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The courses taught at NCC fall into the following 9 categories.
Several courses are offered in each category.
Each category and each course is described below:- 2D and 3D Video Game Design
- Digital Video Production
- Web Page Design
- Computer Languages
- Software Applications
- Android App Programming
- Preparation for the Network+ Certification
- Preparation for the A+ Hardware Certification
- Preparation for the Math SAT and PSAT tests
Note:
At each location, each week, all courses are offered for beginner to advanced campers.
Typically campers take one course for one week or longer, except for Software Applications which is offered daily in the afternoon during the creative computing session. Course descriptions are listed below. Courses have no age limits unless otherwise specified.
Campers select the course(s) they want to take at camp on the Background Form. The Background Form is mailed to campers upon receipt of the camp application and is also available on line (click Forms).
2D Video Game Design
Is game design in your future? Find out! You have a truly amazing idea for a game, but you do not know what to do with it.
Transforming your idea into an actual game is a challenge.
In this project oriented course, you become familiar with game design software. You learn
the skills you need to turn your cool idea into a really cool game by mastering the
techniques and elements that go into creating games such as action, adventure, arcade and role playing games. Two curricula are available: Stagecast Creator for 8 to 11 year old campers and Multimedia Fusion for 12 to 18 year old campers. Each week beginner, intermediate and advanced instruction is offered.
Important: Campers take home on CD the games they create and the game design software. Campers can then continue to write games after camp.
Prerequisite: None. There is a $55 per week lab fee.
3D Video Game Design
Are you ready for the fascinating world of realtime 3D game design? It is easy, it is cool. Learn to create 3D adventure, action, space, strategy and role playing games.
Bring your ideas to life as you add levels, music, enemies, obstacles, and import your images.
Campers think creatively and logically while designing imaginative games that explore the power of the 3D game design software.
Each week beginner, intermediate and advanced instruction is offered.
Important: Campers take home on CD the games they create and the game design software. Campers can then continue to write games after camp.
Prerequisite: 2D Video Game Design. There is a $55 per week lab fee.
Digital Video Production
Would you like to be a film maker? Would you like to be a movie director? Campers have fun as they write and shoot their movies and then transfer their footage from the camera to the hard drive. With the aid of video software
the images are manipulated: use the razor tool, add transitions and filters, superimpose graphic titles and add music.
The final version of each project is recorded on CD for the campers to take home.
Prerequisite: None. There is a $55 per week lab fee.
Web Page Design
The HTML language is used to write web pages and is appropriate for campers of all ages.
Once the camper completes his/her personal web page it is uploaded to the Internet.
As the camper progresses through the curriculum he/she has the opportunity to also learn Photoshop and Flash.
These software applications are used to enhance the graphics and animations of web pages. More advanced campers may also choose to integrate Javascript and Java applets into their web pages.
Topics covered include: Text Formatting, Images, Photo Editing, Sound, Hyperlinks, Backgrounds, Fonts, Lists, Tables, Frames, Meta Tags, Mail To, graphics, animation, and Cascade Style Sheets.
The final project is the camper's personal web page uploaded to the Internet.
Prerequisite: None
Computer Languages
Basic
The Basic language provides an excellent foundation for the young programmer as it includes the
important concepts that are common to all computer languages.
The curriculum is devided into beginner and intermediate/advanced sections.
Beginner Basic topics covered include: variables, strings, loading and saving programs, Print, Input, Read Data, IF conditions, graphics, Locate,
random numbers, For-Next loops, and animation.
Campers write age appropriate programs such as: mad libs, adventures, animated graphics, crystal ball, trivia quizes, and more.
Prerequisite: None
Intermediate/Advanced Basic topics covered include: Do loops, Gosub, string functions,
advanced animation, Boolean operators, more random numbers, arrays, files, and sorting. Campers write game programs
such as hangman, battleship, state capitals quiz, and other projects including a telephone book, and text processing.
Prerequisite: Beginner Basic
Java
The beginner to advanced Java curriculum consists of a sequence of lessons. Beginners start with lesson No. 1; others may start
with the lesson compatible with their background. For example, campers who return for a second summer and who previously learned Java continue where they left off.
