MIT Educational Studies Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:02, 22 December 2022

Revision as of 00:14, 3 February 2023

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<!-- EDIT BELOW THIS LINE -->The Educational Studies Program (ESP) is a student-run academic club in the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT). It is known for operating many educational programs for the local high school and middle school community in the [[Boston]] area. The ESP office is in the fourth floor of the [[Stratton Student Center]].

== History ==

[[File:MIT_ESP_Splash_2018_Lecture_Class.jpg|alt=High school students attending a lecture on "Quantum Physics in Flatland" at MIT at Splash 2018|thumb|220x220px|Splash 2018 Lecture on "Quantum Physics in Flatland"]]

The MIT Educational Studies Program was established in 1957; in that same year, it started running the Summer Studies Program (SSP), known as the High School Studies Program (HSSP) since 1967.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Elijah Jordan |date=November 20, 2007 |title=Make a Splash: ESP Encourages Students To Dive and Explore |work=The Tech |url=https://thetech.com/2007/11/20/splash-v127-n56 |access-date=29 October 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> SSP originally provided college freshman level classes in more traditionally academic subjects like math and science. By 1969, HSSP grew to attract over 1300 students and 130 instructors, with diverse topics like Iverson Language.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mann |first=Charles |date=March 4, 1969 |title=Educational Studies Program draws 1300 high schoolers |work=The Tech |url=http://tech.mit.edu/V89/PDF/N7.pdf}}</ref>

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Due to the [[COVID-19]] pandemic, programs from Summer HSSP 2020<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Quines |first=CJ |date=August 20, 2020 |title=Two thousand students walk into a Zoom call |url=https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/two-thousand-students/}}</ref> to Summer HSSP 2022 were moved to a virtual format, including Splash 2020.<ref name=":2" /> Their first fully in-person program was Splash 2022, running from November 19 to November 20, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reitmeyer |first=Cyndi |date=October 21, 2022 |title=MIT Splash 2022 for High School Students |url=https://www.bostontechmom.com/mit-splash-2022-for-high-school-students/ |website=BostonTechMom}}</ref>

== Programs ==

=== Splash ===

{{Main|Splash! (academic outreach program)}}

[[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

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A famous personality who taught at Splash includes [[Randall Munroe]], the creator of the webcomic [[Xkcd|xkcd]]. He wrote the book [[What If? (book)]] after being inspired while taking a class at Splash.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garber |first=Megan |date=September 26, 2012 |title=A Conversation With Randall Munroe, the Creator of XKCD |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/a-conversation-with-randall-munroe-the-creator-of-xkcd/262851/ |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref>

=== 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. <ref>{{Cite web |title=MIT ESP - Spark |url=https://esp.mit.edu/learn/Spark/index.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=esp.mit.edu}}</ref>

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Spark was first conducted in 2008, but only started to be targeted towards middle schoolers in the 2013-2014 academic year. <ref>{{Cite web |title=MIT ESP - Spark |url=https://esp.mit.edu/learn/Spark/index.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=esp.mit.edu}}</ref>

=== HSSP ===

The High School Studies Program (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. <ref>{{Cite web |title=MIT ESP - HSSP |url=https://esp.mit.edu/learn/HSSP/index.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=esp.mit.edu}}</ref>

=== 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.

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* Like its name suggests, SATPrep was an [[SAT]] preparation program. It was conceived in 1985 as an affordable alternative to professional vendors. It was discontinued in 2011, and it has since been picked up by the MIT Academic Teaching Initiative.<ref>[http://ati.mit.edu/files/Spring2019_Brochure_SAT2.pdf "MIT Academic Teaching Initiative SAT II Program Spring 2019"](PDF). ''MIT Academic Teaching Initiative.''</ref>

== References ==

<references />