Splash 2022
Course Catalog

Ever wondered why your drawings of people don't come out looking quite right? Why even your simplified style seems a bit off? Want to improve your technical skills in drawing? This is the class for you!

This class will be focused on realism in graphite, charcoal, and pen. We will tackle both the human body and the face as we practice line strength, exaggeration, and anatomy. We will work with a (clothed) live model as we explore motion and proportion.

All supplies will be provided, just bring yourself and a willingness to create and learn!


Prerequisites
Basic drawing experience appreciated but not required!

We will start the class by doing a brief introduction to the foundations of Abstract Expressionism (and abstract art more generally) by looking at some paintings by Jackson Pollock, Joan Mitchell and others. Then, we get to put ourselves to the test! Students will get to make an abstract painting on their own, using key concepts from the movement. Anyone can make an abstract painting!

Have you ever seen crocheted projects and wanted to make your own? Have you tried to crochet and just ended up with a tangled ball of yarn? (We’ve all been there) Join us for a hands-on workshop to learn the basic crochet knots and create a project of your own. We’ll be starting out with making a simple square and then kicking it up a notch to crochet an arugami rabbit. All skill levels are welcome and all the necessary supplies will be provided.

Do you like music? Do you play an instrument? Want to learn about a new one? I have been playing music my whole life and have been playing harp for 5 years. I will teach you about how the harp works in general, harp basics, and how to potentially write music for the harp (e.g. techniques used when playing). I will do demos and answer any questions you have. Come learn about the harp with me!


Prerequisites
Have a passion for music! If you are interested in music composition, even better!

Have you ever wondered why the Undertale soundtrack sounds 8-bit, The Nightmare Before Christmas sounds gothic and distorted, or Interstellar sounds ~spacious~? Well, there's musical theory behind it! Join us in discussing how to identify components of music both aurally through listening to a piece and visually through dissecting sheet music.

In this session we will go through guided analysis of classical Disney songs to see exactly what makes them sound so magical.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of sheet music:)

Are you interested in theatre? Do you have a passion for performance, education, or special-needs advocacy? Take this interactive course that includes both lecture-based and on-your-feet learning about inclusive theatre and creating passion projects! Learn about how a high school student founded a special-needs inclusive theatre club, and gain inspiration to use your own creative skills in order to benefit marginalized communities. We will learn about devising full-scale plays and musicals, the logistics of forming a club, outreach to your target groups, and following your passions to become a leader. Even if you do not see yourself making a special-needs inclusive theatre group, you will leave this class prepared to employ your skills creatively in order to help others.

Can you describe the difference between a clapping sound and a tapping sound? How about a wooden drum and a metal drum? Why do we have so many words for the color blue but so few for the infinite "shades" of sound?

In this course, we will explore how composers distinguish sounds - especially sounds that are difficult to describe with words. We will address key concepts such as music notation, orchestration, and timbre. By the end of the class, each student will each write and (optionally) perform an original composition using household objects and concert percussion instruments.

This is an exploratory class for students of all musical backgrounds and abilities. If you've taken 12 years of piano lessons or enjoy finding sounds on TikTok, this class is for you!


Prerequisites
None

Want to make cool art with thread? Impress your friends? Learn basic embroidery stitches and get started with a project of your own using design templates. Time allowing, we can also teach basic sewing skills!

If you have a design you want to turn into an embroidery project, feel free to bring a drawing (no larger than 3.5in diameter please) and we can help you with that as well.

Podcasting is huge these days…and you don’t need a fancy studio or professional voice training to get started. Whether you already have an idea or you’re just interested in learning the basics, this is the class for you! We’ll explore things like microphones, recording techniques, and how to craft a great story. No previous experience required. No equipment required either—but feel free to bring a smartphone, laptop, or tablet if you have it.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites! But a love for storytelling will help:)

What do TV ads, TV scripts, tweets, and the lyrics to your favorite songs or raps all have in common? Poetry! It is everywhere! In this class, we will delve into a couple of poems discuss where they lead us and then we will produce a few works ourselves! This class is for those who are tired of the standard 5-paragraph AP-style essay, those eager to break some grammar rules, or those who are hoping to explore a complex feeling or situation. Poetry lovers and poetry skeptics are all welcome--no experience necessary!