This curriculum is an excellent preparation for the AP computer science test.
Topics covered in these lessons include: variables, strings, input, output, Boolean logic, loops, methods, overloading, objects, classes, constructors, assessors, mutators, references, arrays,
sorting, searching, recursion, applets, labels, buttons, events, graphics, keylistener, and mouselistener. For a final project campers typically design and write a one or two player game of their choice. Examples of such games are: Tetris, Tron, Checkers and Connect Four.
Prerequisite: Basic or over 14 years old. Special circumstances allow for exceptions.
C++
The beginner to advanced C++ curriculum consists of a sequence of lessons. Topics covered in these lessons include:
variables, input, output, IF-else and Boolean logic, string functions, loops, random numbers, functions, arrays,
vector class, sorting, searching, structures, dynamic allocation, linked lists, recursion, abstraction,
constructors and destructors, overloading, graphics. Campers write many programs that implement the various topics. As
a culminating activity campers select among a list of advanced projects such as the games of Tetris, Tic-Tac-Toe, Checkers, Connect Four or Tron.
Prerequisite: Basic or over 14 years old. Special circumstances allow for exceptions.
Open-GL
This language is an extension of C++ in that it provides excellent graphics capabilities. Some Open-GL lessons require knowledge of Algebra and Trigonometry.
Topics covered include: Basic Drawing, Animation, Keyboard and Mouse Input, Bitmap Fonts, Recursion and Graphics, Two-Dimensional Drawing Projects.
Prerequisite: C++
Assembler
Assembly language is the closest to machine code (0's and 1's). Assembly programs run fast so programmers frequently embed Assembly in C++. This is especially useful for programming graphics.
The Assembly curriculum includes: number systems and bases, registers, instructions, text display, and graphics.
In addition, there are advanced lessons that demonstrate embedding Assembler in C++ programs.
Prerequisite: Basic or C++ or Java
Javascript
JavaScript makes it possible to include interactive elements in web pages. Campers learn to add animated buttons, sound, scrolling text
and pop-up windows to web pages. The campers also learn to swap images, link events, call functions,
place cookies, open and close browser windows and create interactive forms.
As campers progress they learn to write programs to:
have a message pop up when a web page is loaded
have an image turn into an animated image when clicked
save a person's name and then greet him/her with that message every time the page is loaded
create a "self-destruct" button which closes the current window when clicked
display a message as the user is leaving the web page reminding him/her to visit again
create a form to get information from the person viewing the web page
Prerequisite: Beginner C++ or Java
Software Applications
Excel
The Excel curriculum consists of 9 lessons entitled: $1000 Shopping Spree, Olympic Medals, Average Your Grades,
Miles Per Gallon, Money In The Bank, Multiplication Table, The IF Statement, A Data Base and Macros.
These lessons are written in a light and lively style
appropriate for all ages and cover all important Excel topics such as: cell formatting, relative and absolute cells, formulas, dragging,
the IF statement, Sum and Average, clip art, graphs and charts, inserting hyperlinks, and most importantly the topic of "what-iffing".
Prerequisite: None
Power Point
The Power Point curriculum consists of 5 slide shows that the campers create and save on their disks. These shows are entitled: Your First Slide Show,
Backgrounds and Transitions, Make a Screen Saver, 3-D Animation, and The Bouncing Ball.
This curriculum exemplifies NCC's approach of 'Learning by Doing' as campers learn the important aspects of Power Point through fun slide shows.
Prerequisite: None
Podcasting
A podcast consists of multimedia files such as recorded audio or video programs that are uploaded to the internet and are available to people. This series of lessons teach how to record and edit your audio and video files, how to save your files, and how to publish your podcasts to the internet so people can access them.
Prerequisite: None
Wiki Pages
Have you heard of Wikipedia the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit? Do you want to create your own Wiki?
A Wiki page is uploaded to the internet like a web page and can then be edited by friends, family and groups. Wiki pages may contain personal information, discussions, messages, pictures and much more. Take a series of lessons on how to create your own Wiki page and how to get the most out of your Wiki.
Prerequisite: None
Flash
Flash is a sophisticated software application. The curriculum is project oriented and focuses on those aspects of Flash that the campers will use in school projects and in their web design.
