Splash Fall 2021
Course Catalog

When was the last time you closed a book and sat there wondering why you finished reading it? What books have you been forced to slog through by school or a well-meaning teacher? Well, here's your place to complain about them! We'll be talking about bad books we've read and why we disliked them so much. Come prepared with your biblio-biography!

Topics will include: character arcs (or lack thereof), forced romance, idiot plots, Mary Sues, deus ex machina, storyline pacing, and writers who doggedly resist improving their writing.


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
There is a chance we will be discussing books with heavier, "adult" topics - be prepared to be mature if necesary.

Are you interested in art history? This course provides a brief overview of some of the most iconic art pieces from Asia from ancient times to the modern period.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

This class will explore Korean-Pop music (Kpop) in the United States. This cultural phenomenon has swept the United States and made an impact on American music and culture. We will look at popular Kpop groups, their history, influence, and impact.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Khip-hop and RnB has been on the rise in recent years with many songs achieving large mainstream success in Korea.

In this course, we will look into the origins of Khip-hop and RnB, the pioneers of the rap industry, the most popular record labels and their respective artists, and the overall impact/influence of these genres in Korea.

We'll be showcasing some songs too, so bring recommendations if you have any!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Join us for a fun science experiment related to chemical engineering principles! We will be making potato batteries and also answering questions about what it’s like to major in chemical engineering and some common career paths.


Class Style
Experiment

The only time raw eggs are good is in this challenge! Design, build, and test your own egg-drop payload, and join us as we drop them from increasing heights! Engineer a solution and try to save your egg from becoming scrambled!


Class Style
Experiment

I'm sorry, you don't exist. Unfortunate that you had to find out this way. Are you sure you do? Well, come by and prove me wrong. In this class we'll discuss the philosophy of you, me, and the self. Who are you, what are you made of. Are you sure you're not a particularly clever robot? I'd tell you to sign up, but of course, you don't exist.


Class Style
Discussion

Robots may destroy the planet, but probably not like they did in The Terminator. Come find out what future robots will look like, whether they will think like you or I, and whether you should be afraid of them. **This class does not require a computer science background**


Class Style
Discussion

In this interactive class, you will take the role of a military commander as we walk through a real historical conflict. At critical junctures in the battle, you will get to vote on the course of the battle. Will you do better than history?

** Note: This will feature the same content as my previous virtual class. Keep your eyes out in the Spring for a new version!


Class Style
Activity

Prerequisites
May assume a basic knowledge of major historical conflicts like World War 2 or the American Civil War.

Promising revolutionary looking to seize control of the government? Aspiring dictator looking to protect yourself from threats against your power? Come join this course that will examine the factors that make countries particularly vulnerable to coups and the mechanics of a coup d’etat, using examples from real-world coup attempts.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

This course will take a broad look at the history of the rock genre, including its origins and many of its major historical movements.

We'll definitely be putting on music that relates to the content in the lecture!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Prerequisites
The history of rock may intersect with heavier topics like drug abuse, war, and mental illness. These topics will not be a focus, but will likely come up.

In this hour long session, you'll learn more about the art of public speaking! Come explore the ways you can effectively communicate an argument to an audience. By the end of this session, you'll have learned skills to ace that presentation for one of your classes or how to best convince your parents to get you that dog you've always wanted!


Class Style
Workshop

Have your parents ever roasted you for being on your phone too much, for spending hours scrolling through social media? Have they ever spent hours reading the newspaper? Well, you should inform them that news has evolved, and that those little political cartoons they look at mocking current politics have transformed into witty and sometimes questionable video clips of kids on the Internet giving their hot take on current events. In this class, we'll analyze some of the most infamous political cartoons from the past alongside some of the most iconic vines and tiktoks of our generation, and observe how political satire has changed and evolved with each generation.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Sleep is awesome, but kinda weird. This class will adventure into the weird world of sleep, the brain, and why we even do it in the first place.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Do you ever wonder what happens to the paper or plastic you put in the recycling bin?? Or what happens to the waste you put in the trash can?? In this class you will learn about the origins of recycling, where your stuff goes after you throw it away, and tips for ways to reduce your impact on the environment. We will also have an upcycling activity where YOU will be able to turn something from trash to treasure!


Class Style
Activity

Ever wondered how you keep winning (or losing) in a game? Why is your mindset so important to winning? Can just believing in yourself lead to a win? In this class, I'll explain how you can win more often in team games like League of Legends and Valorant or in single player games like fighting games through your mindset and psychology.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Do you have a morbid fascination with human parasites? Want to learn about microscopic organisms that will fuel your nightmares? Then this class is for you! From toxoplasma gondii to rabies to mad cow disease, we will learn learn how these parasites hack your neurology and examine the strange results that follow. In this class, we will focus specifically on parasites that change your brain and learn about new research revealing the shocking effects of a mind-altering parasite that has already infected at least 30% of humanity!


Class Style
Discussion

Prerequisites
none

"Genes are the blueprint of cell." You've probably heard that a million times at this point. But what if I told you that's a lie, and not only that, but that lie cost us billions of dollars! From famines to motherly love, we will explore the frontiers of how life experience alters our biology and how we pass on so much more than our DNA!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Prerequisites
Some prior biology is recommended but not required

Circadian rhythms - everyone has one, right? Turns out that some people have rhythms that make them woefully nocturnal (hi), while some people would be better suited for life on another planet. This class is for anyone who HATES waking up early, anyone who's ever felt like they got run over by a bus after hopping some time zones, or anyone who is interested in why exactly the number "24" isn't just a social construct but is woven into our DNA.

