at all LigerBots meetings. For more information, see the links above or send an email to info@ligerbots.org.

Science Club for Girls: Fall Registration is open for virtual clubs

After School

Science Club for Girls is currently enrolling girls and gender-expansive youth in grades K-12 in its virtual Science Clubs, which start the week of October 3. Space is limited. Participants need a computer, laptop, tablet, or phone with Internet access. All other materials are provided free. Choose one of four weekly one-hour sessions: Monday, Tuesdays, or Thursdays at 4PM, or Saturdays at 10:30AM. Register here.

Empow Studios: Registration is open for Spring classes and Summer camps

After School, Summer
Registration is open now for Empow Studios’ spring classes and summer camps for ages 7-15. Kids can explore STEM,  find their passion, and accelerate learning in Digital Art & Design, Minecraft, Coding, Robotics, and Video Game Design — from beginner to advanced projects. Classes and camps are at seven locations in the Boston area, including 180 Needham Street in Newton Upper Falls and 80 Crescent Street in Newton Centre — as well as online.

New England Sci-Tech: STEM Clubs and Courses/Workshops

After School

The New England Sci-Tech (NEST) STEM education center (16 Tech Circle, off Route 9 in Natick) offers clubs:

…and courses/workshops in Electronics, Ham Radio, Programming, Robotics, and Space Science.