Morning Courses

WHO’S WHO IN PSYCHOLOGY

2ND SESSION

Psychology is all around us, we encounter it in our daily lives, TV shows, movies, books, and even in our other classes. However, many individuals talk about psychological findings and theories without knowing much about them, and therefore use them inaccurately. What is more, the well-known experiments of some world-famous psychologists have started being questioned for ethical reasons and recent failures to replicate their findings. In this session, we will learn about the most famous psychologists, and their theories, groundbreaking experiments, and findings.

Considering the technology and knowledge to which we have access today, we will think about and discuss what we would have done differently. Finally, we will come up with our own research questions that we would explore as scientists.

Dr. Ceymi Doenyas is an RC’08 graduate who completed her undergraduate studies in Princeton University with degrees in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Near Eastern Studies. After graduating with the highest GPA in her department from Princeton, she completed her Developmental Psychology Masters and PhD at Koç University and currently teaches AP Psychology.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE ACADEMY

3RD SESSION

Are you curious about how to make your presence on the dance floor more versatile and expressive? Would you like to learn how to dance to a variety of music? Here you will experience a combination of elements from several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. You’ll get a glimpse of how a dancer would connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. In this course, you’ll learn about the necessary warm-up exercises, adapt and unbend your body to the flow of the choreography.

It is recommended for the participants of this course to have entry level contemporary dance knowledge.

Mercan Selçuk studied Ballet at Istanbul University State Conservatory and continued her education in London at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Since 2008, she has been teaching Classical Ballet and Modern Dance at Istanbul University State Conservatory and also leading the Modern Dance Club here at the Robert College. She also is the founder of Mercan Selçuk Dance Troupe.

CRYPTOGRAPHY: THE MATH OF SECRET CODES

3RD SESSION

How can we send a secret message to someone without meeting them? How is your TC Kimlik number designed? Why does my bank not know the pin number for my ATM card? This course will look at the number theory behind keeping information secret.

We will look at cryptographic schemes from history including the Enigma machine to modern techniques like RSA that protect us online every day. Furthermore, we will also look at how cryptography helps make blockchains a reality.

Andrew Tingleff has taught math at all levels including AP Calculus, AP Statistics and Discrete Math at Robert College for the last 20 years. He has been involved with special projects with Intel and the Biomath project at DIMACS, a Discrete math research center in the United States. He is a long time advisor of Robert College’s outdoor Adventure Club and more recently the RC Sailing club as well.

THE WORLD OF DRAMA

3RD SESSION

In this course, participants will be introduced to several elements of the world of drama including use of the body and voice as tools of expression, play and theater games, improv, the monologue, scene work and devising. Participants should be curious about the world of theater and be eager to move their bodies and tap into their imagination. No prior acting experience is necessary.

This course will be great for those curious about acting and performance but with limited experience.

Jake Becker has been teaching creative arts, modern drama and running RC Theater Company for six years. He has taught English in Turkey for 18 years and has worked and taught in the United States and Japan. He also currently coaches girls flag football and has coached swimming and baseball.

GAME DESIGN & 3D PRINTING

1ST & 3RD SESSIONS

Want to learn computer programming and 3d design, but unsure where to begin? This is the course for you! Scratch is the computer programming language that makes it easy and fun to create interactive stories, games and animations. In this course you will design and create a game for you and your friends to play! You will need to think about its different parts and plan your ideas before you begin making it on Scratch.

After we finished game design you are going to learn how to design & make 3D objects using Tinkercad. Tinkercad is a simple, online 3D design and 3D printing app for everyone. Tinkercad is used by designers, hobbyists, teachers, and kids, to make toys, prototypes, home decor, Minecraft models, jewelry! After you learn Tinkercad we are going to design our game logo, game mascot or any other thing from your game and then you have a chance to 3D print it.