We'll definitely be getting into some neuroscience and genetics here, but we're also gonna talk about what it's like to live in a cave and whether that sleeping cure your Grandma tells you "works every time" is real or not.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Prerequisites
A bit of genetics or biology would be helpful, but definitely won't get in the way!

In this class, we'll consider a number of neuropsychiatric conditions across contexts of advantages and disadvantages in function. We'll learn what biology we can about these conditions through neuroscience and genetics, and we'll bring that understanding to light when examining behavior and society.

Some focuses will include: Models of disability, neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM-defined personality disorders like Borderline Personality Disorder, the relationship of mood and schizophrenia spectrum disorders and creativity, intrinsic circadian rhythm disorders like Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, and some additional considerations like synesthesia or Congenital Insensitivity to Pain.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Prerequisites
I'll teach you all the biology and science you'll need to know, but we'll move fast! Since this course concerns material that is especially personal to so many individuals (including many of your peers!), be sure to come in with a scientific and respectful perspective :)

Want to find out why the rules you learned about speaking pig latin are wrong? an introduction to secret languages in English and other languages where you learn the real rules about how these language games actually work


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

An introduction to speech production and synchronic (real time) sound changes focused primarily on English (featuring special guests Korean and Turkish). Learn about how the human body produces speech sounds, how to pronounce any sound in any languaee, and why English sounds the way it does


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Interactive fiction is the world of video games, text adventure games, choose-your-own-adventure books, and much more! It brings together computer science and the creative arts in a unique way, and has some fun tools out there ready for total beginners to make their own stories.

In this class, we'll give a brief overview of the history of interactive fiction. Then, for the main part of the session, we'll play some cool IF games as a group! We'll focus on two styles of interactive fiction, parser games and choose-your-own-adventure games. If you're interested in learning to write IF, you can dive into that with our other session ("Interactive Fiction Workshop").

Best of all, we have tons of IF game recommendations to share. Depending on the vibes people want, we can always adjust the lesson plan on the fly and make time for just geeking out about IF :)


Class Style
Activity

Traveling is fun but 'traveling' is hard. Luckily many travel destinations have public transportation ! ... which is also hard.

but it doesn't have to be !

In this course, we will explore the logistics of traveling by public transportation all around the world,
from how to navigate ticket purchasing interfaces in foreign countries, traveling from NYC to California via train, bullet trains in Asia, to scenic mountain trains in Switzerland and much more !


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

How to stay on top of your S.H.I.T: Schoolwork, Health, Identity, Time.

Do you ever feel like you procrastinate too much? Or no matter how much you work, there doesn't seem to be enough time in 24 hours? Is your mental health paying the price? Are college applications taking a toll on you?

Do you want to learn how to manage it all? Join my class to learn how to de-stress, survive the insanity from school, understand failure, and how to learn how to start loving yourself. Your mental health and your academics go hand in hand, once you learn how to balance the two is when you learn how to become the best you (according to me, at least).

Nothing you learn in this class is concrete. It may differ from one person to another how you, for example, want to stay organized. So take it all with a grain of salt.


Class Style
Workshop

Prerequisites
Be ready to get emotionally vulnerable.

Do you like fantasy maps? Interested in fantasy nations in TV shows, books, video games, and more? In this class, we'll all be making fantasy worlds for your own stories, art backgrounds, tabletop roleplaying stories, whatever you want! No pressure at all, we're all here to chill and make some cool stuff!


Class Style
Workshop

Prerequisites
Hopefully be willing to share your work with the class, but if sharing makes you too uncomfortable it's OK!

Ever wanted to learn how to solve a 3x3 Rubik's Cube, but never thought you'd be able? Well, now's your chance to learn! We'll be going over cube notation, finger tricks, and basic algorithms to help you get started along the path of cubing!


Class Style
Tutorial

Are you interested in the game with a huge surge in popularity—a game that you may have once learned but need a refresher on? Do you want to join a community of over 600 million through the game that transcends the language barrier? Or perhaps do you just want to be like Beth Harmon?

Regardless, chess is the game for you! This all-inclusive lecture will teach you all you need to know about the basics. Learn how to play chess properly through a study on piece movement, openings, endgames, strategy, and tactics. Leave this class feeling confident and with a gameplan to use in every future chess game you play.

No prior experience is required!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

In this class, we will be going over how to play better in Smash Bros. Ultimate. The basics of the game and terminology for competitive smash will be taught and used. The class will begin with move set and which characters to use and then will progress to gameplay and improving gameplay.


Class Style
Group-Based

Have you wondered how to play the Korean children's games you saw in the Netflix series Squid Game? Come compete in this intro class.


Class Style
Activity

Bring some story ideas, or just show up ready to mess around with cool online platforms! We'll be exploring Inform and Twine, which are two tools for writing interactive fiction (for more about what IF is, check out the description of our main session, "Interactive Fiction"). Regardless of your previous experience, this will be a fun hands-on class that combines storytelling and coding, and you get to choose how much of each you want to do :)

We'll present short tutorials on how to use Twine and Inform, and then the rest of the session will be free time to ask questions, experiment, and exchange IF recommendations!

Computers will be provided, though you may also bring your own (you will need a laptop that runs MacOS, Windows, or Linux).


Class Style
Workshop

Prerequisites
We recommend also signing up for our main Interactive Fiction session, where you'll get some background on the genre and play some IF games!