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Programs

Splash

(main article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash!_(academic_outreach_program)

Splash is an event where MIT students and staff conduct classes on various topics for high school students in the Boston area. It is completely run by student volunteers. Classes usually last between an hour and three hours long and are very diverse. Examples of past classes include

  • Introduction to Zombie Defense
  • Counting Infinity
  • The Physics of Fairy Tales

Classes range from fun filled to academically challenging ones.

Splash usually runs over a weekend in the Fall. In Splash 2019, more than two thousand students were registered with more than five hundred classes.

Splash was first conducted in 1988.[1] In order to help conduct Splash events in other schools throughout the country, ESP alumni who had been involved in Splash at MIT founded Learning Unlimited in 2007. Learning Unlimited has helped in the creation of more than twenty similar programs in various schools.[2] Splash was conducted for both high school and middle school students until 2013, when the program was split. Spark now handled middle school students, and Splash was only for high school students. Due to disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Splash 2020 was conducted virtually. Around 500 students attended the program with over 200 classes being taught.[3]

The program usually costs around 40 dollars but generous need based financial aid is available upon request. Students submit preferences for classes and a lottery system is used to allot classes to students. A student is allowed to attend as many classes as fits their schedule. Walk in activities and classes are organized. These classes can be attended without prior registration.[4]


A famous personality who taught at Splash includes Randall Munroe, the creator of the webcomic xkcd. He wrote the book What If? after being inspired while taking a class at Splash.[5]

Spark

Spark is an event where MIT students and staff conduct classes on various topics for middle school students in the Boston area. It is completely run by student volunteers. Classes usually last between an hour and three hours long and are very diverse. [6]

Examples of past classes include:

  • Intro to Javascript
  • How to Build a Solar Car
  • Good and Evil in Superhero Comics

Classes range from fun filled to academically challenging ones. Spark usually runs over a weekend in the Spring. The program usually costs around 40 dollars but generous need-based financial aid is available upon request.

Spark was first conducted in 2008, but only started to be targeted towards middle schoolers in the 2013-2014 academic year. [7]

HSSP

HSSP is a multi-weekend program run by ESP for students in the Boston community. HSSP is run two times in the academic year, over the spring and the summer. HSSP is ESP’s first program and has been running since 1957. It runs over 6-8 weeks. Both high schoolers and middle schoolers are invited to apply to this program.

The program usually costs around 40 dollars but financial aid is available upon request. [8]

Firehose/Firestorm

Firehose and Firestorm are rapid-fire learning events held at MIT. There are many five minute classes on various things held  by MIT students. Firehose and Firestorm are similar events but held at different times: Firehose runs during CPW (Campus Preview Weekend) for prospective MIT Students, while Firestorm runs during Orientation week.

Cascade

Cascade is a multi-weekend program run by ESP aimed towards high school students in the Boston area. It usually lasts about 5 to 6 weekends and students take a few classes every weekend. Students are also offered mentorship by ESP members through this program. Cascade is free for students. Students are selected from schools and communities in the greater boston area that ESP partners with. Cascade usually runs in the Fall.[9]

Past programs

Some programs that don't run anymore include Junction and SATprep.

References

https://thetech.com/2021/12/01/splash-photo-spread

  1. ^ Saturday, The student becomes the professor this. "UNC students make splash with high school students". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  2. ^ "Learning Unlimited". www.learningu.org. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  3. ^ "Splash took place Nov. 21–21 with over 500 high school participants". The Tech. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  4. ^ "MIT ESP - Splash!". esp.mit.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  5. ^ Garber, Megan (2012-09-26). "A Conversation With Randall Munroe, the Creator of XKCD". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  6. ^ "MIT ESP - Spark". esp.mit.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  7. ^ "MIT ESP - Spark". esp.mit.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  8. ^ "MIT ESP - HSSP". esp.mit.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  9. ^ "MIT ESP - Cascade". esp.mit.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
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