Computers Are Not Magic

Welcome

Computers Are Not Magic is a broad but shallow survey of the entire computer phenomenon, from the lowest levels (wires that carry data) to the highest levels (artificial intelligence, animated movies, crypto currency, etc). The goal is to show how everything builds, one layer at a time, to create these incredible machines.

The course has 13 lessons, each 30 to 45 minutes long. The first 5 sessions will offer two lessons each, and the last 3 sessions, which involve more involved topics, will stand alone and offer students extended time for questions.

If you click on the “hamburger” in the upper-right of this web page, you will see notes for a different class that I teach to homeschoolers. The homeschool class has two parts: (1) coding lessons in the Java programming language and (2) “curiosity” lessons about computers. This OLLI class is the “curiosity” lessons without the tedious Java programming instruction.

Curriculum

The lessons move quickly because there's a lot of material to cover. Students are welcome to take notes in class, but it is not necessary—all of the slides are available here for you to view and download. Watch this list, and you will see the link for slides activate a few days before a lesson is given.

Lesson 1: Computer Data How numbers, text, pictures, sounds, and movies are stored in a computer's memory.
Lesson 2: Hardware The switches that make a computer think, how chips are made, and how other computer devices work.
Lesson 3: Computer Programming Programming concepts: variables, computations, conditionals, loops, arrays, and objects.
Lesson 4: The Internet The “stack” that runs the Internet, and the many enhancements that make it sparkle.
Lesson 5: Architecture and Machine Code The parts of a processor and the low-level instructions that run your programs.
Lesson 6: Publishing How to create a website, publish a book, and offer streaming music.
Lesson 7: Operating Systems The hidden but essential programs that run on every computer.
Lesson 8: Graphics Concepts Basics of computer graphics: color, texture, modeling and rigging.
Lesson 9: Graphics Rendering Advanced computer graphics: cameras, lights, animation, and virtual reality
Lesson 10: Parallel Programming How to use multiple computers to make things happen faster.
Lesson 11: Artificial Intelligence The two aspects of intelligence (perception and cognition), and the many pitfalls that make A.I. neither artificial nor intelligent.
Lesson 12: Encryption, Blockchain, and Crypto Protection with math: secure communication, Bitcoin, and other crypto currencies.
Lesson 13: Hacking, Legality, and Privacy Breaking computers, legal protections, and threats to your privacy.