Learn a new skill and teach it to other students!

In the League Labs program, students will work on a programming or robotics project to create a new short class for other students. The specific project can be selected by students, but are most likely to be something like:

• Add lessons to existing Python or Java curriculum
• Create new projects for the Micro:bit computers and robots
• Create introductory lessons for Arduino and Raspberry Pi
• Build a simple video game for the Micro:bit Arcade

Students creating a new class can work independently on their own, but the best way to create a fantastic class is to come to the Summer Code Arcade to be a volunteer instructor, where you’ll be building your project in the same class rooms as the students who will beta test it. Work on more advanced classes, which might require special hardware, will be done at the Robot Garage in Pacific Beach.

For older students, level 5 and above, our summer practical projects will focus on various applications of neural networks. We will start with an introduction to neural networks and learn how to build and train basic networks with Keras, Pytorch and Tensor Flow. Then students will focus on studying specific kinds of neural networks for image recognition, classification, physics and time series analysis. Finally, students will complete individual projects in one of three areas:

• Using object detection for real-time data collection of ballistic projectiles. ( We’re going to shoot tennis balls and collect data about where they go. )
• Predicting ballistic trajectories with Physics Informed Neural Networks.  ( We’re going to try to predict where the tennis balls will land )
• Life-course prediction from longitudinal social data. ( We’re going to use survey data from when people are young to predict what they do when they are older. )

The full projects are intended for advanced students who are very self-directed. We will have regular meetings, once or twice a week, and students will need to spend at least 10 hours per week independently to make progress.

The best help an instructor can get is a League Student. If you’d like to pass on your skills, volunteer to help teach a summer class. Our summer program consists of regular classes and the Summer Code Arcade, so can can either help teach the classes you’ve take previously, or you can learn some new skills and come to the Summer Code Arcade to help younger students through programming and robotics projects.

As part of our Code Clinic and Robot Garage programs, the Robot Programming Classes are aimed at helping FIRST FTC and FRC robotics teams develop their programming skills. Did your programmer graduate last year? Are you unsure how to incorporate encoders, object recognition or PID control into next year’s robot? Join the free Robotics Code Clinic for lessons and practice on advanced skills.

We need teachers too! This program is also for students who are already skilled in advanced techniques and would like to share your skills; we are recruiting both instructors and students.

Register below if you are interested in any of these summer opportunities. We will be forming groups and scheduling meetings to get started on projects in late April.