And the last step is App Design! All you need is a computer and your imagination and you will be learning to use Thukable platform to design your brand new app! No coding experience is required, as Thunkable includes a visual authoring tool!

You won’t be writing code in the traditional sense, this class provides a fantastic introduction to how to think about an application like a programmer. We will explain the basics of the tool and help walk you through building your first app!

Muhammet Ertuğrul is working for Robert College as Computer Science Teacher and he is giving “Intro to Programming” lessons. His main interests are game design, 3D modelling and maker movement.

FINE ARTS EXPERIENCE

1ST SESSION

This programme of art practice activities is for everyone who enjoys, and wants to develop their Art. The focus on the whole programme is ‘essential skills for the successful artist’ and the theme in week one is “Learning to See” and in week two is “Learning to Create”. Topics and activities of the individual sessions include:

• Exploring the elements of art and principles of design
• Looking at art and how various artists explore and express their ideas
• Drawing from observation, including an excursion to an Istanbul museum to sketch exhibited artifacts as well as figure drawing in the studio with an artist’s model
• Linear perspective and architectural design
• Visiting a local gallery for inspiration and creative ideas
• Using abstraction for artistic composition and finding your artist’s ‘voice’ in your own work

At the end of the two weeks we will make and curate an exhibition of our artworks.

Merril Hope Brown is a music and art teacher who came to Robert College in 1998 after many years teaching in High Schools in Greater London, UK. She has been Arts Department Head at RC since 2006, and has taught both art and music to all levels at RC. Founder and director of Robert College’s bi-annual Lise Live concert since 1999, she also runs Fine Art studio club, organises various music and art events at school and for more than fifteen years has chaperoned many RC student delegations to international Model United Nations conferences. She divides what’s left of her free time between music, theatre, art and handicrafts, literature, and her much loved cats.  She has also been known to write poetry, watch Rugby and share her very British sense of humour.

EXPERIMENTAL ART INSTITUTE: THEORY & PRACTICE

ALL SESSIONS

What in the world isn’t or can’t be art? Are you interested in art that challenges the existing accepted definitions of art? Do you think outside of the box? Do you want to experiment with different materials such as glass, collage, acrylics, and charcoal? Then, get ready to be in the “Dada state of mind” for two weeks this summer and make art for art’s sake.

In this course, you will learn how the Dadaist and Surrealist artists create works of art to express, explore, and question identity. You will discover the ways artists use everyday objects to challenge assumptions about what constitutes art and how it should be made. For example, Bicycle Wheel is the first of Duchamp’s readymades—objects (sometimes manufactured or mass-produced) selected by the artist and designated as art. You will also select an object from your surrounding environment to designate as a readymade and title your piece. Then, we will have a group discussion on “How titles affect the way these everyday objects are perceived by yourself and others?”.

From Max Ernst to Man Ray, Hannah Höch to Marcel Duchamp, there is no single aesthetic that unifies Dadaist art. Via lectures and continual guidance, you will explore your own ideas, develop a personal visual language and create multiple works driven by a concept. This course consists of lectures on Art & Identity, Dada Poetry & Artistic Collaborations, Transforming Everyday Objects and Essential Dadaist Films. You will put theory into practice in the studio and explore different materials such as collage, installation, glass, painting and drawing conceptually driven by the lecture themes. There will be a day trip to the Glass Furnace where you will watch demonstrations of flameworking and glassblowing and get a chance to experiment with glass. Expand and strengthen the depth of your practice and challenge your notions of what art can be in this innovative course.

Nazlı Ceren Ozerdem graduated from Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design Dual Degree Program with a BFA in Painting and a BA in Art History. She received numerous scholarships and fellowships including the Brown International Scholars Fellowship, Kendall Kerfoot Smith Scholarship, Brown Annual Fund and the Dean’s Discretionary Grant. She exhibited internationally and has experience with painting, drawing, glass, papermaking, textiles and film. Ceren is also an RC Alumni!

