Techno-tainment Camp Frequently Asked Questions - 2005!


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  1. What do the children do all week?
    1. Children at Techno-tainment Camp explore technology with entertainment guiding the way.  Depending on their courses, children can direct movies, design video games, piece together music, produce animated websites, create 3D-animated figures, and/or develop multimedia slideshow presentations.  Children play with technology, and in the process, develop their analytical reasoning skills and techno know-how.
       
  1. How does instruction take place?
    1. The instruction and work period takes place four times every day.  Each work period lasts about an hour and 15 minutes, and has the campers working individually and in groups.  Throughout the periods, learners create various projects and come together for instructional reviews periodically.
            Instructors group the campers together by ages and give mini lessons to individuals based on abilities and progress.  Since the curriculum is project-based, classes have students working at their own paces.  The instructor merely sets them on the right path for each new endeavor.
       
  1. Is each course at Techno-tainment Camp only one week long?  (and why can we only enroll for THREE weeks this year)?
    1. Although courses are designed to allow major productivity in a one week period, students may enroll in the same course for up to THREE weeks.  Because of the project-based curriculum and individualized training, students can easily expand on new computer concepts in the same course for more than one week.  There is always something new to learn in their field!
    2. Beginning in 2005, campers at Techno-tainment are limited to three weeks of enrollment.  This difficult decision was reached after much discussion with counselors, families, and friends who agreed space at the camp was limited and many children never get the opportunity to enroll at all.  On top of this, many campers have shown visible signs of fatigue entering the 4th week and definitely some computer burn-out.  Techno-tainment believes in its curriculum and never-ending challenges for children, but also in all kids receiving a well-rounded experience during their summers.  This is a trial for 2005, and if it does not seem to work, we are very open to adjusting it for next year.  In the meantime, we hope campers take advantage of the other exciting offerings from the Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Department and other nearby camps.
       
  1. What if my child finishes all of the projects?
    1. As gifted as we know children are with technology, Techno-tainment Camp provides more project ideas than there is time in a summer.  There are always new concepts to master and new projects to develop.  Campers never run out of things to do with us.
       
  1. Who are the instructors?
    1. Techno-tainment Camp is very proud of its highly-skilled and trained technology instructors who are back again!  We expect to see Daisy, AJ, Spike, and Dee Pizzy (and possibly some surprise counselors).  Each instructor has worked with children extensively and studied technology in various advanced fields.
       
  1. When do the campers get breaks? 
    1. Break times at Techno-tainment Camp are mandatory and occur four times a day.  Two breaks are held outside the lab for fresh air, sunshine and snacks, while the other two are for outdoor game activities and lunch. 
       
  1. What do campers do about lunch?
    1. Campers are required to bring a sack lunch each day of the camp week.  Snacks will be provided during the last break period of the day.
       
  1. How is the camp’s security?
    1. The location of Techno-tainment Camp, El Rodeo School in Beverly Hills, is surrounded by gates.  Students are accompanied by adults at all times in the lab and playground areas.  With BHUSD Summer School being held at El Rodeo this year, the camp will be alive and active with professional educators on campus.
       
  1. What is the Multimedia Arts course (Ages 7-8)?
    1. Designed for the youngest campers, Multimedia Arts will introduce the children to dazzling images and sounds as they create entertaining slideshows, alter photographs, and orchestrate snazzy music. Campers use CD digital cameras to capture their own images.  Students of this curriculum create their own portfolio websites.  Students leave with CD copies of their work.
             Software Used:  PowerPoint, Photoshop, ACID Music, and FrontPage.
       
  1. What is the Techno-tainment Tournament Track for returners that everyone is talking about?

a.        This new course is an exciting chance for experienced Techno-tainment regulars to show off what they have learned in an arena aimed at developing their own professional looking master project in either movie-making or game design.  Campers who enroll in this class will be prepared with tips for making a professional movie or video game, and they will be sent on their way to create their own masterpiece in either field.  They will end the week with the option of entering their projects into a “grand camp showcase” where campers will vote in different categories (examples: Funniest Video, Best Actress in a Video, Favorite Video Game Character, Hardest Game, etc.)  All entries will be awarded, but who will walk away with Best in Show is something none of us can wait to see. 

