Clark University Educational Studies Program
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Worcester, MA 01610

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Welcome to Clark University SPLASH!

Our next Splash event will be on April 13th, 2025!



Splash Spring 2017
Course Catalog

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Arts Humanities
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Arts

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A770: Portrait Photography - Develop your Style
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rose Wine

Learn how to develop your own unique style with portrait photography! The course will teach basic photography concepts, look at other photographers' styles, and explore different ways students can capture their perspective through technology and technique.

A774: The Writer in You! (Advanced)
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Owen Connell

Are you interested in creative writing and have dreams of publishing your own novel? Then this class is for you! This section of The Writer in you is a class designed to help high school students understand the creative writing process covering character creation and development, scene building, and writing skills.

A777: The History and Art of Animation
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Grant Henry

Animation is more popular than ever, from computer graphics classics like Toy Story to hand drawn anime like Spirited Away, and stop-motion like Wallace & Gromit. Learn about the history of animation as a film-making style as well as the techniques used by studios to bring a cartoon movie to life!

A779: God's Eye Craft
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Tracy Graham

Do you love to make crafts and use bright colored yarn? Then come and learn how to make a God's Eye with popsicle sticks and yarn! You will be able to take your God's Eye craft home with you. You can use this craft as a decoration or present or just for fun! :)

A789: So you think you're funny? Improv& Theatre Games 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nia Slater

Do you think you're funny? Are you good at acting? Come learn the basics of improvisational acting and comedy with Clark's own improv group the Peapod Squad! Practice relationship building, scene structure, object work, and being funny all while having a good time! Lets have a fun!

A790: So you think you're funny? Improv& Theatre Games 101
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Nia Slater

Do you think you're funny? Are you good at acting? Come learn the basics of improvisational acting and comedy with Clark's own improv group the Peapod Squad! Practice relationship building, scene structure, object work, and being funny all while having a good time! Lets have a fun!

A791: From Sheep to Scarf: Learn how to card, spin, and knit
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Amelia Turner

Learn how to take raw fiber such as sheep wool and turn it in to a scarf! In this course we will learn how to card wool into roving, spin roving in to yarn, and knit yarn in to a scarf.

A793: A Cappella Insights
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jenna Libera

Come sing your way through class, a cappella style! We will using our voices only to create fun music by learning easy techniques, helpful exercises, and awesome songs to understand the collaborative insight to a cappella music. No prior musical experience is necessary!

A794: Dance Like No One's Watching: South Asian Fusion Full!
Difficulty: **

Come Join us in a introductory class to Indian/Pakistani dancing! Get ready to learn a fun and new style of dance and build your cultural knowledge!

A796: Knit One Stitch One: Knitting for Beginners Full!
Difficulty: **

This just in- Knitting is making a comeback! If you've ever wanted to learn how to make your own scarf or give your family a gift 'from the heart', come find out how relaxing and fun this activity can be! This class will teach you the basics so that you can become a knitting genius. All you will need is patience and an open mind!

A800: Paths to Poetry
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Bruno Lieto

How do you poetry? This class is a fun chance to explore poetry as a creative process. You can write about anything from the color of the sky to the color of your toes! Give yourself the chance to create something beautiful!

A807: Intro to Modern Calligraphy
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joanna Hamilton

Loving calligraphy you're seeing on instagram? Come learn how to get started in calligraphy and know the basics. Impress your friends and learn a new artistic skill!

A811: Intro to A Capella with the Clark Keys
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jake Kiley

Join the Clark Keys, one of Clark's co-ed A Cappella groups for an inside look at collegiate a cappella. Join us in learning some basic vocal techniques and learning an A Cappella musical arrangement. No formal music experience required, just a passion for singing!

A812: Dyarn! Foiled Again!
Difficulty: *

Come join us for some fun relief drawings! Create beautiful stained glass relief sculptures using glue and yarn. Embrace your inner artist and have fun!

A813: Identity Through Art

Join us in exploring your identity and how you connect with society! We will play some fun games, draw murals of what culture means to us, and make collages about our identities. Gain a sense of how your race, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, and overall background intersect with who you are!

A814: Get to the point!
Difficulty: **

Come learn the art of pointillism! Dip your Q-tip into some paint and create wonderful mandalas, pop-art, and landscapes.

A827: Cha Cha!: Intro to Latin Ballroom
Difficulty: **

Come learn the fun Latin dance of Cha Cha!

