Summer Coding Camp Accommodated at Harvard University

Dates*

July 15– July 27, 2019   (see calendar below for details please)

* Tentative Dates. Dates might change within July 2019. Exact dates to be finalized and published on this page in October. Please contact us for more information. 

(For our SAT Summer Camp, click here)

Courses offered at our coding camp

• Python Programming

  Learn to deal with common algorithmic problems. Beginners will learn the basics of programming and will be able to write codes that solve beginner level computer science problems. Students with programming experience will improve their skills to solve challenging projects.

   

  Recommended Grade Levels: 4th-12th

  Prerequisites: None

   

  Topics Covered

  – Variables and Operators
  – Conditionals
  – Loops
  – Arrays
  – Strings
  – Functions
  – Files
  – Matrices

• Java Processing

  The Perfect Introductory Programming Course for Students in Grades 4-8 !

  This course teaches students programming in Java Processing. In this course, students will learn object-oriented programming in a fun and exciting way, that will effectively prepare them for learning any C-based programming language.

  Recommended Grade levels: 4th-8th. This course is designed for students who are comfortable with the math level (Pre-Algebra), and is NOT proficient in any programming languages. Block-based and introductory programming experience are fine, if the student is proficient in any programming languages, they should enroll in our USACO and AP Computer courses.

  AP Computer Science Principles: The breadth of concepts this course covers effectively prepares students for the AP Computer Science Principles exam.

  The Processing software is used by thousands of visual designers, artists, and architects to create their works. Projects created with Processing have been featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and many other prominent venues. Processing is used to create projected stage designs for dance and music performances; to generate images for music videos and film; to export images for posters, magazines, and books; and to create interactive installations in galleries, in museums, and on the street. Some prominent projects include the House of Cards video for Radiohead, the MIT Media Lab’s generative logo, and the Chronograph projected software mural for the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center in Miami. But the most important thing about Processing and culture is not high-profile results – it’s how the software has engaged a new generation of visual artists to consider programming as an essential part of their creative practice.

  Course Description:  This course is a collaborative and project-based introduction to object-oriented computer programming through MIT’s Java-based computer language Processing, with an emphasis on problem solving, visual arts, graphic design, and animation.

  What is Java Processing?: Processing is a visual arts based open source language developed at MIT.

  Please watch this video for a better understanding:

  And to see examples of what professionals have done with it, please visit this page:

  Processing is essentially an extremely visual front-end to Java. When you click “Run”, the program converts your code into Java code and then runs it. It was built for two purposes:

  1. To be an easy to learn but powerful language for beginning developers and artists.

  2. To be easy to code visual ideas. That is, it’s much faster to code the same concept in Processing than in Java or C++.

  Because of its convenience, Processing is mainly used for data visualization, visual art/design, app development, and education. Its educational accessibility means the skills from coding in Processing very easily translate to any other C-based language (C, C++, C#, Java, Javascript, Python, Ruby).

  Art/design: Art and design are half the point of the language. The class will mostly deal with 2D but we’ll also spend a couple lessons doing 3D.

  Why Processing?: Processing is a fantastic first programming language for 2 reasons:

  1. The syntax is easy and it’s easy to understand.

  2. The incredible visual component and speed of compilation. When you click run, you almost immediately see what you just coded.

  This makes programming interesting and accessible in a way no other language does. It’s very satisfying to make things appear and interact with you with only basic understanding of the language.

  Prerequisites: Students should be reasonably skilled in mathematical reasoning at a 5th/6th grade level; the class has a high problem solving component. Two important topics students should know:

  – Coordinate grid: Student must be able to understand plotting on a Cartesian plane (x and y coordinates). Knowing how to graph things is unnecessary.

  – Basic pre-algebra: Student must be able to solve basic algebraic equations like 250 = x + w/2 where w = 50 (answer: x = 225).

  Also:
  – Decent typing skills: or the student will fall behind. Student doesn’t have to be a professional typewriter, just the ability to touch type. Students shouldn’t have to think too hard about the keyboard when they should be thinking about what’s on the screen.

  Topics

  – Fundamentals of Computer Programming
  – The Basics of Data Types
  – Control Flow
  – Iteration and Functional Programming
  – Recursion
  – Classes
  – Objects and Methods,

  Connections to Other Subject Areas

  – Cartesian Geometry,
  – Number Bases (binary and hexadecimal),
  – Pseudorandomness,
  – Kinematics,
  – Fractals, and
  – Mathematical Problem Solving With Computers

  Prior understanding of computer programming not required.

  Class projects: This course features projects that are independent and collaborative design and development of games and interactive animations. There will be 10 projects, on, in order:

  – Drawing things with basic shapes,
  – Interactive 2D/3D animations (moving an object, basic text editor, solar system model)
  – Designing modifiable single player games, and
  – Mathematical art.

