Have you ever been curious about origami? Thought it was too hard but always wanted to try? Join us in a beginner origami class where we'll fold some basic models. No prior experience is necessary; paper will be provided.

In this class, students will learn the history of zines, such as social justice connections and its independent publication format. The course will center around a demo in which students will learn how to make a small zine, and include discussions about book making as a whole. There will be time in the latter half of the course to create a small zine.

It is a course about fanfictions: origin, evolution, cultural significance. The class will use a feminist and cultural lens for analysis exploring questions like- are there no male fanfiction writers? Why do women read m/m? Where does fanfiction fit in the neurodivergence spectrum?

From a cultural perspective, the class would talk about the hegemony of whiteness in controlling fandom narratives and tags given that they are predominantly written by educated liberal whites women and how that has changed over the years with Web 2.0: ao3, FanFiction.Net, etc.

If you could make an engineering class a seminar: that is what this class will be.
Using the principles tens-integrity structures, (structures which are self-sustaining based on competing forces of tension), you will learn how to apply the principles of rapid prototyping, creative thought, and working as a team to rise to a series of challenges with the given materials: various lengths of slotted dowels and rubber bands.

This will be a hands on class. You will be given a series of challenges designed to be more than your structure can handle. You will partake in rapid prototyping. Your prototypes will break. The key is learning how to iterate on and improve that design, and how to have fun while doing it.

Learn how to write a children's book and what will make your story most successful. We will get to talk about our favorite books from childhood and practice writing our own. This class will be creative and you will surly learn a lot!

This course will examine the American Civil War and the events that led up to it. The course will discuss causes, key battles and campaigns, political and military figures, ideology, and what the war meant for both sides.

Through an interactive discussion and lecture, students will learn how to read and comprehend different historical primary sources, such as journals, photos, and artifacts. Any grade level can take this course as the course is geared towards students who are eager to participate in the investigation of the historical world.

A brief overview of what important philosophers throughout history believe to be the significance of our existence and what it means to live a good life. Topics may include a brief theoretical overview of Aristotelianism, Stoicism, Utilitarianism, Existentialism, Nihilism and different religious perspectives.

Have you ever learned something really cool, and then had trouble explaining it to someone? Have you ever taken a class and just not understood it no matter how hard you tried? I'm a graduate student who has taught Splash classes for over six years (some of which I've even heard were pretty good!), and I've experienced good and bad classes as both a teacher and a student. I've taught students about analytical biochemistry by making a class about international espionage, improvised a lesson about the history of Boston as a substitute teacher for a class about Ronald Reagan, and once wound up having a Splash class go far better than normal when I had none of the equipment I had planned to use. In this class, we're going to discuss what I think made these classes good and what made other lesson plans go bad. I also would love to hear about any experiences you all might have had. Then, we'll see how we can use what we've learned to make better presentations, explain your ideas to anyone, and maybe even change the world.

This will be a discussion-based class, although I'll be showing some examples from past classes to get the conversation started.


Prerequisites
All you need is an open mind, and I'd appreciate a willingness to share your ideas (although that's not required).

An exploration of Shakespeare for readers with little or minimal experience with the Bard. We will be exploring sections from plays and sonnets in order to develop the techniques to successfully read and comprehend Shakespeare.

When it comes to writing stories in the fantasy genre, building a world from scratch can be intimidating. A good setting has to interweave the creation of a physical world, the peoples that inhabit it, and usually the magic that makes everything so fantastical. This class will provide an introduction into how to get started, how to make a world feel fleshed out, how to create a magic system that works with your story, and how to weave it all together to create a believable fantasy world. At the end of the class we will work together to craft the start of a totally original world.

“Here is a metaphor which even kings won’t need to have explained to them.” Since time immemorial, metaphors, particularly those about monsters and fictional characters, have been used to explain complex and pressing issues. In this 1-hour course we will explore the modern use of metaphors to explain the issues of our day, particularly political extremism and their abuse of our shared cultural heritage.

Happiness in 21st-century America is subject to an elaborate game -- comparing yourself to others, working on long-term life goals, and most importantly, pursuing the supposedly endless happiness that comes with money. While all these societally reinforced ideas can provide short-term bursts of happiness, a growing body of science and the state of our contemporary society demonstrate that this self-improvement trifecta doesn't bring sustained happiness. We'll investigate how was this framework for happiness was created, (hint: capitalism), how our brain processes happiness, and most importantly, how you can break out of the pressure to "succeed" and find satisfaction in whatever life you choose to lead.