Once you know how to Cha Cha, you'll be able to dance to songs like 'Poker Face' by Lady Gaga and 'Cake by the Ocean' by DNCE.

Wear comfortable clothes and bring comfortable shoes!

A829: The Writer in You!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Owen Connell

Are you interested in learning a new, creative method of writing? Are you someone who loves books, movies, or even just stories in general? Have you always dreamed of seeing you name on the New York Times Best Seller list but never knew how to make this dream possible? Enroll now in The Writer in You! to gain a better understanding of how a story is made from the creation and development of characters, ways to build a scene through dialogue, and develop your blossoming skills as a writer!

A831: Hip Hop Culture
Difficulty: *

We plan to explore the genre of hip-hop, going back through the origins, how hip-hop has changed, and examine the culture of hip-hop. We will be playing music examples and some select videos that pertain to hip-hop in general.

A834: ¡Baila Conmigo!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Henry Butler

¡Baila Conmigo! or "dance with me" is a a workshop for students interested in learning the basic steps to salsa dancing. Taught by members of Clark University's own Latin dance group, Salsa Encendida, students will be immersed into the culture of salsa dancing with coaching from our talented dancers. No experience is required but participation and full attention are expected!

A835: Where the Weird things are: Laughs and theater games
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Herbert Isio

Unleash your inner weirdo and share some laughs with your fellow weirdoes. No casual attire necessary but sassy pants highly recommended!

A843: Let it *GLITTER* Full!
Difficulty: *

Come and make your own glitter jar!!! It will help you when you are anxious and nervous. You get to keep them also ;)


Humanities

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H772: Seeing Is Believing - Or Is It? The Psychology of Optical Illusions
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Corey Bernstein

Your eyes and brain are constantly working together to help interpret the world around you. But what happens when what you see and what you think you see don't match up? We'll explore many different types of optical illusions and see how our eyes and brain can play tricks on us. We will also discuss brain processes related to attention and memory.

H781: Autism: Fact and Fiction
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alden Welles

Are you interested in abnormal psychology, autism spectrum disorders, or the disability rights movement? The class "Autism: Fact and Fiction" explains the characteristics of autism as well as the sociocultural aspects of the disorder. We will discuss in detail common misconceptions about autism, different forms of autism advocacy, and portrayals of the disorder in the media.

H784: How to Argue (Fallacy & Truth
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Yoni Hazan

In this class, we will accomplish two main goals:
1) We will look into what makes certain arguments convincing. We'll come at this from a creative and artistic standpoint, looking into what rhetorical devices, schemes, and tropes are used to persuade others by analyzing the famous speeches of incredible wordsmiths.
2) We will look into what makes certain arguments incorrect and flawed. Haven't you ever heard an argument, by a teacher, friend, politician (or even a parent!) that just seemed wrong but you couldn't quite put your finger on it? This is because it is very common that someone uses a rhetorical device incorrectly, In this section of the class, we will analyze arguments with different fallacies from a more logical standpoint and identify specific traits in an argument that make it a fallacy.
By the end of the class, you will have learned the basics in constructing solid arguments, appreciating a good argument when you hear one, and being able to identify which parts of an argument are strong and which are weak.

H799: Power of the Pen
Difficulty: **

The Power of the Pen will teach students how to write to government officials on important issues. Students will learn how to address these officials and write a well-worded letter to get the most out of the recipients' time. There's no time like the present to take action on issues that are important to you!

H803: U.S. Presidents: The Good & The Bad
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alex Bailey

There have been 45 presidents of the United States, from the very first, George Washington, to the current president, Donald Trump. But who is considered the best and the worst presidents the united States has ever had? More importantly, WHY are they considered the best and worst? We will briefly look at the biggest accomplishments of the more notable presidents in U.S. history and decide where they place in the record books as either the best or the worst.

H806: Know Your Rights!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Joanna Hamilton

Just because you have free speech doesn't mean your teachers can't tell you not to swear at school...but why? Find out! This is your chance to learn what you can and can't do and what to say if someone tells you otherwise.

H808: Lizstomania: The Psychology Behind Music
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Katy Kiernan

Ever wondered why you find a particular tune so catchy or why you react so strongly to music? This class will teach you the psychology behind the experience of listening to music! Using the psychology of sound and emotions, this class show you whats going on in your brain while have your headphones on.

