Splash Spring 2025
Course Catalog

Have you ever wanted to bring your ideas to life on the big screen - or a small one - but didn't know how, especially without breaking the bank? Look no further than Filmmaking on a Budget, your one-stop shop to learn all the important components of video editing and how to do them for free. Whether you're a rising star or just want to make short skits on YouTube with your friends, all are welcome in this class, which will cover everything you need to know about editing right from the comfort of your phone!

If you want to follow along in class, I recommend downloading YouCut Video Editor on your phone (my preferred editing app and the one I will be demonstrating in class).


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Join us for a fun and relaxing guided painting session where you’ll follow a step-by-step video tutorial to create your own unique artwork. No experience is needed—just bring your creativity! As you paint, you can also enjoy a refreshing non-alcoholic drink, making it the perfect way to unwind and express yourself.


Class Style
Workshop

Do you have jokes bursting from your seems? Do you want more than anything for the external validation of a laughing crowd? Do you just like to giggle? Come join us (one of us, one of us)! We'll be learning how to construct a joke, how to place your jokes, how to appropriately deliver a joke, and much much more. We'll also be doing an exercise in class, so come prepared to be silly.


Class Style
Group-Based

Trying to build new playlists? Looking to discover your next repeat favorite? From hidden classics to chart-topping hits, we'll cover the tools to expand your music taste.

Also... where do streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music get their recommendations? We'll talk about why streaming service recommendations can sometimes be lackluster.


Class Style
Activity

Have you ever wanted to launch plastic babies with a slingshot/catapult/trebuchet that you’ve created on your own? Well, we're bringing back Bye Bye Baby once again so now's your chance!

With a small team, you’ll then work to design and build your own unique baby launcher (with the power of physics). We’ll end the workshop with a fun competition.

This SPLASH we are also introducing plastic ducks to launch!


Class Style
Workshop

Like Robots? The Northeastern Mars Rover Team presents an introduction to robotics with examples for how to build, control, and program our rover’s robotic arm!

We’ll provide an introduction into a variety of different topics including motors, encoders, Motor Control algorithms, and more!

We’ll try out a few different control methods, and see live how they perform on the rover!


Class Style
Demonstration

Prerequisites
For one section of the class basic trigonometry knowledge is helpful but not required!

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 with each generation.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Through history, non-violent movements have been the best way to create change... but there's a lot they don't teach you about MLK and Gandhi. How does non-violent action work, and how can we help each other when our political systems fail?


Class Style
Discussion

Hitting someone is a violent act... unless it's in self defense. Shooting someone is a violent act... unless you wear a badge. Why are some people labeled violent terrorists, while others are gritty freedom fighters? This class is about the concepts of violence and power; we'll talk through the philosophy and ethics of how power is used and abused.


Class Style
Discussion

What is piracy? How does pirated material end up on the web? Who were the biggest pirates of them all?

We'll talk the ethical dilemmas, legal battles, and cultural impact of online piracy, and students will gain a deeper understanding of how the digital revolution transformed piracy from an isolated crime to a global phenomenon.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Learn about the use of radio technology for communicating with satellites, planetary rovers, and more! This class explains the basics of radio technology with plenty of demonstrations, and we'll cover examples including NASA's Deep Space Network, the GPS system, and the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers on Mars.


Class Style
Demonstration

Ever wanted to learn about how emoji work behind the scenes? This class might be for you.

Come learn about Unicode, an international standard for text that includes thousands of characters including the simple letter "a", the large and mysterious "𒈙" and even "👍".

We'll also learn about why emoji and Unicode tend to break everything, from invisible usernames to text messages that crash your phone.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Come learn about what makes the internet tick, from websites, to apps, to games! We'll learn about how computers talk to each other, how websites work, and to be honest probably far too many acronyms* – a cheat sheet will be included :).

We'll also learn about some of the cybersecurity side. What does it actually mean for someone to know your IP address? How do people "hack" websites? Come and find out!

*Including but not limited to: IP, HTML/CSS/JS, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, BGP, URLs, DDoS, XSRF, and XSS.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Have you ever seen the weird symbols written near words in the dictionary and wondered how they pick which ones to use? This class will teach you what those symbols are and how to write them yourselves---like a secret code!

Come learn about IPA (international phonetic alphabet) transcription; how to read and write using alternative symbols to represent the sounds of oral language.


