Becker to Host Video Game Design and Robotics Summer Camps

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Kids love video games, and now they can learn the basics on how to design them,

Becker College, home of the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute and a number of STEM-focused degree programs, will host STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) camp provider Funutation Tekademy summer Tek Labs in video game design and robotics to be held on Becker’s Worcester Campus.

Funutation is enrolling now for the Tek Lab camps, which offer an approach to technology for children that feature a blend of learning and fun that focuses on hands-on action.

“Younger children and teens have more opportunities to discover science and technology than ever before,” says Becker College President Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D. “The children who enroll in the Funutation Tek Labs, will also visit the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute, here on campus, to meet college students and interactive media industry professionals and to see them working on serious and entertainment games aimed at reaching the marketplace.”

And Becker College is the ideal place to hold these camps, according to President Johnson.

"Giving young children a fun, hands-on introduction to science and technology can be truly transformational. Doing that on a college campus, giving them a hunger for education, fits perfectly with the mission of Becker College."

What's Being Offered

Session I takes place August 5-9 and includes “2D Video Game Design with Scratch,” in which children ages 8-11 learn computer graphic techniques and animation fundamentals to design a basic computer video game; and "Stop Motion Animation," in which children ages 8-11 discover the secrets behind computer animation by using Scratch software and create a video with everyday objects.

Session II takes place August 12-16, and includes "K'nex Robotics," in which children ages 7-10 discover how real-world amusement park rides work, using K'nex models; and "Battlebots," in which children ages 12-15 build robot warriors using everyday materials and pit them against each other in battle.

"If your son or daughter has any interest in games, robots or technology, these are the introductory camps for them. Not only will the camps be really fun experiences but they'll also teach campers some valuable STEM lessons that will be useful to them back at school," says Tim Leow, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Digital Game Institute (MassDiGi).

"Camps like these give our Central Mass students a chance to really tap into their creative spirit and introduce themselves to some fun technology. And, in today's world, the more a student learns about technology, the better."

To register for a Tek Lab, or for more information, contact Funutation Tekademy at 1-888-386-8835 ext. 512, or visit www.funutation.com.

About Becker College

The Princeton Review ranks Becker College as one of the best 377 colleges in the U.S. Becker’s undergraduate video game design program has been top-ranked by The Princeton Review for four consecutive years and is one of the top three in Massachusetts and top 15 nationwide. In 2011, Becker was designated by the Patrick-Murray administration as host of the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI). Becker serves more than 2,000 students from across the country and around the world and offers a wide range of quality degree programs that launch careers, from nursing to veterinary science, and a variety of adult learning options. More than 50% of Becker students are enrolled in STEM-based programs of study. With campuses in Worcester and Leicester, Mass., Becker College traces its history from the union of two Massachusetts educational institutions—one founded in 1784 and the other in 1887—and has over 18,000 alumni worldwide.