Technology

The Bay School takes a broad view of technology, defining it not only in terms of computer and information technology, but also in terms of the design and creation of tools to meet human needs. If technology is defined as the application of scientific knowledge to facilitate change, it is important to consider the appropriate uses of technology and the impact of its application. Media literacy is a core component of technology instruction, and use of technology is integrated throughout the curriculum.

Elective Courses

Computer Science I
This is an elective designed for students of diverse backgrounds who want a deeper understanding of how real-world problems are solved using digital computers. No prior programming experience is assumed. Students create a variety of programs that run on laptop computers and the Web including: a poetry generator, a Mondrian simulator, a Sudoku puzzle solver, a maze game, and an artificial intelligence engine to identify animal species. Along with learning to program, students will consider the "ontological" issues of computing. What can't a computer do that your brain can? Can a computer "think"?

Computer Science II
Programming skills have become necessary in virtually all sciences and a great many humanities research efforts, and the core problems in many disciplines are now explored using digital models. Computer Science 2 is an elective geared toward students who will use programming in college or in a future career. The class teaches students how to apply program analysis, design, and implementation to any domain. Students study and create their own basic algorithms in such disciplines as: DNA sequencing, finite element analysis, 3D rendering, and efficient frontier analysis. Students learn core object-oriented programming concepts such as encapsulation, polymorphism, and inheritance. The class also considers philosophical issues of computing. What is gained and what is lost by the abstraction process inherent in computational modeling?

Computer Science 3: 3D Geometry & Graphics
This course allows students to apply geometry to the natural and familiar problem of 3D computer graphics. It serves as both a mathematics course providing an in-depth application of geometry and linear algebra, and as a computer science course teaching students how to integrate domain knowledge from another discipline into code and finally into a fully functioning program.