We'll look at some central concepts and calculations in single-variable calculus: limits, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, derivatives & integrals, and potentially the Taylor series (if time permits). This class will be a broad overview, so it'll be best for those who (a) have never seen calc before and want a brief intro, or (b) those who have taken calc and want a review. We'll leave time at the end for whatever math topics the class is curious about, so come with your questions!

Nearly everyone with an internet connection is familiar with the “Karen” meme, but where did she come from? While often portrayed as a joke, the Karen embodies a history as old as America: white women using positions of power to influence events that often endanger people of color. From the “Miss Ann” of the Antebellum era, to “Becky” in the 1990’s, to “Karen” in the present day, this class examines how the image of the white damsel in distress has perpetuated systemic racism in the US. Using examples like the murder of Emmett Till, To Kill a Mockingbird, and more, the class seeks to contextualize a violent history of white womanhood and how to stop it.

It is objectively true that American institutions are anti-democratic. We will present two viewpoints, arguing that these checks on popular will are either necessary for functional government or tools that entrench minority rule in American politics. It will then be up to the students to decide what they believe.

Have you ever felt afraid to speak in front of your class? It's likely you have, and also likely that all your friends have, too. In this class, you will learn to use strategies to appear cool, calm and collected on stage, and how to deliver information you care about in an impactful way. You will walk out of the classroom with much less fear about public speaking (or at least the ability to hide your fear).

Highlighting profiles of female latin revolutionaries throughout history and their impact through the modern arts
EX: Rigoberta Menchu , Selena etc.

How can a person holistically define the terms health and well-being? The word “healthy” can take on different meanings for many different people. Especially during these times, everyone has an opinion and everyone is looking for answers. While current events have us believe that the medical profession is an all knowing and trustworthy pillar of our society, that opinion has been ever changing. This introductory class delves into the core concepts of medical sociology and public health. We will look at case studies throughout American history that provide insight into how medicalization and the social determinants of health shaped our country into what it is today and how it continues to do so. There will be heavy discussion around themes of death, illness and potentially violence, so content warning for some.

Have you ever won a prize for correctly guessing the number of jellybeans in a jar? We'll be using the same sort of educated guessing to understand the world of cellular biology. Instead of jellybeans in a jar, we'll estimate the number of proteins in a cell, the size of organelles, the efficiency of cell machinery, and the speed of electrical signal transmission through cells. Join me to uncover the stories of biology within the numbers!

From influenza to the coronavirus, these viruses attack the human body. Have you ever wondered about the mechanisms that viruses use to contaminate us?

In this course, we will learn about the biology of viruses and bacteria! Discover how they cause diseases and explore methods to prevent viral and bacterial infections such as using hand sanitizer and washing your hands.

We will also be making our own hand sanitizers to bring home!


Prerequisites
None! Just an interest in Biology, specifically viruses and bacteria.

Basics of astronomy

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly disease, that is not talked about enough in the United States. 1 out of 24 people in the US are living with TB infection, and over 4100 people die from TB globally every day.

This course is perfect for anyone interested in medical and clinical care, public health, policy, epidemiology, and/or infectious diseases and will be transferrable to many other fields of study.

Come learn about tuberculosis care and treatment, vaccines, policy, and more through a hands-on workshop!

At its core, science is about figuring out clever little ways too discover something about how the world works, not just the facts we've figured out along the way. In this class we'll look at some classic examples of the process in action, such as speedrunning video games, as well as some more obscure branches of science like 'biology'.


Prerequisites
Bring a cute animal photo for extra credit. (But anyone is welcome to join.)

No one's ever said that solving a crossword puzzle was easy, but what do they say about constructing one? In this class, I'll teach you the basics of building your own crossword puzzles. From theming and grid construction to fill and clue-writing, I'll set you up with the knowledge and tools you need to start experimenting on your own. We'll talk about common pitfalls constructors everywhere fall into, and I'll share some of the lessons I've learned about word selection, consonant clusters, and the boundless joys of the letter 's'!. If you have any interest in puzzles, or in the fun and satisfaction that comes from creating them, this is your chance to explore. The world of the Crossword awaits!

Have you heard of D&D, but never really known how to get started playing? In this course, you'll learn how to get involved in the tabletop roleplaying game! This includes and introduction to everything from making your own character, to game mechanics, to designing your own campaign. You will leave with all the knowledge necessary to start your own 5e game.