Have you ever thought about making your own music? Becoming a SoundCloud rapper, perhaps? Music production and technology is simultaneously very complex, but way simpler than anybody could imagine. In this course, I will introduce you to the very basics of music technology: what is and how do you navigate a DAW? What are MIDI effects and how can I use them? How do I write my own music? After a quick introduction to the software, Ableton Live, I will walk you through the very basics of one of my own songs, before creating a new beat live and on the spot. Music technology is an enormous world, but I hope this course will open the door and inspire you to begin exploring it!

Calling at musical theatre lovers! In this course, we will be working through songs of the musical theatre canon. Students will learn about vowel modification, the structure of the voice, the different placements within a vocal range, and how to achieve a brighter tone. Bring in a piece from a show that you like to sing, and we'll work together to make it shine in your voice!


Prerequisites
Students should bring in a piece to work on that they would feel comfortable performing. They are welcome to bring in recordings of the song or sing a cappella.

Zines are a creative and accessible form of personal expression with rich history in alternative and underground political movements. Each student will walk away with a simple 1-sheet 8-page zine of their own making filled with whatever they want. Self-expression and experimental thought are highly encouraged.

Capoeira is a marital art that was developed by enslaved Africans in Brazil. The art focuses on disguising martial training as fun and merriment through fluid, dance-like movements. This introductory course will expose students to the fundamental movements of the art.

What do your laptop, some face masks, and a pair of earrings have in common? There might be copper in all of them! Come learn about the copper extraction process in Chile, the largest producer in the world, directly from someone who has known about it since birth (take the class to find out what that means!)

You will leave this class understanding the globally relevant copper extraction process from an engineering perspective, contextualized in history from the copper age, through the Cold War, until now. All curious students looking to dive into a cool topic in an interdisciplinary and fun way are encouraged to participate; you might even leave with a prize! No prior knowledge needed.

Looking for some hope about the warming climate, but not sure how we’re going to tackle this mess? We can help! In this class, we will highlight the up-and-coming green energy technologies that are poised to eliminate fossil fuels (including a demo), explain why green hydrogen could save us all, and identify where to go from here. Walk away with a deeper understanding of renewable energy technologies and the current energy landscape! No prior knowledge required!

This course will cover key parts of the broad question, "How do planes work?" Topics to be covered include:

-Fundamentals of fluids, including the airfoil, lift, and drag;
-Propulsion
-Stability and control
-Parts of an aircraft
-Time permitting, advanced topics including aeroelasticity and composites

-Bonus: Commercial Airliner Planespotting guide


Prerequisites
Basic physics i.e. Newton's laws and derivative calculus would be beneficial but an attempt will be made to simplify content to be appropriate to all grade levels.

Introduction to mathematical modeling and integer optimization by considering applications for social good.

Want to learn about some interesting one-off case studies? Curious why you are the way you are? You will learn about some of the most interesting case studies in the field of psychology, exploring how these case studies provide insight into our complex brain. No experience necessary!

"Y'all" or "you guys"? Or "youse"? What about "yinz"?

Ever wonder about the unique language found in different areas around the country? This class will focus on some of the diverse regional accents of American English. We'll discuss what sets apart one accent from another and explore accent performances in popular media.

Who run the world? It’s Beyonce. In this class, we will talk about how Beyonce chose to communicate themes of feminism, black culture and family on her 2016 internet-breaking and world-stopping visual album Lemonade, which included hits such as “Formation and “Sorry”. We will explore how she does this through genre-smashing musical choices, creative lyrics and even through the meaningful imagery from her performances and music videos (some of which we will watch!). Understanding the cultural significance and layers of Lemonade will not only make the music more enjoyable, but also encourage us to think about what Beyoncé is saying about the experiences of black women in our society. No prior Queen B knowledge required, just an eagerness to learn and discuss!


Prerequisites
A listen to Beyonce's Lemonade is encouraged, but not required.

Have you ever wondered how deliveries were made thousands of years before Amazon and UPS? This class will take you on a tour of the most intriguing ancient shipwrecks of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and the fascinating cargoes they carried. From the 3,000 year old Uluburun shipwreck to the perfectly preserved wrecks at the bottom of the Black Sea, you will learn how sailing ships connected ancient cultures across vast distances, the dangers ancient sailors faced, and the rediscovery of these long-forgotten ships. By the end of this class, you will understand how ancient people engaged with trade, and how archaeologists can bring their stories to life once more.