  Capabilities: Students will gain the skills to design, code, and debug basic animations and games in the language Processing, while also gaining programming skills to be well-prepared for further computer science study and independent programming projects and problem solving.

• C++ Programming and USACO Bronze

  
  In this course, while learning coding in C++, students will be trained to master the fundamental skills to correctly understand the questions on USACO Bronze competitions and design and implement algorithms to solve them. These skills will be practiced extensively to help students meet the time limits set for each problem.

  USACO is the most prestigious pre-college Computer Science competition in the states. For more information, please see our AP Computers and USACO page.

  While your program must solve the problem presented on a USACO competition, it must also do it fast. Your program must be submitted within the specified time period and should not produce any compilation or run-time errors. There will be a number of test cases that your program will be judged on.

  Prerequisites/Requirements: Students must be good in math and they need a laptop.

  Topics Covered

  – Introduction to C++
  – Variables and Operators
  – Conditionals
  – Loops
  – Arrays
  – Strings
  – Functions
  – Files
  – Matrices

• AP Computer Science A & USACO Silver

  
  This course prepares students for the USACO Silver Contest and AP Computer Science A Exam through comprehensive lectures and practice problems from national and international competitions, taught and guided by an expert instructor. In this course, students hone their problem solving skills while they advance their algorithm designs and implementation. It’s a fun and friendly challenging environment which mathematically advanced students experience the thrill of solving real-life like problems through computer programming.

  Prerequisites

  At least one of the following requirements needs to be satisfied. The student:

  – Has taken a computer programming course before (contact us for details, please)
  – Has taken the USACO Bronze class, or
  – Has scored 400+ in a USACO Bronze contest.

  Topics Covered

  Sorting
  Searching (Sequential Search, Binary Search)
  Brute Force
  Silver Level Techniques (FloodFill, RMQ, Prefix Sums)
  String Algorithms (Silver Level)
  Data Structure (Stack, Queue, Vector, Set, Map, PriorityQueue- Silver Level)
  Recursion
  Depth first Search
  Breadth first Search
  Bitset & Binary Operations
  Object-Oriented Program Design

Outstanding Teachers!

Please see our faculty page for our instructors. Summer coding camp instructors will be some of the instructors listed on our faculty page or other outstanding teachers with similar credentials.

Guest Lectures by Harvard, MIT Researchers

TBA.

The guest lectures will be held at the 250-year old courtroom at Harvard University on the first day of the camp.

Students’ Forum

Learn how to get accepted to top colleges from students who currently attend Harvard, MIT and other top colleges.

Harvard, MIT Campus Tours and Lab Visits

Harvard and MIT Campus Tours and laboratory visits are scheduled each year.

Sightseeing

We will visit the historical places to see first-hand where the United States was founded and learn about its history. Walk along The Freedom Trail, try many tastes at Quincy Market, when tired of walking hop on a Duck Tour and take a walk along Charles River. Feel smarter (pronounced SMAHTAH) at Harvard Square, join sessions at Harvard and MIT. 

Schedule of Activities

* Domestic residential and international students who will be staying with us overnight at our coding camp are expected to arrive at Boston Logan International Airport or at the camp site between 7 am – 7 pm on July 14th. For tuition and fees, please see below. 

Daily Schedule

*Day students who wish to attend supervised evening recreational and academic activities at the residential program may do so for an additional fee. The cost will be $200 (including dinner and all activities).

Activities in Morning and Afternoon Sessions

Morning Sessions: Introduction of Topics and Samples

Afternoon Sessions: Guided Practice and Student Projects

Transportation

Bus Service for Day Students

We offer bus transportation to our camp site if enough number of students sign up for our Summer Math Camp as day students from the cities listed below. Extra charge will apply and space is limited.

For day students, we provide buses from the following cities: Acton, Lexington, Weston, and Newton

Airport Pickup

Domestic residential and international students who will be staying with us overnight at our summer math camp are expected to arrive at Boston Logan International Airport or at the camp site between 7 am – 7 pm on the corresponding dates above. For tuition and fees, please see below.

Tuition and Deadlines

Deposit: A $250 non-refundable deposit will be requested at the time of registration if the student is admitted. The remaining balance will be due April 30th.

Residential Tuition covers classes & activities, accommodation, meals and in-camp transportation.

Fees

International Students’ Fee: Additional $585.
Airport Pickup/Dropoff fee: $120
Lunch Fee for Day Students: $240 (Day Students might choose to bring their own lunch or purchase lunch at Harvard University.)

You can save up to $790 by registering early![/vc_column_text]