  1. What is the Digital Video Editing course (Ages 9-14)?
    1. Students in the Digital Video Editing course actually get to produce their own movies from scratch.  They write scripts, design storyboards, use video cameras to tape scenes, and then come back to edit them together with state-of-the-art technology.  Students work on their own editing station and piece together their own movies individually complete with personal soundtracks made with music software.  They even leave with digital copies of their movies on CD!
           Software Used:  Adobe Photoshop, ACID Music, and Pinnacle Studio.
       
  1. What are the Multimedia Game Design courses?
    (Beginning and Advanced – Ages 9-14)
    1. Students in the Multimedia Game Design courses will create colorful, high-level thinking video games using Multimedia Fusion and/or Macromedia Flash.  Games will range from simple sporting games like Pong, to advanced platform games with clear objectives (like Super Mario Bros).  Campers also make their own soundtracks for their games with music-editing software.  First-person shooter games are prohibited, as are the appearance of inappropriate images or themes.  Students leave camp with a CD copy of their video games.

Introduced summer of 2004, Advanced Game Design is offered for experienced Multimedia Fusion campers.  Students in this course will also use Macromedia Flash to design web-based video games just like those seen on the most advanced websites today.

      Software Used:  Multimedia Fusion, Macromedia Flash, and ACID Music.

  1. What is the Animated Web Design course (Ages 12-14)?
    1. Students design their own animated websites using the latest Flash software.  Websites will contain animated buttons and cartoons; organized and displayed on the World Wide Web throughout the year.
            Software Used:  Macromedia Flash, Microsoft FrontPage, and ACID Music.
       
  1.  What is the 3D Animation course (Ages 12-14)?
    1. Easily the most advanced course we offer, students enrolled in 3D Animation will explore making 3D computerized models and animations.  Students learn to build, texture, light, and ultimately - animate their models.  This advanced use of technology (3D Animation) is currently found in most major motion pictures (Robots, The Incredibles). Students leave camp with a CD copy of their models and animations.
            Software Used:  Hash Animation Master and ACID Music.
       
  1.  Why is Multimedia Arts limited to the younger students?
    1. The concepts taught in Multimedia Arts are also taught in our other classes.  The Multimedia Arts class was designed to give the basic skills to our youngest campers in smaller, friendlier groups.
       
  1.   How do campers bring home their projects?
    1. All campers receive CD copies of their work files and finalized versions of their projects.  The finalized versions of the projects will play on home “Windows” (PC) computers even if you do not have the software used in class.  Most work can be played on Macintosh computers as well.
       
  1.   My 8-year-old is a computer expert; why can’t he/she take the advanced courses?  
    1. While we understand that all learners enter at different levels of experience, we have seen that students perform better with children their own age.  Since instruction is widely individualized, your advanced child can move onto other pieces of software while sitting with their friends.
       
  1.  Can my child switch courses after camp starts?
    1. Absolutely, assuming his/her age is appropriate for the desired course. 
       
  1.  What if I am late arriving or picking up?
    1. If for any reason you will not be on time for drop-off or pick-up, a phone number will be provided for you to reach us.  A staff member will be with your child until you arrive.  If tardiness is excessive, a late fee may be assessed.
       
  1.  What Network Games do the students play? 
    1. The camp ends each day with a network game time.  Games range from strategy favorites StarCraft and HomeWorld, to fast-paced thrill rides like Armegetron.  Brand new network games to be introduced Summer 2005.  This will definitely be the best summer for games yet.
       
  1.  Is Karaoke Time back for Summer 2005?
    1. Oh, you can bet it’s back and better than ever!  If you like to sing, get ready to show off!
       
  2. What kinds of computers do the students use?
             a. The students use Dell Computer systems running Windows XP Professional with Pentium 4 – 3.2 GHz processors.  The computers each have 512 MB Ram and 80 GB Hard drives.  Students log -in using secure usernames and passwords and store their work on a brand-new Windows Server 2003 that is backed-up every night.

 

 

 

 

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