From imperialism and colonialism that has occurred throughout human history; world wars; racial, gender, romantic, and socioeconomic systematic inequality and discrimination; and the harsh impacts of COVID-19, we have witnessed tragedies thorughout history which may have caused us to question what it means to be human. With so many tragedies occurring in the world, the question of whether we are inherently good, inherently acting in our self-interests, or whether we are born with a blank slate is a question that seems to become increasingly uncertain.

In this class, we will spend the first half exploring the views of a few philosophers and psychologists from different time periods, such as the American humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers, English political philosopher Thomas Hobbes, French existentialist Simone de Beauvoir, and potentially many more. Then, we will have a discussion on our personal views on the philosophy of human nature. Do we agree with any of the views of people we learn about together? Is there anything they are saying that is problematic? Do we have views of our own, and if so, what are they? Most importantly, we will answer a timeless question posed by the lead singer of the American band The Killers: “Are we human, or are we dancer?”

Why do we write “John went to the store with Mary” but not “Mary John to went with the store”? Language has structure, and it’s not the grammar rules that you’ve been taught in school. In fact, the concept of “grammar” as a whole is something completely different to a linguist.

In this class, we’ll focus on basic syntax (the structure of language) through discussion and drawing syntactic trees for sentences in English, Spanish, and more.


Prerequisites
No linguistic experience required! Just an interest in language.

What is keeping me from just taking my neighbor’s amazon packages? Who is really going to punish me if I take more than one piece of halloween candy? How can I not get caught when I sneak out at night against my parents wishes? If you’ve though any of these thoughts, either out loud or in your head, you’re in the right place. In this class, we’ll be investigating how various societal actors employ either informal or formal social controls to prevent us from engaging in societally undesirable acts. You’ll be exposed to various philosophical perspectives on criminal behavior and then engage in a lively simulation with your fellow classmates to practice what you learnt. No prior knowledge or criminal record is required to attend. Just come curious ~

Have you ever wondered why some people always seem to be in a relationship? Or why you feel physical pain after a heartbreak? In this class, we’ll watch clips from some famous (and perhaps cringey) rom-coms and talk about the psychology behind attraction and commitment in romantic relationships. We’ll also discuss what matters most during first impressions, the effects of love on your body and behavior, and what you can do to increase others’ liking towards you–all of which are supported by science :)

Obsessed with Korean movies, dramas, and/or K-pop? Just want to dip into a new language? Start learning Korean here!

This course will cover the fundamentals of reading Korean (Hangul) and introduce students to Korean pronunciation.

Have you ever felt misheard? Like the other person hasn't understood anything you said, even though you tried to speak clearly?

In this class, we're going to learn and practice a technique that you can use to communicate more effectively and still respectfully. Students will leave class with a completed worksheet, which guides them through an example of how they can express how they feel in a clear, assertive, and respectful way.

I learned this technique to deal with my Terrible Ex-Boyfriend (TEB for short). Now I use it to deal with everyone.

Roses are red, violets are blue, when you go to google.com, what does your computer do ?

Take a quick byte of computer science by learning about HTML, the basics of networking and how a web page loads. Become an internet expert by understanding what goes on under the hood of a browser. How does the browser know what to load ? How does it update those nifty effects every day ? Why does google look different on my phone ? Come find out. No prior experience necessary.

It's time to put your (fake) money where your mouth is! In this course, we will go over the basics of probability and statistics and how they apply to polling and prediction markets. There will be a demonstration of how prediction markets work and a challenge to make the most money possible given a certain budget and risk (with appropriate rewards!).


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of probability

You've probably heard the phrase "shoot for the moon". In this class, we will be actually be calculating the distance to the moon! With a little bit of basic geometry/trigonometry, we will calculate the distance to the moon the same way it was first done.


Prerequisites
Geometry/Trigonometry

What do rabbits, foxes, butterflies, and tornadoes all have in common? Their behavior, in one way or another, can be described with math and can be simulated and (sometimes) predicted with computer programs.

We'll start simple, with the definition of the derivative, and then we'll turn this definition on its head to see how to simulate several increasingly complex systems, including a predator-prey model of population dynamics (rabbits and foxes) and even a simple model of weather that gave rise to the so-called "butterfly effect" - a concept in chaos theory that claims a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in Texas.