The campers' final project creates a five page web site using Flash.
The topics covered in the projects include: drawing and painting images, symbols, layers, effects, animation, tweening, sound, frame actions, movies,
animated buttons, embedding a movie in HTML.
Prerequisite: None
Photoshop
With Photoshop campers can learn to do everything from creating Web graphics to tweaking photos to putting their head on the body of their favorite actor.
As campers advance through the lessons they learn to crop and resize images, select tools and filters, merge graphics, format a file as a JPEG or GIF, and make
illustrations.
In the end campers come to realize that the power of Photoshop is only limited by their own creativity.
Prerequisite: None
Networking
This practical course demonstrates networking for the home. Campers learn about Ethernet cards, hubs, switches, routers and how to make networking cables.
They connect several computers to create a network. Next they learn to configure Windows for a home network. In the process campers also learn about IP addresses, TCP/IP, and network properties.
Once the network is in place, campers are able to share files and printers and , of course, play network games.
Prerequisite: None
Educational Games
Campers may sample these games during the creative computing period. The list of games includes Robot Battle, The Sims, Cryptology Puzzles, The Incredible Machine,
Oregon Trail, Amazon Trail, Roller Coaster Tycoon, and SuperGoo.
The Robot Battle program is especially popular. Campers program a screen icon (their robot) to possess excellent offensive and defensive skills.
Then at the end of the week campers submit their robot programs. The robots are all entered in the "war". After several battles the most skillfully programmed robot is declared the winner by the computer.
Prerequisite: None
Android App Programming
Want to create an App? Do you have a cool idea? This course teaches you basic and advanced programming skills needed to program Apps for devices
that use the Android Operating System. Learn to use built-in functions such as text, graphics, touch, camera and others.
Camper projects include touch and dial Apps, text based Apps and one or two player games.
Prerequisite: None
A+ and Network+ Certifications
A+ Hardware Certification Preparation
A+ is one of the most respected entry level IT certificates. The certification test consists of two parts: Hardware and Operating Systems. NCC offers preparation for the hardware test. The typical preparation time for each test is about 80 hours.
Since NCC offers at most 24 hours of instruction per week, most campers will not be ready to take the nationally administered hardware test. After camp, campers may continue to prepare, for example, with the aid of on-line courses.
The topics covered are:
- IRQ, DMA,and I/O addresses and procedures
- Peripheral ports, cabling, and connectors
- IDE/EIDE and SCSI devices
- Installing devices and upgrading sysems
- Diagnosing and Troubleshooting
- Position and function of computer components
- Adding and removing components
- CPU chips, RAM, motherboards, and CMOS settings
- Printers and basic networking
- Sample tests
Prerequisite: Must be at least 12 years old. There is a $55 per week lab fee.
Network+ Certification Preparation
The technology community identifies Network+ as the perfect entry point into a networking career.
NCC offers preparation for the certification test. The typical preparation time for the test is about 60 hours.
Since NCC offers at most 24 hours of instruction per week, most campers will not be ready to take the nationally administered test. After camp, campers may continue to prepare, for example, with the aid of on-line courses.
The topics covered are:
- Networking Standards
- Transmission Basics and Networking Media
- Networking Hardware
- WANS and Remote Connectivity
- Diagnosing and Troubleshooting
- Network Operating Systems and Windows 2000 Based Networking
- Networking with TCP/IP and the Internet
- Maintaining and Upgrading a Network
- Network Security
- Sample tests
Prerequisite: Must be at least 12 years old. There is a $55 per week lab fee.
Math SAT and PSAT Preparation
Instruction is offered by experienced teachers daily for 90 minutes. The six hours per week are not sufficient to be fully prepared,
but serve as an excellent start. Campers who attend NCC for more than one week may sign up for additional SAT weeks.
Time permitting the curriculum covers the following topics:
- Math fundamentals
- Algebra
- Plane geometry
- Solid geometry
- Coordinate geometry
- Functions
- Special topics such as word problems and percent
- Sample tests
Prerequisite: None. There is a $95 per week fee that includes a textbook and supplies.
Click here to read what campers' parents have written about the curriculum
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