H816: Morality and Ethics: How Our Choices Shape Our World
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Eli Goldwag

In this course we will be exploring the complexities of the concepts of morality and ethics and how they affect our everyday life. We will look at classic examples of morality in question, such as the train problem. We will also discuss historical instances of morality and ethics-based action and/or inaction. Examples may include: the My Lai massacre, the case of Bernie Goetz, and the Holocaust. The goal of the course is not to resolve anything, but rather to have students walk away asking questions and critically examining the world around them.

H817: Debunking History: A Look into the Common Misconceptions and Misnomers of History
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rachel Christ

Who really discovered America? Did George Washington really chop down a cherry tree? How tall was Napoleon? This course will look at the many historical misconceptions commonly accepted as fact in historical education today. We will explore how to critically examine a historical education, and go through a historical timeline while setting straight some of the most famous errors history textbooks today still present as fact. We will be looking at the ways in which you, as a student, can examine your own education and criticize the black and white way textbooks present a history that is comprised of many colors.

H818: Witchcraft 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rachel Christ

Have you ever wondered why the Wicked Witch of the West's face is green? Why do witches fly on brooms and wear pointed hats? Why are black cats and cauldrons associated with witchcraft? In this course we will examine the history of witchcraft, from its most basic roots, through the European witch craze, to the modern day understanding of witchcraft and the various hollywood adaptations that have led to our classical, stereotypical witch. We will look at the case of the Salem Witch Trials to understand what creates an environment conducive to a "witch hunt." This class will not be entirely lecture based, there will be class discussion as well as a few games. This is not a topic that is often explored within core curriculum, but it is an incredibly important topic, with a very rich history, that deserves attention and comprehension. Through this class students will hopefully gain a sense of the stereotypes around them, and how history becomes hollywood, and facts become legend.

H836: Villains and Fools: The misrepresentation of LGBTQ in the media
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lital Dotan

Come learn about the history of the representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the media! Brought to you by Clark University's OPEN

H837: RuPaul, Lady Bunny, Todrick Hall
Difficulty: **

What do these people have in common?
They're men that dress up as women, as a form of art.
In the last couple of years Drag culture has become popular thanks to RuPaul's Drag Race. Drag as a form of art is not at all new, and has existed for hundreds of years. We will discuss briefly about the history of Drag and different types of drag. We will also discuss what drag queens have to go through in order to become successful.

H782: Riot Grrrl: A Feminist Revolution
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Aitana Doster

Interested in learning about powerful women and their strides to change the patriarchal structure of society? Then this class is for you! We will talk about first and second wave feminism, but focus primarily on third wave feminism and the riot grrrl movement. We will also have a discussion about the ways that each wave failed and succeeded, bringing up the question: what was lacking and what still needs to change in our society? These movements achieved monumental successes, such as the right for women to vote and the movement for equal rights. We still have a long way to go, so it is important to figure out what is necessary to achieve an environment where everyone is equal.


Lunch

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L769: Lunch Period
Difficulty: None
Teachers:

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.


Science

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S771: Napping 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Mitchell Dumke

Sleep is a beautiful thing, and one of the most important aspects of our lives. In this class, we will look at how the sleep cycle works, what determines how much sleep you need, and the significance of dreams.

S773: Ferrofluids: Magic Magnets! Full!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Ashley Renfro

Make your very own ferrofluid, which will form spikes in liquid with the help of a magnet!

S787: Climate Change and Living Green
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Anika Berger

This course will focus on the challenges of climate change and how we can do our part for the environment.

S788: ADDICTIVE Black Culture
Difficulty: *

Come and learn some addictive BLACK dances and history.
What makes Black Music so addicting, and where or what is the range of black culture? From the beginning of time to the present, black culture is addictive. In this class we will discuss the once legendary artist "New Edition" most famous in the 80s and the 90s. We will also be rehearsing some of their classic moves and what makes them so unique?
We will also be exploring the great lengths of black music.. to where can we find it and how is it expressed?

KPOP
Afrobeat
Addictive dances and across cultures

S792: Mapping the Mind: Getcha Head in the Game
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Jenna Libera

Get the scoop on the what, how, where, when, and why we think the way we do! How does the brain "feel" love? Where in the brain tells us we're hungry? Why couldn't we stay awake during that math class? All these answers and more will be answered in this fun and interactive class that goes on an adventure through the regions in our minds.

