ATTN: The Annual Membership fee is $25.00 per child and is required to register for ANY after school programs or activities with the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center. 

***************************************************

Film Production - SoLa Studios

High School (Ages 16-18 yrs)

In-Person (Mon & Wed, 4-6 pm)

Course Overview - SoLa Studios is a South LA film production program designed for a new generation of Black and brown storytellers. We provide an unrivaled approach to hands-on, interactive learning, where Tech Scholars are immersed in their course of study from day one. Award-winning industry professionals teach classes, and Tech Scholars have access to a complete creative studio with state-of-the-art equipment and will walk away from the program with professional-level film production skills.  

Intro Course Description - The intro course explores the art of visual storytelling and provides a solid introduction to all aspects of film production. The course starts by examining the art of storytelling through photography and video and how to harness the medium to communicate your message correctly. After completing this course, Tech Scholars will have a strong understanding of the roles of a production crew, digital storytelling techniques, basic proficiency in operating professional video/photo cameras, and editing in Adobe Premiere Pro. Tech Scholars will leave the program with finished video projects to add to their portfolios. This program requires strong commitment, and all applicants will undergo an interview before being accepted. 

Course Learning Objectives: 

• Learn the fundamentals of storytelling and the power of images and video
• Become Proficient in using Sony a7siii video and photo camera
• Become proficient in using production gear, including a tripod, gimbal, studio lights,  and wireless livelier 
• Understand the basics of cinematography and camera movements 
• Learn how to work with other Tech Scholars on a production crew 
• Become proficient in using a MacBook Pro and editing on Adobe Premiere Pro
• Learn how to organize and import footage, create projects, and export video projects
• Learn how to film in slow-motion and slow-motion edit clips 
• Learn the basics of color correction, adding titles and lower thirds, and sound mixing
• Learn how to create a completed video by incorporating footage, music, audio, color, and titles.

Commitment Acknowledgment - This in-person course requires a strong commitment. All applicants will undergo the interview process prior to receiving course acceptance. Please note this registration does not guarantee enrollment in this course.

ATTN: The Annual Membership fee is $25.00 per child and is required to register for ANY after school programs or activities with the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center. 

****************************************************

Cyber Security Ages 16+ Mondays (4:45pm-6:00pm)

Our daily lives have been built off the technology’s ability to connect us with our loved ones, customers, and the world at-large. But we often take security for granted. This course offers tech scholars an opportunity to learn how to defend against these cyber vulnerabilities, while competing in a national competition called Cyber Patriot.

The second half of this course is designed to prepare the Tech Scholar to take the CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification exam, a professional-level certificate that is standard in the cyber security industry. Instruction includes IT literacy, environmental and safety concepts, operating systems, software, hardware, networking, alternative technologies, security, and computational thinking. Tech Scholars utilize the skills and evolving needs of today’s modern workplace to analyze and solve problems within the IT industry.

ATTN: Annual Membership fee of $25.00 per child is required to register for ANY after school programs or activities with the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center.

*************************************************

Band Practice Monday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 6:15pm -7:30pm

Are you an up-and-coming musician looking to take your skills to the next level? Come join Band Practice! Our program is designed to bring together musicians from different genres and skill levels to form a band. As a tech scholar, you'll learn advanced music theory and then put it into practice through jam sessions and recording. You'll also learn how to maintain your instrument and develop proper practice techniques. Collaborate with fellow musicians to create unique arrangements and explore different genres. The course culminates in a 12-week ensemble performance with a set arranged by the tech scholars. If you play horn, wind, or string instruments, we strongly encourage you to register. Don't miss out on this opportunity to join the band!

By the end of the course, your scholars will:

Understand Music theory

Proper instrument maintenance, & minor repairs

Developing arrangements to match skill level

Proper practice techniques to improve your chops

Understanding the nuances of genre and the sub-genre

Develop active listening skills

ATTN: The Annual Membership fee is $25.00 per child and is required to register for ANY after school programs or activities with the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center. 

***************************************************

Entrepreneurship

Middle & High School Ages 14-18

In-person (Mon, 6:15 - 7:30 pm)

In this course, students will develop an entrepreneurial mindset and skills they can use in everyday life. They will gain foundational skills and knowledge needed to launch a business, from recognizing a need and creatively solving a problem to developing an actionable business plan.  

The course is comprised of three modules:

• Creative Problem-Solving module, students learn and apply Design Thinking, an innovative process for problem-solving used by both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to brainstorm customer-centric ideas. This process focuses on the user’s needs and experiences by creating empathy maps, problem statements, prototypes, and testing plans to validate a product or service idea. 

• Think Like an Entrepreneur module, students explore the traits of an entrepreneurial mindset needed by both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs when solving problems and evaluating opportunities. An entrepreneurial self-assessment supports students in identifying their strengths and setting personal and professional goals. 