As we explore this mathematical zoo together, we'll let the computer do the heavy lifting and instead use our brains to develop some intuition for what's going on. We'll use one of the most in-demand programming languages today--Python--along with the same simulation techniques as those used to plan the Apollo missions to the Moon.

I hope you'll leave this course feeling excited about how you can use math and programming to understand and (sometimes!) predict complex and ever-changing real-world processes.


Prerequisites
Interest in physics, math, and programming. Basic familiarity with what a derivative represents (slope of a line, or rate of change).

Ever wanted to learn about what makes a marriage work? Why do some people get married and others don't? We'll explore the economic ideas behind marriage markets and apply what we learn to real-world marriage markets. We'll also learn about what constitutes a 'stable marriage' and marital bargaining.


Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with basic algebra.

We will learn about the basics behind molecular orbitals and bonding in molecules. This course will go over the shapes of atomic orbitals and how they interact with each other, and end with you making your very first Molecular Orbital Diagram.


Prerequisites
At least one chemistry class. This will be a relatively difficult (1st year college/senior year HS class) but I will start from the basics of chemical bonding.

Everyone knows the 5 senses, but do you about the 6th and 7th senses? What about HOW we hear, touch, see, taste, and smell? How do we convert the world around us into information that can be processed by the brain?

Come learn about sensation and perception! We will be going over mechanical, chemical, and neural paths that let us experience the world around us as well as try out a few “sensory illusions” (and you thought we could only play tricks on your eyes)



By then end of the class you will be able to answer the question: does reality only exist in our minds?


Prerequisites
Basic biology and chemistry. We will be talking about cell receptors/ligands and ion flow.

Throughout history, there have been many major scientific discoveries. However, these discoveries often have intense conflicts behind them that people don't talk about. These conflicts range from between collaborating scientists to scientists and society.

Why should you never trust an atom? Because they make up everything! Everything you do and see in your homes, kitchens and daily lives is because of chemistry. We’ll get to the real questions in this class. How can I light my hands on fire? Why is cold soda significantly better? Why did your mom always tell you to wash your hands with water AND soap? How does a small metal cylinder power your remote? In this class, learn about how to make connections between often detached textbook principles from chemistry like acids and bases and polarity to occurrences we all care about on a day to day basis. Come join us to learn about life and see some sick demos.


Prerequisites
Basic Chemistry is preferred (could be corequisite)

Exploration of the brain and nervous system through hands-on, interactive activities

This course will go over how scientists characterize materials and objects on the micro to nano scale. We will cover what an electron microscope is and how it's different from standard light microscopy. We will go on a walk to collect and prep samples to go into a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Students will be able to put a sample in an electron microscope and get some hands on experience using it.


Prerequisites
An interest in science and microscopy

Supramolecular structures are the hidden legos that build together our society. There are tons of applications for these compounds, as well as morphologies that they can conform to. Come ride along with Clarke Kent while he discovers the novel and exciting world of self assembled materials, peptide amphiphiles, and molecular weaves.


Prerequisites
Chemistry

Being a person is amazing — there are so many things that you can do! But being a person can also be tough... there are so many things that you have to do.

How do some people manage to do it all? We'll explore tech tips, lifestyle hacks, and productivity tools to help you automate your life. Walk away with a nugget of knowledge to make the rest of your life just a little bit easier!

In this course, we will discussing a bit about the background, theory, and practice of meditation. Often associated with Buddhism, forms of meditation can be found among many other religious and non-religious groups. Nonetheless, Buddhist meditation serves as a good springboard to understanding the general goals of many forms of meditation, with the main aims often being the calming of the mind through concentration-type meditation, and the longer term path of understanding and gaining insight into one's own mind and emotions. Meditation is not easy, and many find boring, but for some this practice can be incredibly fruitful and interesting given patient efforts over time. There will be a little bit of actual dabbling with a few basic meditation techniques, but it'll be more important to understand WHY meditation is done and why it might make sense to pursue it further. I spent time in Asia in meditation centers and will also talk about some of my experiences there, but do not consider myself Buddhist or identify myself with any religious groups, so will be keeping things agnostic.


Prerequisites
None

Y'know those days when you and your friends are bored out of your minds with nothing to do?

