This hands-on course aims to help Java teachers make their courses more engaging for students by using of multimedia projects. Programming teachers are faced with the challenge of finding projects that students find interesting. We will present a number of multimedia projects that involve images, sound, animation and/or text. These projects can be completed by most students, while still offering challenges to advanced students.

This course is appropriate for teachers who want to develop their Java skills and learn motivating ways to teach Java programming. Programming experience in some computer language (e.g., Visual Basic, C, C++, C#, Java) is required.

*Note: This is a one-day workshop that will be offered on two separate days: July 18 and July 25. Participants should sign up for only one (1) of these days.

Reusable Learning Objects (RLO) are stand-alone multimedia instructional modules designed to reach specific learning objectives in a variety of educational environments. This workshop will show examples of RLOs supporting the BATEC curriculum designed with a student-centered approach to instruction. We will discuss the RLO development process with an emphasis on the faculty role.

In this interactive session we will explore ways in which RLOs may be used to convey conceptually difficult subject matter, engage and motivate learners, and extend learning beyond the traditional classroom experience. Faculty who attend this workshop will be offered the opportunity to receive a stipend to serve as a subject matter expert in the development of an RLO in their academic discipline.

To register for this course, go to: http://www.techboston.org and follow the links to Professional Development Opportunities

Robert Chen, Associate Professor, Computer Science Department, Framingham State College
Robert Cohen, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Boston

This course is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn about programming. The course will also help teachers who want to develop a course that teaches programming basics to beginners. No programming experience is required.

This course will show attendees ways to teach programming and computer skills by using computer games and game technology as material. This course will show attendees ways to teach programming and computer skills by using computer games and game technology as material. The course will give a brief overview of professional game development, then investigate the architecture of computer games and how that differs from traditional software. Students will team up to do game-related development using various game technologies, including Java and Various game toolkits. Students will leave with an understanding of the current state of the art in computer game development, a better appreciation for the role that games play in the lives of modern students, and some tools and techniques for using games in the technology classroom.

There will be homework, and students will be expected to communicate outside of class using internet-based technologies. Attendees should be familiar with computer programming, preferably in Java or another object-oriented language.

This course is taught through TechBoston and requires separate registration. To register for this course, go to: http://www.techboston.org/tcg and follow the links to Professional Development Opportunities

This hands-on workshop provides an introduction to practical computer, network, and digital forensics with a focus on teaching this discipline. Forensics is the use of science in a court of law; this course looks specifically at how one obtains evidence off of a computer and from network messages and logs, preserving the evidentiary chain, legal aspects of the search and seizure of computers and related equipment/information, and an overview of electronic crimes. Attendees should be comfortable using computers (both the GUI and command line) and the Internet; no other particular skills are required. All exercises and hands-on labs will be distributed with the course, including demo versions of AccessData's Forensic ToolKit and Guidance Software's EnCase, as well as Penguin Sleuth Kit and other forensics tools. Syllabi and reading lists from Champlain College's undergraduate Computer & Digital Forensics program will also be made available.

Michael Qaissaunee, Department Chair, Engineering & Technology, Brookdale Community College
Mohammed Shanehsaz, Associate Professor, Brookdale Community College

With the growing popularity of Linux servers in corporate environments, understanding this OS and its administration is critical for all IT professionals. Through hands-on activities, this workshop will provide participants with the skills and knowledge needed for installation, configuration, and administration of Linux. Examples include basic use of the vi editor, updating the Linux kernel, configuring boot loader, and system administration tasks.