Need to Know

This thesis project will be presented as a dynamic, interactive web site. My plan is to use MySQL/PHP on the backend (familiarity) and JavaScript/HTML5/CSS3 on the front end. Since I am only vaguely familiar with HTML5 and modern web technologies, learning these is a must.

• Learn HTML5
• Learn CSS3
• Learn JQuery

I am hoping to get into a class where I can learn those things, but if not, I will learn it on my own (through tons of online resources, books and experimentation).

As far as the content goes, I am going to try and focus on creating completely two project-based curriculums. I intend to have some of the basics overlap, so I can work on developing the core curriculum and demonstrating how one basic tutorial can be expanded upon in multiple ways. 

• Develop core curriculum
• Define and develop project based curriculum based on core curriculum

As of right now, I am thinking those subjects will be music and art. I will need to contact people in those fields for their regular input and assessment of concepts and ease of understanding. I also would love to be in touch with the Math department because programming uses a lot of math and I would love to know more about the math curriculum and how concepts are taught.

• Contact art, music and math departments at Saint Ann’s - ask for participation
• Speak to colleagues in computer department about tutorials and challenges along the way

Additional people that I would like to be in touch with about this project:

• Dr. Carol Fischer, creator of online math projects and incredibly inspiring professor from my high school who would undoubtedly provde great insights
• Frank Migliorelli (ties to ITP and NYU, background in education technologies)

Books to read:

• The Children’s Machine and Mindstorms by Seymour Papert
• Flickering Mind: Saving Education from the False Promise of Technology by Todd Oppenheimer (also perhaps Distracted by Maggie Jackson and/or The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein)