Current Courses
Design Thinking to Open entrepreneurship
This class trains our students in human-centered design - ethnography, problem identification, ideation, evaluation, user testing, etc - and then transitions into implementation. Students will develop their own ideas and implement them as sustainable enterprises. Culminating events include a business plan, filing a provisional patent application, and pitching to the Torrey Explorers Fund.
Students often collaborate with outside organizations (CamelBak, Ottobock, and others) to receive expert feedback and guidance.
Honors and Advanced versions of the course are available.
Innovation Technology Studio
This class leverages many of the tools of the Innovation Lab to develop our students as designers and engineers. Students learn to sketch, lasercut, 2D and 3D model, and use sensors and culminates in a long-term build project to install in the world. This hands-on course is perfect for students who like to build, problem-solve and implement their solutions.
Honors and Advanced versions of the course are available.
Advanced design and innovation
In an independent, studio-style setting, advanced students who apply for the course may pursue their own projects. The course content revolves around project management, business models, and implementation/manufacturing logistics. Students are expected to spend the majority of their time working to pursue exceptional projects that have not been created by students before.
Intro to Computer Science
This course offers a survey of different topics in Computer Science in a project-based format. Students will explore robotics, app design, scripting, and learn key programming concepts. Projects include using Python notebooks to create image filters, building data science projects with Python libraries and R, and simple game design with Java.
Applied Engineering
In this hands-on class, students will apply concepts to projects related to various disciplines in engineering. Units on environmental engineering will tackle the locally important topic of wastewater treatment, electrical engineering will focus on advanced circuits and custom PCBs to create novel products, mechanical engineering will explore topics in modern robotics, and musical engineering will use advanced techniques to create instruments such as electric guitars. Students will utilize the tools and equipment of the Innovation Lab to create their projects as needed.
Middle School electives
Product Design
In this course students learn to develop a physical product and are taught SolidWorks 3D modeling software. This challenging class develops products that other people will use, and therefore requires identifying problems and receiving feedback in addition to technical skills such as sketching and 3D modeling.
Intro to innovation
Students learn how to effectively navigate the Innovation Lab and its tools and resources. They begin developing digital designs (e.g., vector illustrations) and progress into creating physical products (e.g., laser etched materials). Students explore tools, including the student-built 110W CO2 laser cutter, and learn about precision and iterative design through a final, 3D project created with the laser.
Creative Coding
In this introductory level elective, students will explore the creative side of coding and discover how they can use programming to create drawings, animations, games, websites and even build virtual worlds. Utilizing a variety of software and hardware, students of all skill levels will learn how to combine their imagination and coding skills to create a range of exciting and fun projects, including generating art with code, programming robots to draw, build interactive games, and even create 3D environments. Students will gain experience with Python, Java, Arduino, HTML/CSS/JavaScript.
Rocketry
3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!!! Launch and design rockets, learn about space travel, prepare for flight! Students in this elective will learn the fundamentals of Astronomy in our Solar System, Orbital Mechanics, Aerodynamics, and Propulsion Systems. The skills used in this class will be introduced utilizing air powered rockets which will provide ease and safety in learning the basics of controlling a rocket launch. Students will then be building upon their skills to design, build and launch their own rockets. Finally, students will be learning how to take some specific measurements and calculations, while analyzing the rocket characteristics and performance.