Education & Activities

We offered courses for schools,  libraries and other  education providers.

We offer stand alone workshops perfect for single session library events, home schooling families and other education networks

We offer one week sessions for vacation or summer programming.

Featured Workshops 

Current featured Class and Workshop Offerings :

 NOTE: All Workshop have a recommended age, but each can be tailored to participants.


BlocksCad 3D Design

No CAD (computer-aided-design) experience?  No problem!

BlocksCAD is a graphical, engaging, and effective way to CAD, where the outcome is improved math & computer science skills.  CAD (Computer-aided design) is a computer technology that designs a product and documents the design's process.  This workshop will cover the use of the BlocksCAD program.  This drag and drop (like Scratch) software is it mostly used to describe a solid 3D model.  

Contact Sol Menashi: Sol@ricomputermuseum.org 

 This workshop is open to all ages 10 and up. (Maximum spaces 16).  

Make Your Own Video Game

Have you ever wondered how the designers of your favorite games work their magic? Come "crack the code" of games in the Rhode Island Computer Museum's "Make Your Own Video Game" workshop. This is a great chance to put down your controllers, dive into learning the interactive "Scratch" software--a user-friendly program developed by MIT to teach software coding--and create your very own video game sample.

Contact Dan Berman: Dan@ricomputermuseum.org 

Recommended age for this workshop is 8and up. 

Stop Motion Animation

...Stop motion animation is almost as old as film itself…. 

Stop Motion animation is where a series of pictures are combined to make a moving image making for a great introduction into video for artists of all backgrounds. All of the components of stop motion animation will be covered through use of various programs.  With these mediums you will captured live with the computer camera and put into interactive software.  After the frames have been captured you will use basic video and audio editing techniques to create a finished animated video!

Contact Dan Berman: Dan@ricomputermuseum.org 

Recommended age for this workshop is 10 and up. 

Robots on the Run!

The Rhode Island Computer Museum will present a Workshop call “Robots on the Run”. The workshop aims to explain basic coding and instructions on how to command a simple robot. You will learn programmable electronics, and instructions for making motors run, sounds and a lot more.  We’ll take time to learn about interactive software titled “MBOT Arduino” and you can create your own sample “Robot code”.

If you've are a gadget geek, science nerd, budding engineer or other electronics-obsessed loved one, come run a robot with us. We will end with Robot Wars breaking balloons attached to the MBOTS. 

 Contact Dan Berman: Dan@ricomputermuseum.org 

Recommended age for this workshop is 10 and up. 

Rube Goldberg and Marble Roller Coasters

Give a marble the ride of a lifetime as you design, build and test your very own marble roller coaster. Learn about Rube Goldberg, the man behind the cartoons and man who inspired the devices that bear his name.  Explore the connection between potential and kinetic energy, using tubes, tape and other household materials.  Participants will be able to visualize the concepts of conservation of energy, all while working independently or working as a team to create the ride of a lifetime, (at least for the marble!)


1 hour session, age 8 and above (can be adjusted for younger learners)



Goldworthy

Young artists and engineers will be introduced to the idea of the ephemeral art and how it relates to the nature of creativity and the surrounding environment.  Participants will use the work of Andy Goldsworthy and Michael Grab as inspiration for their own site specific artistic creations.  Elements of design will be discussed such as symmetry, balance, lines, color theory, as well as the concept of structural mechanics.  Weather permitting, the activity of this class can be conducted partially outdoors. Weather not permitting, it can be held entirely indoors.  Youth will be encouraged to forage for some materials but if that is not possible, materials will be provided.