Well do I have a solution for you! All you need is a deck of cards and a little bit of imagination. Join me for an hour of strictly playing card games: Mao, Solitaire, not-so-solitary solitaire, Cabo, plus many more:) You're more than welcome to teach us games too!


Prerequisites
A willingness to learn new games! Bring your own deck of cards if possible, but not required!

Are you curious to learn more about how companies make their decisions? Should they launch a specific product? Why (or why not)? Should they acquire another company? Why (or why not)? What about when they notice a decline in revenue (the company's income)? What should they do??
This class will dive deep into the problem-solving of business, presenting students with several business case studies and making them feel like real CEOs for 50 minutes.

Have you ever wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons, but haven't known where to start? Get ready to roll initiative (and take initiative) by creating your own character and preparing for an adventure of your own making!

Ready to be the Dungeon Master of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, but don't know how to begin the story? Never fear! Join us to learn how to use setting, obstacles, and even your characters' backstories to prepare for an exciting adventure with your friends! If you're not interested in D&D, feel free to join us for storytelling anyway -- all are welcome!

Wanna challenge yourself intellectually with one of the most complex board games in the world? Interested in learning a traditional game prevailing in Asia?

Why not take this class and learn the strategies of simple cute black and white Go stones!

This class will provide you with all the basic knowledges in Go and tools to develop advanced skills!

If you love playing chess and would like to try something new, this class is for you!


Prerequisites
passion for board games!

Money seems like a natural idea—but have you ever wondered why we do it the way we do? Where do dollar bills come from? How could money be different? How could it be *really* different? And could changing the way we do money strengthen our communities?

In this interactive class we’ll experience what it’s like to use a few radically different types of currencies (other than Bitcoin), like Community Currencies,Time Banks, and Local Exchange Trading Systems. Then we’ll talk about the simulated experiences and analyze the effects that money has on our minds and our community. If we’re successful you will leave curious about how a lot of normal things could be done differently! At least one sandwich will be involved.

Every day we struggle with deciding how to make a day worth it. What do I have to accomplish today for it to not have been a waste? The answers are quite simple, but everything in today's society points away from the right answers. In this course we will be discussing concrete steps that you can take to change your life rooted in psychology and philosophy. Topics of discussion will include mindfulness, Stoicism, the science of happiness, minimalism, and the modern state of our society as a whole.

You have now entered the group chat…

Let’s talk mental health during COVID-19, then “make” mental health.

This class is for YOU. For US.

This is your ship. Steer it.

I’ll guide us like the North Star, facilitating conversation and give some educational bits on wellness- what mainstream Western Psychology has to say and definitely the underground, the spiritual, and the original indigenous forms of health. I have activities we can pull from anytime (dance,"sound walks", ancestor nature rituals, meditations…) or go where the wind takes us.

Bring your slivers of hope, wellsprings of feels, or lack thereofs! No vibe check at the door per se but do come game to discuss vibes you’ve picked up on over the last two years- within you and around you at home, school, family, the world…

Bring your passions- music, art, words, dreams, nightmares... if you feel called to perform or share a skill with us, let’s collab.

If you want to bring equipment for said passion, email me to get your thing approved (allisonhauser2023@u.northwestern.edu).

Random things can also work. For example... bring masks and we can weave them to make a statement? Write poems on them? Must be safe for school campus. Again, email me to get it approved.

Let’s rant, hang, and create the world we want to live in— starting right here in this room.

This is our time to talk and do things we don’t normally get to in school and at home.

Air it out. Work it out. Chill out. Move into the future.

We can go deep, downtempo, or keep it fresh. Remember, this is your time. Feel into what you want this space to feel like and how you can contribute to that feel.

BIPOC and LGBTQIA very friendly. Welcome fam.

Any questions, please please please feel free to hit me up at my email (allisonhauser2023@u.northwestern.edu).

Your Favorite Anarchist (Respectfully),
Allison


Prerequisites
None. Living through a pandemic and major historical events. You're covered.

We could make an argument for why you should join this class but we’d rather teach you to make it.

A class where you get taught to argue, win and prove that you’re right all the time. This class covers content on how to construct arguments, rebuttals and we’ll have some in-class debates so you can show off your skills. All interested debaters are welcome. No prior experience necessary