Escape Velocity 2017

Our annual educator's workshop: Learn how to Gamify Your Classroom, Teach with Science Fiction Stories, Code in the Classroom, and use Project-Based Learning - all with a sci-fi twist! Admission is free for teacher's with advanced registration for Friday tickets. Use the code "WORKSHOP". Eligible teachers only.
Gaming the Classroom: Engaging students with curriculum and craft.
Gamification is the process of using game strategy to design lessons for high learner engagement. Today’s students are accustomed to light-speed paced games that can be played for hours without tangible rewards. In this workshop, learn the principles of gamification to make any classroom curriculum more captivating.
Teaching Kids to Code with Boolean Girl.
Boolean Girl is an organization that focuses on teaching girls to code. This workshop is geared toward elementary- and middle-school teachers. Regardless of their previous coding background, teachers will be ready to teach an hour of code in their classrooms or elementary schools. Boolean Girl uses Scratch, an easy-to-use programming language available for free download. Our experienced instructors will lead teachers from the very basic first steps through the quick and easy projects in the one-hour training.
Coffee Break Sponsored by iFLY
The Power of Sci Fi Stories in the Classroom
Use science fiction stories as a portal to explore every day issues, encourage self-awareness and critical thinking, and elevate themes of diversity, peace, and exploration. Join Jessica Paul, the Director of Education for the Museum of Science Fiction, as she steps you through three science fiction stories you can use in the classroom to meet CCC requirements. (Multiple grade levels welcome.)
Project-Based Learning
Learn the benefits of project-based learning to develop students’ problem-solving abilities and grit. In this engaging session, you will become the student and experience a variety of hands-on learning activities. Leave the session with lesson plans you can use in the classroom.

Informal learners will interact with a demo that utilizes a skull and/or robot head and raspberry pi that has been used to create a talking head that has the same functionality as Amazon’s Alexa. This exhibit could also include a workshop element during which learners code their own robot and take the code home on an SD card.
Take-aways: How to problem solve using technology, programming, and imagination
Class size is limited to 15 participants, grades 8 and up only
Parents, please come and join your children for the fun!

Sound Check for Musical Guest.Thomas Dolby

Prof. Thomas Dolby talks about Creativity, making a startling claim: he believes that rapid advances in technology and communications do not always lead to a parallel increase in human innovation. Personal excellence comes from working within a set of limitations, forcing us to shatter our own boundaries. So often the best ideas are born from a scarcity of resources!