S801: GAAAAH, A ZOMBIE!: The Science Behind "The Walking Dead"
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alex Bailey

This course is designed to go in-depth into what has now become one of the most popular TV shows in America today: "The Walking Dead." How does one become a zombie? What allows for zombies to hunt for food? Why must heroes like Rick or Michonne kill the zombies only through their heads? Are we able to explain the neuroscience behind these apocalyptic figures? Finally, we shall try to answer the one question that will loom in everyone's mind: is a zombie apocalypse really possible in real life!?

S804: Building with Marshmallows 101

Come join Clark's pioneering Women in STEM club in your attempt at the worldwide Marshmallow Challenge! Build the tallest structure you can out of the limited materials, and learn a little about engineering, science, and teamwork along the way.

S805: The Science of Snacking: Healthy Habits
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Emma Coppes

Do you know what is actually in the food you eat? In this course we will go through different scenarios and snacking options, providing you with the knowledge to make healthy eating choices.

S819: Imaging Atoms
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Michael Boyer

Have you ever wondered how you can image the atomic structure of materials? In this class you will learn how one basic concept of quantum mechanics allowed for the development of a state-of-the-art experimental technique, scanning tunneling microscopy, to do just this. This class will include a demonstration of Clark’s scanning tunneling microscope.

S821: Don't Get All Bottled Up
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Charlotte Gray

Students will learn about the history of plastic and then see where plastics are found and how they are disposed of. From there we will explore the toxicological effects of plastic on life. This lessons will be focused on hands on activities along with some group discussions/work.

S825: All About Tigers
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Eric Barrese

Do you want to know more about nature's largest cat? Sign up and learn about the Tiger and maybe even learn how to growl like one.

S839: Let's make Slime!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Rebecca Meservier

"What wiggles and jiggles and can be made with just two ingredients?? SLIME!! Join me as we make this silly goop together and talk about science!"

S840: Gravitational Waves and General Relativity
Difficulty: **

Come to the class where the mind-blowing things you learn are not relative or general!
Yes, we are the ONLY (we hope) class with that much contradiction in our title.

Are you interested in what gravity is? How it propagates? Why and how it affects EVERYTHING? How Einstein came up with all his crazy theories? How maybe they’re not crazy after all? We will be exploring many questions – hopefully we can answer at least a few!

Come to this class if you want to be one step closer to understanding the crazy ways our universe works, if you want to ask real live physicists about it (gasp, that’s us!), and if you want delicious chocolate while doing it.

Our primary topics will include gravity, gravitational waves, general relativity and Einstein, and an introduction to some insane math. Depending on the experience of the class and what the class is interested in, we will be happy to change what we had planned as a presentation to focus on what YOU think is cool!

S841: Napping 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Mitchell Dumke

Sleep is a beautiful thing, and one of the most important aspects of our lives. In this class, we will look at how the sleep cycle works, what determines how much sleep you need, and the significance of dreams.

S822: FUN-damentals of toxicology
Difficulty: **

This lesson serves as an introduction to toxicology for the middle school classroom. This
class will utilizes students’ prior knowledge and engages them in the study of toxicology. Students
will explore the differences between man-made and natural toxic substances. Students will learn
the basics of the dose-response principle and obtain information they can use in the future to
make wise decisions for themselves and their families. This lesson is useful in chemistry,
physical sciences, and biology as you begin to talk about all things chemical and the importance
of chemical reactions in our everyday lives, as well as the effects of chemicals on all living
organisms.


Miscellaneous

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X775: Saving Lives and Taking Names: Basic First Aid 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Wenlan Lawrence

This course will combine both lecture and hands on demonstrations of basic first aid that can be used in medical emergencies. Taught by the trained EMTs and First Responders of Clark University EMS. This class is tailored to teach the average person to react to medical emergencies. All levels and interest are welcome to attend. The idea of this course is anyone should be able to learn the material. The hands on part will give more specialized age appropriate information.

X776: Saving Lives and Taking Names: Basic First Aid 101
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Wenlan Lawrence

This course will combine both lecture and hands on demonstrations of basic first aid that can be used in medical emergencies. Taught by the trained EMTs and First Responders of Clark University EMS. This class is tailored to teach the average person to react to medical emergencies. All levels and interest are welcome to attend. The idea of this course is anyone should be able to learn the material. The hands on part will give more specialized age appropriate information.

X778: Law and Order: Splash Victims Unit
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Andrew Brown

In this class, we will be focusing on a famous, long-running, crime drama t.v. show: Law and Order: SVU. The class will consist of short clips from the series. We will then analyze the show and their characters from both a writer and viewers' perspective to discuss character development and how this show relates to our life.

