New Learning Opportunities at This Year’s Grandparents University
Botany students at Grandparents University 2010
For more than 10 years, grandparents and grandchildren have been stretching their brains and bonding over bugs, books and biotechnology at Grandparents University on the UW-Madison campus. And this year, learners will have the chance to try out two brand new majors and explore the wonders of engineering and science.
“I hope everyone will have fun with their projects, and create something to bring home and show their family and friends,” says Andrea Arpaci Dusseau, UW-Madison professor of computer sciences, and now the dean of GPU’s computer sciences course.
In this new major, children and adults will learn together how to use a new programming environment called Scratch, which enables beginners to create sophisticated computer programs with simple drag-and-drop. “With Scratch, you can create almost anything you can imagine,” Dusseau explains. “For example, kids and grandparents will be able to use Scratch to tell a joke, animate pictures, share a story, or even implement a game they design together.”
Dusseau says she has always enjoyed math and science, and the interest runs in the family. She identifies with the learners young and old, describing her “wonderful relationship” with her own grandparents, including her grandmother, who loved puzzles. “When I was young, Grammy and I would work together on jigsaw puzzles, or she’d let me pick out a math workbook at the drugstore,” Dusseau remembers. “Computer science involves a lot of logic and problem solving, and maybe she passed some of that interest to me.”
She also describes her grandfather as a mechanically talented man who liked to understand how everything works. “Once I began studying computer science and computer engineering, he began asking me to explain how computers work — in particular how phones with quick dial remember how to map one key to a set of numbers,” Dusseau says. “As I learned more, I was excited to explain it to him. It was partly for people like my Grampy that I recently created a course for non-CS majors to learn about how computers work.”
Dusseau hopes her newest students will have the same take-away from GPU. “I want everyone to see how creative computer science is!”
Dusseau says she has always enjoyed math and science, and the interest runs in the family. She identifies with the learners young and old, describing her “wonderful relationship” with her own grandparents, including her grandmother, who loved puzzles. “When I was young, Grammy and I would work together on jigsaw puzzles, or she’d let me pick out a math workbook at the drugstore,” Dusseau remembers. “Computer science involves a lot of logic and problem solving, and maybe she passed some of that interest to me.”
She also describes her grandfather as a mechanically talented man who liked to understand how everything works. “Once I began studying computer science and computer engineering, he began asking me to explain how computers work — in particular how phones with quick dial remember how to map one key to a set of numbers,” Dusseau says. “As I learned more, I was excited to explain it to him. It was partly for people like my Grampy that I recently created a course for non-CS majors to learn about how computers work.”
Dusseau hopes her newest students will have the same take-away from GPU. “I want everyone to see how creative computer science is!”
Other GPU learners will have the chance to program their very own robot and learn how scientists are discovering ways to translate human behavior into computer programs.
Social Robotics is a second new course at Grandparents University in 2011, available for participants ages 9-14 years old. The course curriculum includes an overview of social robotics in everyday life, studying social cues to teach robots to more easily interact with humans, and programming a Lego robot that emulates some of these social characteristics.
Grandparents University® is a partnership of the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) and UW-Extension’s Family Living Programs, which together first presented the award-winning program in 2001. Classes are led by faculty and staff experts at UW-Madison. This year’s three sessions are being held in July; registration information and more can be found at uwalumni.com/grandparents.
Social Robotics is a second new course at Grandparents University in 2011, available for participants ages 9-14 years old. The course curriculum includes an overview of social robotics in everyday life, studying social cues to teach robots to more easily interact with humans, and programming a Lego robot that emulates some of these social characteristics.
Grandparents University® is a partnership of the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) and UW-Extension’s Family Living Programs, which together first presented the award-winning program in 2001. Classes are led by faculty and staff experts at UW-Madison. This year’s three sessions are being held in July; registration information and more can be found at uwalumni.com/grandparents.
—Wendy Hathaway ‘04
Two Days of Learning, a Lifetime of Memories
Hundreds of grandparents and grandchildren have discovered that spending two days on the UW-Madison campus, trying new things and learning about the world, can be one of the best ways to bond. Explore the new memories made at this year's 10th anniversary of Grandparents University®, and meet some Super Seniors who've been with the program since the beginning.
Events
- Sifting and Winnowing American Popular Music in New York - May 29
- Wisconsin Evening and Executive MBA Information Session - June 5
- Alumni College in Bayfield - June 21
- Wisconsin Science Festival - September 27
