Mr. Kaiser's Class Updates: WELCOME TO KAISER WORLD
Hello parents and guardians!
I am Andreas Kaiser. I am excited to start the year with a great group of students IN PERSON. I am very impressed with how kind, hard working, and flexible this year's students are. I will be updating you on class information every month through these newsletters. Please feel free to connect with me by ParentSquare, email, or phone/video conference. If you have not already done so, please complete check out the class syllabus for your teen. Keep reading to find out more about the classes I teach this semester. If you would like to watch the 10 minute video I recorded for Back to School Night, click on this link. Please let me know if you have any concerns or questions. I look forward to hearing from you. |
About Me:
I was born in Germany and grew up in North Carolina. English is my third language. I went to high school in Palo Alto, CA and majored in mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley. After working as an engineer for a few years, I decided to become a teacher. I live in Benicia with my wife and three kids. This is my 8th year at Benicia High, and I love teaching creativity, collaboration, and problem solving to the students here. |
Intro to Engineering and Architecture:
In this class, we will learn about 3D computer modeling as it used in the architecture and engineering fields. We will also be learning about the design process and various career fields. For the first three weeks, the students designed floor plans and interiors for a small home. They then put their projects on their web site portfolios that they created. Please encourage them to show you their portfolios. They will be updating them throughout the year. If they are reluctant in giving you the link, you can find the list of all students and links to their web sites here: http://bit.ly/kwwebs
The students are currently working on a housing community project as part of a nationwide architecture contest organized by the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco. They will be working in teams to design a sustainable and liveable multi-family community for Benicia or Vallejo. I am in the process of searching for industry professionals to serve as advisors, guest speakers, or judges for the project. Please contact me if anyone you know is a member of the following industries and might be interested in participating: architecture, civil engineering, city planning, real estate, landscape design, interior design, or construction.
Click on the projects below to see them larger. Credits: Gage, Mira, and Skylar
In this class, we will learn about 3D computer modeling as it used in the architecture and engineering fields. We will also be learning about the design process and various career fields. For the first three weeks, the students designed floor plans and interiors for a small home. They then put their projects on their web site portfolios that they created. Please encourage them to show you their portfolios. They will be updating them throughout the year. If they are reluctant in giving you the link, you can find the list of all students and links to their web sites here: http://bit.ly/kwwebs
The students are currently working on a housing community project as part of a nationwide architecture contest organized by the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco. They will be working in teams to design a sustainable and liveable multi-family community for Benicia or Vallejo. I am in the process of searching for industry professionals to serve as advisors, guest speakers, or judges for the project. Please contact me if anyone you know is a member of the following industries and might be interested in participating: architecture, civil engineering, city planning, real estate, landscape design, interior design, or construction.
Click on the projects below to see them larger. Credits: Gage, Mira, and Skylar
Intro to Programming and Robotics:
In this class, we will learn the basics of computer programming and electronics. For the past few weeks, the students have been completing self-paced lessons on video game design. So if it looks like they are playing video games- you are not far off. They are designing their own games. Please encourage them to show you their progress throughout the semester. Maybe they can show you (or other family members) how easy and fun programming can be.
In addition to their game design, students have been learning electronic soldering. Soldering is a process in which electronic components are joined together by melting and putting a filler metal (solder) into the joint. Students were given safety training and detailed instructions before they began their projects. Our first project was a small blinking LED circuit. They modified the design to add eyes to a simple Halloween decoration. The students did a great job on their first soldering job. Please ask them to demonstrate show you the finished product on their website portfolios. They will be updating their portfolios throughout the year. If they are reluctant in giving you the link, you can find the list of all students and links to their web sites here: http://bit.ly/kwwebs
Click on the projects below to see them larger. Credits: DeAndre, Dominic, Maya, Avery, Kaitlyn, and Julian. Spooky video by Prophet.
In this class, we will learn the basics of computer programming and electronics. For the past few weeks, the students have been completing self-paced lessons on video game design. So if it looks like they are playing video games- you are not far off. They are designing their own games. Please encourage them to show you their progress throughout the semester. Maybe they can show you (or other family members) how easy and fun programming can be.
In addition to their game design, students have been learning electronic soldering. Soldering is a process in which electronic components are joined together by melting and putting a filler metal (solder) into the joint. Students were given safety training and detailed instructions before they began their projects. Our first project was a small blinking LED circuit. They modified the design to add eyes to a simple Halloween decoration. The students did a great job on their first soldering job. Please ask them to demonstrate show you the finished product on their website portfolios. They will be updating their portfolios throughout the year. If they are reluctant in giving you the link, you can find the list of all students and links to their web sites here: http://bit.ly/kwwebs
Click on the projects below to see them larger. Credits: DeAndre, Dominic, Maya, Avery, Kaitlyn, and Julian. Spooky video by Prophet.
Advanced Engineering Design (Honors):
In this class, we will learn more about the design process and work on team design projects. Students will be following their own individual learning plans. For the last couple of weeks, the students have been designing a 3-D model of a toy train. Please encourage them to show you their progress on their trains. They have posted their projects on the website portfolios that they created. Please encourage them to show you their portfolios. They will be updating them throughout the year. If they are reluctant in giving you the link, you can find the list of all students and links to their web sites here: http://bit.ly/kwwebs
Students are also learning how to use the 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines we have in the shop. They will be creating instruction manuals for the entry level students to use. They will also be using this equipment to make projects in the class. They have all chosen their first projects and I am in the process of ordering parts for them. Ask them about their projects and follow their progress on their websites.
Click on the projects below to see them larger. Credits: Juhi (featured on web page banner at the top), Jack and Katelyn. Train assembly video by Owen.
In this class, we will learn more about the design process and work on team design projects. Students will be following their own individual learning plans. For the last couple of weeks, the students have been designing a 3-D model of a toy train. Please encourage them to show you their progress on their trains. They have posted their projects on the website portfolios that they created. Please encourage them to show you their portfolios. They will be updating them throughout the year. If they are reluctant in giving you the link, you can find the list of all students and links to their web sites here: http://bit.ly/kwwebs
Students are also learning how to use the 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines we have in the shop. They will be creating instruction manuals for the entry level students to use. They will also be using this equipment to make projects in the class. They have all chosen their first projects and I am in the process of ordering parts for them. Ask them about their projects and follow their progress on their websites.
Click on the projects below to see them larger. Credits: Juhi (featured on web page banner at the top), Jack and Katelyn. Train assembly video by Owen.
Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles:
In this class, we will be covering more than just coding. The UC Berkeley curriculum I am using this year (The Beauty and Joy of Computing) focuses on problem solving, creativity, and collaboration. So far the students have been doing really well with it. We will also be covering computer science theory using curriculum from Khan Academy and code.org. For example, for the last couple of weeks we learned about binary code.
This week students will be registering to compete in the US Congressional App Challenge. Benicia High School has won the challenge for our congressional district for the past two years. In this team project they will create their own drawing application from scratch (i.e., a paint program). Please encourage them to share the new features of their program as they develop them.
In this class, we will be covering more than just coding. The UC Berkeley curriculum I am using this year (The Beauty and Joy of Computing) focuses on problem solving, creativity, and collaboration. So far the students have been doing really well with it. We will also be covering computer science theory using curriculum from Khan Academy and code.org. For example, for the last couple of weeks we learned about binary code.
This week students will be registering to compete in the US Congressional App Challenge. Benicia High School has won the challenge for our congressional district for the past two years. In this team project they will create their own drawing application from scratch (i.e., a paint program). Please encourage them to share the new features of their program as they develop them.