Class Style
Activity

Teeth! Why do we have so many of them? What are they for? How come people care so much what they look like? Our smiles are inadvertently one of the first things people notice about us...let's learn more about teeth and the things that make them the way they are!

This class will give a brief overview of the anatomy and evolution of human teeth, social roles they play, and some common problems they have and how to prevent them. No gross pictures, I promise!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

You - everything you consider to be your personality, thoughts, identity - are dictated by electrical and chemical signals in a blob of jelly. That blob is in your head and called your brain! In this class, you'll learn a smorgasbord of things about sentient jelly. Be prepared for wild facts, confusing contradictions, and demonstrations of brain science!


Class Style
Activity

What are legs anyways, and do we even need them?? Plenty of other living things don't have legs and get on just fine! Learn about how our legs came to be, how they function, and how you can adapt to survive without them.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

In this hands-on mini-lesson, you will learn the basics of gardening and how to grow your own herbs at home. We'll explore what plants need to thrive, including soil, water, sunlight, and care. You will also learn about the benefits of gardening, from growing fresh food to helping the environment. After a short lesson, everyone will get to plant their own herb seeds in a small pot to take home, giving you a chance to start your own mini garden and put your new knowledge into practice!


Class Style
Activity

Have you ever wondered how your taste buds work and why some people are super tasters while others aren’t? In this interactive class, we’ll explore the science behind taste, from sweet to bitter and in between. Students will learn about the different types of taste receptors, how our brains interpret flavors, and some of the factors that influence our sense of taste. Put your taste buds to the test in a fun competition to see who has the most precise palate! Can you correctly identify mystery flavors? Join me to find out!


Class Style
Activity

Interactive session about the fundamentals of adolescent psychology and brain development. Join us to learn more about how to complete research about adolescent social development!


Class Style
Activity

How much do Vacuums really suck? Are they scary? Do they make things go kaboom?? Take this class to learn all about vacuums (not the carpet cleaner kind)! Live demo of a vacuum chamber and how it affects day to day objects!


Class Style
Demonstration

Get a crash course on the differences between immunodeficiency, autoimmune disorders, and allergies, as well as how modern medicine helps us cope with these disorders!
Why can some people not have peanuts? Why are some people never sick, and others get the flu every time flu season rolls around? How are diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and arthritis all related? It's the immune system!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

You've probably heard of people spending billions of dollars trying to develop a new medicine or years attempting to develop the perfect process to produce a compound. Not in here. In here we are lazy. The rather convenient truth of the matter is that nature has been perfecting these mechanisms for millions of years. Our only job is to harness these process and adopt them for our needs. In essence, biological robbery.
In this class we will go over some of the very basic tools and techniques for biological engineering. We will also go over both natural and synthetic examples of biomimicry including antibody production and sustainable dye manufacturing.

Intro level biology would be helpful but not required


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

We all age, but what really happens when we do? In this class, we’ll explore the epigenetic mechanisms of aging and what that means for our cells. We’ll take a look at animal models, and even discuss possibilities for reversing or slowing down aging! If you’re interested in the biology behind aging and what that means for longevity and health research, this class is for you!


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture

Prerequisites
Introductory biology knowledge helpful but not strictly necessary.

What is college even for? Should I go?? How do I even apply or know which college to choose???

If you've ever had these questions or worries, fear no more. In this class we'll have an open discussion about college - what's it for, is it worth it, and how to help you choose where to go and get started.

Note that we will NOT be reading over people's specific supplements or essays. This will serve as a general discussion and I will provide some insights and tips that I and others have used when it comes to applying for college. My advice is general and not specific to one-college, however I am happy to provide specific information on Northeastern's programs and resources.

(Note: Taking classes at Splash does not affect your Northeastern college application)


Class Style
Discussion

Legs are cool as heck and super important for how we function as humans! You use them more than you think.

K A R A T E ??

We'll be learning about how our legs work and some cool tricks you can do with yours, as well as tips on how to strengthen your legs and increase flexibility. Let's pump up the jam!


Class Style
Tutorial

Prerequisites
We will be getting up on our feet to move around and do motions with our legs. Being comfortable standing and engaging in light exercise is part of the class.

Explore the history of film and the evolution of cinematography.


Class Style
Presentation/Lecture