• Rapid Business Planning module, students learn how to put their product or service idea into action by creating a concise yet effective one-page business plan. This iterative approach to business planning enables students to develop, test, and validate their plans with customers while filling an unmet market need.  

Scholars will receive cumulative benefits through the exploration of creative problem-solving, the entrepreneurial mindset, and business planning.

ATTN: The Annual Membership fee of $25.00 per child is required to register for ANY after school programs or activities with the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center. 

****************************************************

Intro to HTML

Middle & High School Ages: 14-18 yrs / Mondays's 6:15- 7:30pm

What kind of website would you build? In this web development class, students create their own web pages using HTML and CSS. Students take on the role of programmers, learn about the impact of information sharing, and consider how their page content can contribute to the larger society. Students will tackle problem solving and debugging challenges while creating personal websites they can publish and share.

ATTN: The Annual Membership fee is $25.00 per child and is required to register for ANY after school programs or activities with the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center. 

****************************************************

Coding with Drones

Ages 13-18 yrs / Tuesday's & Wednesday's (4:45 pm - 6:00 pm)

Program Overview

Drones in many ways are helping to define the future of commerce and entertainment. DroneCode introduces Tech Scholars to the world of drones, programming and coding. Using a combination of interactive lessons, videos, puzzles, and DIY projects, DroneCode teaches Tech Scholars to write programs that control drones. The coding activities build and reinforce STEM skills in engineering, geometry, art, math, and science. 

Course Description 

Tech Scholars learn the basics of making a drone take off, land, move in different directions, do flips and more. They'll begin by reviewing sequencing concepts as they write steps on how to make a drone fly using their own imagination. The Tech Scholars also learn to make their drones dance. The program culminates in the participants making a flying and dancing drone formation.. 

 Topics

Drone command library

Sequencing

Repetition

Conditional logic

Problem solving

Debugging

What Tech Scholars Learn

Fundamental coding concepts like events, variables, conditionals, and loops

Program Parrot drones using Tynker's visual code blocks

Program your own remote control to fly the way you want to fly

Sync projects to and from the Tynker mobile app

Program drones to react to your tablet's accelerometer

Navigate drones through obstacle courses

Perform fantastic aerial stunts and maneuvers

Basic Drone Programing

1. Introduction to Tello EDU Drone Programming with DroneBlocks

This course will run you through the very basics of the DroneBlocks interface, how to connect to your Tello or Tello EDU, as well as a sneaky little introduction to loops.

2. Introduction to Tello Drone Programming

This course goes a little further with its introduction to block coding, and steps you through how to use loops, variables, and logic – crucial tools for those looking to step-up their coding abilities!

Advanced Drone Programing

3. Advanced Tello Programming with DroneBlocksLearn to fly in arcs and curves! This course teaches you to break free from simple up-down movements and adds a whole new dimension to flying.

4. Introduction to JavaScript Programming with DroneBlocks CodeThis was a favorite course in the DroneBlocks STEM Curriculum! Making the leap from block coding to line-based coding has never been so easy. DroneBlocks Code allows Tech Scholars to code their drone using JavaScript, but it’s super simple and user-friendly, giving Tech Scholars that extra confidence boost to tackle the next step in coding.

Let's Get Flying!!

ATTN: The Annual Membership fee is $25.00 per child and is required to register for ANY after school programs or activities with the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center.

****************************************************

Graphic Design Basics 

Middle & High School Ages: 11-13 yrs / Tuesday's 4:45- 6:00pm

Graphic design is a wonderful way to express a message through an image. It's amazing how a well-designed image can say so much without any words at all! That's what you'll learn in Graphic Design Basics. You'll develop a great eye for design and understand how it affects memory and communication. You'll also explore how a well-designed image can make a big impact on viewers and leave a lasting impression. You'll get to use professional digital design tools like Adobe's Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop to show off your understanding of graphic design with amazing concepts and techniques.

By the end of the course, your scholars will understand::

Color theory 

Typography

Trademark

Marketing

The seven elements of design

Design Principle

Project Management

ATTN: The Annual Membership fee is $25.00 per child and is required to register for ANY after school programs or activities with the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center.

**************************************************

Intro to Valorant (Ages 14-18yrs) Tuesdays @4:45pm-6:00pm

In this 12 week course SOLA Scholars will be introduced to Riot Game’s newest title Valorant. Players will be introduced to new exercises turning their normal gaming routine into pro level practice. They will understand how to work with other players effectively to create the best teams focusing on communication, team work, and sportsmanship. In addition to team building skills players are given a full breakdown of the game’s mechanics and will be introduced to higher level concepts taken straight from the Riot Playbook.