Three New Blender Classes, Harrisburg, PA (June 2008)

James Chronister wrote:

I will be running 3 classes again next month.

There will be some introductory Blender 3D design classes offered through the Central Dauphin School district located in suburban Harrisburg, PA again this summer. The CD Summer “Academy” is designed for teachers within the district to fulfill in-service requirements, but administration has graciously allowed me to open these classes to individuals outside the district.

These classes are intended for technology, art, math, science, etc. teachers (or anyone else with an interest in applying 3D design). For those unfamiliar with Blender, it is a freeware, open-source developed software package used for 3D design, rendering, animation and 3D game creation with real-time animation. The program is similar to Maya, Lightwave and 3D Studio. We use Blender in the drafting and design lab with our 3D technical drawing and architectural applications. Blender is also used in the communications lab.

Classes run from 8:00-3:30 with two 15-minute breaks and 1 hour for lunch on your own. The district is providing 6 hours of Act 48 professional continuing education credits for teacher requiring the hours per day. Classes cost $50 per day. There are 3 different classes that can be taken individually, but build upon the previous one. The classes will reference the Blender Basics classroom book (since I wrote it), but will provide for some flexible, personal activities.

All classes will be held at:

Central Dauphin High School
437 Piketown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Room 906 (Drafting Lab)

Class dates and descriptions:

An Introduction to Blender 3D Design (Level 1)
This day will focus on the basics such as the Blender interface, creating
meshes, basic editing, lights and cameras, working with materials and textures,
world settings, rendering and animation basics.
Class Dates: June 16, 2008

3D Computer Animation using Blender (Level 2)
This day will focus on some more advanced modeling and animation techniques
such as working with IPO curves, armature basics, vertex animation, applying
modifiers, particles, child-parent relationships and video sequencing.
(Prerequisite of level one or equiv. experience)
Class Dates: June 17, 2008

3D Computer Real-Time Animation and Physics (Level 3)
This day will focus on Blender’s physics engine. We will look at fluid,
cloth, wind effects and the real-time capabilities of the game engine using
forces and logic blocks. (Prerequisite of level one or equiv. experience)
Class Dates: June 18, 2008

Contact information:

To register, contact Mrs. Pat Spiegel at the Central Dauphin School District
Administration office:
Email: pspiegel@cdschools.org
Phone: (717)545-4703 Ext.204

Address:
Central Dauphin School District
600 Rutherford Road
Harrisburg, PA 17109

Questions about the class, please contact me:
Jim Chronister
Email: jchronister@cdschools.org

Related Web Sites:

Central Dauphin Drafting Lab Blender download page:

Website