New & Revised Course Offerings for 2020

 

New Courses

ATDP instructors sometimes propose new courses so they can share their particular passions. These courses have never been held at ATDP before, and demand for these spots may be very high. As applications are evaluated in the order completed, we strongly recommend applying early!

Click on each course title to jump to its description on the catalog page.

Elementary Division

  • Coding with Greenfoot: Observing that many of his 5th grade students had experience with Scratch programming, ED instructor Nathan Mattix will be offering a more advanced course to 6th grade students that will introduce Java code using friendly but powerful development software. Note that we will still be offering one section of a Scratch-based course, now titled Digital Inventions, for current 5th graders.

Secondary Division

  • Public Speaking & Performance: Long-time SD instructor Laura Shefler will be putting a new twist on a public speaking course for high schoolers, with a focus on working together through the entire process to create performances, be they for business, theater, or academics.
  • Computer Science Principles (AP-aligned): The approach that inspired accessible, relevant computer science courses such as AP Computer Science Principles began right here at UC Berkeley, and Introduction to Programming instructor Flint Christensen will be offering this full-year equivalent course, ideal for students new to programming who want a rigorous, AP-level introduction.
  • Introduction to Higher Algebra: Sharpen your math skills over summer with this half-year equivalent higher algebra course. Dr. Eli Lebow will be returning to bring his expertise in advanced topics, ideal for students interested in engineering and who are planning to enter Algebra II or Integrated Math 3 in the fall.
  • Exploring Chemistry: High school science teacher Fatemeh Mizbani will be offering this hands-on lab course for middle schoolers looking to preview chemistry topics. This course has a compressed 4-week schedule, running July 6 through July 31.
  • Introduction to Cancer Research: A specialist in biology, Dr. Anu Murthy will be expanding her role in the Secondary Division, not only offering Cognitive Neuroscience but also bringing her passion for oncology and medical research with this new advanced natural science course.

Returning SD Courses

These Secondary Division courses are back from hiatus, and may include revisions and updated curricula for this summer:

  • Advanced Literary Analysis: Avid students of literature who want to practice college-level analysis are invited to join Jeff Neilson in this compressed four-week course.
  • Web Development (AIC): Students who have completed Elements of Web Design ("The Internet Classroom") and a standard programming course will have the opportunity to combine these topics in The Advanced Internet Classroom (AIC), now approved as a UC Honors-designated course.
  • Statistics (AP-aligned): We welcome instructor Michelle Lackney, an accomplished high school math teacher, to lead this advanced math course, equivalent to the full year of AP Statistics: highly relevant for students interested in social or data sciences.