*Previous knowledge of Law and Order: SVU will be helpful for this class

X780: Bitcoin and The Dark Web: An Online Economy
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Ian Levy

In 2008, an online alias by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto created an online market that seemed to come straight out of a sci-fi movie. This system, Bitcoin, would have powerful implications on cryptocurrency (online money), internet transactions, and privacy. Basically, Nakamoto had created a market in which all deals were secure and anonymous while simultaneously acting as the first decentralized digital currency. We will discuss the emergence and significance of Bitcoin in a global context.

X783: Brooms Up: Intro to Quidditch
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Holly Whytock

Come join Clark University's very own Quidditch team and learn about our sport! Inspired by the sport in the Harry Potter series, Muggle Quidditch was created 11 years ago and is played around the world. We will learn the rules of the game, do some drills, and then play a match in this hour-long workshop.

Quidditch is an all-weather sport that will be held outside. Please wear comfortable running shoes, weather-appropriate clothes you can run in, and bring water. We will provide all necessary equipment (including brooms!)

See you there!

X795: Let's Go to College!
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Jemmie Tejeda

Let's learn about what college is really like, why it is important for us to attend, and the opportunities you can attain from attending!

X797: Say What Now?! How to Communicate
Difficulty: *

Want to learn how to stand up for yourself? Feeling misunderstood? Don't know how to voice your opinion respectfully? Take our class to explore different forms of communication and how to communicate effectively! We will be going over everything from emailing to proper phone etiquette.

X798: Video Games and The Rise of eSports
Difficulty: *
Teachers: Ian Levy

League of Legends. Starcraft. DOTA. Super Smash Brothers. Call of Duty. Overwatch. All over the world, there are people that are making a living by competing in video game tournaments. These gamers travel internationally to compete for thousands, if not millions, of dollars. Did you know that three NBA teams have actually invested in eSports teams? In this class, we will be looking at how games become "eSports" and the public perception of video game competition.

X802: College Made Easier: Useful Studying Techniques for High School
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Alex Bailey

College tests aren't like those in high school, but imagine how well you could do on your tests by learning how to study for college exams! Learn useful studying techniques that many college students across the country have that earn themselves A's, and utilize this new knowledge in the high school classroom setting. Show your teachers you are ready for college!

X823: Harry Potter Trivia Challenge
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Lee Friedman

You've seen all the movies. You've read all the books. Well, get ready to take your knowledge to the next level with the ultimate Harry Potter Trivia Challenge!

We will play some team games and some individual games, so be prepared to enjoy some fun competition!

X824: Self Defense
Difficulty: **

This program is designed to teach basic self defense skills. Active wear is recommended.

X826: Conquer Public Speaking Full!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Maha Akbar

This class makes use of multiple exercises and activities that can help students improve their public speaking skills and feel more confident speaking to a group of people.

X828: Brooms Up: Intro to Quidditch
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Holly Whytock

Come join Clark University's very own Quidditch team and learn about our sport! Inspired by the sport in the Harry Potter series, Muggle Quidditch was created 11 years ago and is played around the world. We will learn the rules of the game, do some drills, and then play a match in this hour-long workshop.

Quidditch is an all-weather sport that will be held outside. Please wear comfortable running shoes, weather-appropriate clothes you can run in, and bring water. We will provide all necessary equipment (including brooms!)

See you there!

X832: How to Sell Using Marketing
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Emilee Cocuzzo

In this class, you will learn the methods of marketing, specifically inbound marketing, to effectively sell. You will also learn about consumer behavior and how to utilize that methodology to sell. This is just a fun class to become more confident if you want to go into business.

X842: Conquer Public Speaking
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Maha Akbar

This class makes use of multiple exercises and activities that can help students improve their public speaking skills and feel more confident speaking to a group of people.

X815: Learn How To Get RIPPED in 55 Minutes!
Difficulty: **
Teachers: Bao Kim, Bu Kyung Song

Are you someone who is trying to embrace a healthier lifestyle but need help on how to safely approach this journey? Or are you someone who enjoys a life of fitness and nutrition and wants to be exposed to different methods? Then this class is perfect for you!

In this class, learn more about why some can eat more without bloating as well as why some have trouble losing weight. The class will cover topics regarding proper nutrition, exercise, lifestyle habits, as well as ways to stay motivated. Your journey to sculpting your body begins here!