App Design

Today we continued working on our apps.  Progress is pretty slow, but we're getting there.  Maybe if we're lucky we'll get to start uploading the mockups of our app pages to Marvel App so that we can make a half-way functional prototype.  Here's hoping!

Vinyl Cutting!

Today the kids got to check out the cool world of Vinyl Cutting.  No, we're not talking about spinning records on the wheels of steel, we're talking about the Silhouette Cameo Vinyl Cutter.  This little machine is a lot like a desktop printer but designed specifically to cut fabric and vinyl!

We've been using the vinyl cutter here at the library for a while now, so we enlisted our resident expert Omar to help out.  Check out the cool results!

App Design

Today we continued work on apps.  This class wasn't originall scheduled, but we wanted to make sure we finished, so we scheduled an extra class.  We'll keep on going until we're done!

App Design

Today we finished up the images for our apps.  We're so close to being finished but we're going to have to add another day or two to the class before we can finish.  Tune in next Thursday for the exciting results!

App Design

We continued working on our apps today.  With only today and Thursday left we are trying to finish up our images so we can start uploading everything to Marvel next class!

There's an App for That - Photoshop!

Ok, we have our app designs down on paper, now it's time to get digital!

First thing we did was to create mockup screens in Adobe Photoshop.  For some kids this was their first experience with Photoshop so we had a quick lesson on how to use the program and some core concepts.

The Photoshopping was fun and the kids had to create every element of their app, even buttons and menus!

Check it out!

There's an App for that

Today we tried our hand at designing an app. These apps aren't real, but rather design proofs. Each student came up with an idea for an app and then did a rough sketch of what the screens would look like and put it to paper.

This is a 4-part class, so on Thursday we will reconvene and start using Adobe Photoshop to create some snappy looking images that we can then upload to Marvelapp.com to create a functioning prototype!

Orna-"Mental"

Take a look at our ornaments!

Some of them certainly printed better than others.  Not all of them were perfect, but a great first attempt!

But those were just templates that we printed.  Check out what the kids made today on their own!

Ornamental

Today in Project Next Generation we got a quick primer on how 3D printing works and what all is entailed in designing and printing a 3D file.

In the spirit of the holidays we then visited Cubify.com and used their Merry Maker web app to create our first 3D designs.  We downloaded the files after we were finished and hopefully they'll be printed out by the time the next class on Thursday rolls around!

Hour of Code

Today we concluded our Hour of Code activities!

To try them on your own visit Code.org and get started!  It's a lot of fun!

Hour of Code

This week is Computer Science Education week! In honor of that our PNG students are dipping a toe into the world of coding thanks to the super cool website code.org!

Today we went through the very basics of coding in a guided fun game-like activity with an Angry Birds theme!

The kids probably don't even realize that they're learning the very basics of coding because it's a lot of fun just to set and play.

Two Upcoming December Programs!

Project Next Generation is proud to announce two upcoming programs for the month of December!

The Hour of Code - Dec. 9th & 11th (must attend both classes)

4pm - 5pm Sign Up Online!

Let's learn how to code! This two-part class is a fun introduction to coding basics. Don't know anything about coding? Great! This class is for you!

3D Holiday Ornaments - Dec. 16th & 18th (must attend both classes)

4pm - 5pm Sign Up Online!

 Let's use the computer to create 3D models of holiday ornaments and then print them out on the Makerbot Replicator! This 2-part class will teach you the basics of 3D design and how to use Tinkercad.com to create 3D objects that can be printed on any 3D printer!

Show Time!

OK, with PNG's Fall Movie Making Class drawing to a close it's time for the big premiere of our awesome project!

A couple things to note: The beginning and the end of our movie weren't able to be filmed because we ran out of time and people.

Also worth noting there's a scene that triggers the flashback toward the beginning that we straight-up forgot to shoot, so the end result is probably pretty darn confusing.

Anyway, here we have the story of Bob Beckham, mild mannered TV news reporter who, unbeknownst to himself goes into a Coca-Cola-fueled murderous rage whenever he as a sip of the tasty beverage.

Fortunately he's brought to justice, but who knows.  Maybe he'll strike again!

Coca-Killer

That's the tentative title for our movie.  We are hard at work editing our movies today.  We have one student already obsessed with the blooper real, but the rest of us are working diligently on editing together our murder mystery about a Coca-Cola fueled killer brought to justice by our heroic Detective Lucia.

We'll hopefully have some clips up soon!

Angie says hi.

ACTION!

It's go time!

With only 3 classes left and a camera malfunction last time around we have to zoom through our entire shot list and get all the footage in the can so we can spend the next two classes editing!

How well will we do?  Will we get all the shots we need?  Will all of our actors show up?!

Find out in the comments below!

First Day of Shooting

Today was our first day of shooting.  After making meticulous storyboards and writing a stellar script it's time to put our plan into action.

Will we have enough actors? Will the script have to be cut for content? Who will play the dead body?!

Find out in the comments!

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

Today was all about storyboarding.  The story is set, the script is in and now it's time to translate these words into a visual medium. First up, before we start filming, storyboards!

Storyboards are like comics that tell the story of your script using pictures. They help to pre-plan shots and angles and even if you can't draw very well they are a big help!

From Script to Screen

With our epic brainstorming session from Tuesday behind us it's now time to take our amazing idea for a movie and start writing a script!

The students don't have write it in screenplay format, but at least determine a cast of characters and write out the dialog.  It's going to be tough today but the more effort we put into it the easier it will be when we start shooting footage on Tuesday!

Movie Making Magic

We started making movie magic today with an epic brainstorming session.

We watched some YouTube videos about making movies and then got started coming up with a great idea for a movie.

This time around we're doing a murder mystery!  We're working on a script and next up is storyboards and then we'll start filming!

LED Ghosts!

Today we made decorative ghosts in anticipation of Halloween tomorrow!

We got the idea from the nice folks at Evil Mad Scientists.

We used LEDs and small coin batteries, pop bottles, string and cloth!

Happy Halloween!