Makenna Turner

Laboratory for Playful Computation teen researcher wins CBS4 award

Dec. 10, 2018

Future Leaders winner, Makenna Turner, a junior at Peak to Peak Charter School in Lafayette, is working with PhD student, Abigail Zimmermann-Niefeld, in the Laboratory for Playful Computation to develop a wearable device that teaches skills, like hitting a golf ball.

Ben Shapiro

Ben Shapiro: How Machine Learning Impacts the Undergraduate Computing Curriculum

Nov. 12, 2018

In this OP-ED piece for Communications of the ACM, Ben Shapiro and others argue that machine learning has moved from a peripheral topic within computer science to the core of what new computer scientists need to know.

Kari Santos teaches two women to make the peanut roaster.

ICTD alumna teaches micro:bit lessons to students in Botswana

Sept. 4, 2018

Kari Santos, ICTD alumna and member of the Laboratory for Playful Computation, lends a hand as Letang Sefako (left) and Ketletseeng Sedumago (middle) drill holes to add a hinged door to the peanut roaster they built in Kaputura, Botswana in August 2018. The peanut roasting business was one of eight...

Ben Shapiro with students

Award recognizes ATLAS professor for engaging teaching, making a difference

June 13, 2018

"His teaching methods are innovative, iterative and easy to understand, and he cares about his students." This is just one of the comments used to nominate Ben Shapiro for the 2018 Sullivan-Carlson Innovation in Education Award.

Annie Kelley works on a keyboard attached to her computer during the MakeCode workshop.

Code snippets, tooltips and error detection

March 21, 2018

ATLAS hosts advanced workshop for MakeCode, the JavaScript platform that vastly simplifies the creation of programming editors.

Two students smile as they build a remote control car from cardboard, salvaged parts and micro:bits

Microsoft Research workshop gives new life to old toys

March 20, 2018

The assignment is to play with remote control cars. Well actually, break them up and use the parts to build something else. It's an apt assignment for Arielle Hein’s Object class, which meets in the ATLAS Blow Things Up Lab.

Girl looking up from computer.

Computer Science Education Week: Going Beyond Code

Dec. 6, 2017

The Laboratory for Playful Computation has developed technology that enables middle-school students to quickly create networks, connect devices, invent apps and design wearable technology.

Photo of Emily Daub dancing in her wearable technology

Lightbulb moment leads to wearable technology for performance dance

Nov. 30, 2017

Emily Daub, a senior in ATLAS Institute's Technology, Arts and Media Program, combines her passions for dance and wearable technology by creating responsive costumes for performance dance.

Assistant Professor Ben Shapiro helps three middle-school students learn Blocky Talky.

Computer music as gateway to learning contemporary computer science

Oct. 25, 2017

Middle school students with limited prior programming experience develop interactive, creative, networked technologies.

Assistant Professor Ben Shapiro helps a student.

ATLAS professor to keynote IEEE Symposium

Sept. 26, 2017

Assistant Professor Ben Shapiro will be the keynote speaker for the IEEE Symposium in October.

Pages