YOUNG INNOVATORS

ALL SESSIONS

In that course students will grow their innovation capabilities by questioning, applying problem solving methods and producing technology based solutions. The participants will choose the case study they would like to work as a group of two and they will work on it during the 2 weeks course. The case studies are prepared for the target group with inspiration by IDEO U*.

Course objectives include,

• Understand the importance of deep learning; (how to listen to learn)
• Pursuit of asking right questions
• Spark ideas for innovative products
• Inspire others through well-crafted technology based solutions such as websites, mobile apps or devices.

*IDEO U is an online school that equips people with skills, mindsets, and tools to help them stay relevant and adaptive in our modern world.

Important Note : For each session, participants will need an internet-connectable device: preferably a laptop.

Pınar Kadıoğlu is education technology coordinator at RC who has been working on technology integration with teachers and students for 6 years. After she graduated from Bilkent University, Computer and Instructional Education M.A degree, she worked for two years teaching ICT in primary and secondary school levels in private schools. During the school year she works on integrating new technologies (such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence) into the curriculum and their effects on learning. She is the author of ‘Steve Jobs Gibi Yap’ from the National Geography Kids series.

QUICK FILM HISTORY & HANDS-ON FILMMAKING

2ND SESSION

Before coming into this course, you’ve probably shot thousands of videos already. You’ve ‘recorded’ insta-stories, you’ve ‘directed’ snaps, and maybe some of you have even ‘broadcasted’ video content on YouTube. That’s great! You’re halfway there. For the other half, I invite you to GRAINY DAYS!

Everyday, we will start with a brief history of cinema. You’ll see how it all started without sound and without color; a time when everything depended on the pure image. Then we’ll introduce sound and its effects on the medium, which will be followed by color, giving the cinema its modern look. Along the way, you’ll meet some important people who gave shape to the history of cinema, and you’ll learn why they matter. Chaplin, Keaton, Eisenstein, Kuleshov, Vigo, Ford, Hitchcock and Scorsese are a few of them.

The second part of the class is about filmmaking. In the first week you’ll learn the basics: How to write a screenplay? What are the roles in a set? How do we edit? What are the elements of a camera and how do I take advantage of them to tell my story? When these questions are answered, we’ll form small groups and in the second week each group will prepare a short film. We’ll write, rehearse, shoot and edit together; and I promise it’s going to be a lot of fun, a lot of practice and a lot of good memories!

Ozan Yoleri completed his studies at Bogazici University with a minor degree in film studies. Ozan is one of the co-founders of the Istanbul based production company Vigo Film. His last short film, Aylin (2019), premiered at the 25th Palm Springs Short Fest and was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Antalya Golden Orange FF. Currently he is working on his first feature film project, “This Beautiful Night”.

ALL STAR TENNIS

ALL SESSIONS

Tennis, once a game of Royalties origins dating as far back as 12th century France now a favorite amongst men and women of all backgrounds. It transformed from a sport conducted indoors to one that can be experienced outdoors to test both physical endurance and tactical finesse. With this course, our participants will learn tennis as a professional sport and a fun physical team exercise.

You will learn all about hitting techniques, general rules and tennis as a team and solo sport.

Serda Örnek instructed tennis at various schools including Enka & Robert College for over 15 years. During her sports career, she did gymnastics, played volleyball and tennis. She is a graduate of Marmara University and currently getting her M.A degree at the same university.

BASKETBALL ACADEMY

1ST SESSION

The RC Basketball Academy aims to focus on the fundamentals of basketball. The course is suitable for any skill level from the ages of 13-16. The Academy will teach young players key fundamental skills while also showing the importance of effort, dedication, and sportsmanship. The Academy will work on both offense, defense and conditioning. Players of all ages will learn to work as a team, scrimmage together but also have one on one time with the coaches. The RC Basketball Academy strives to create a fun, safe and hardworking atmosphere for all its participants.

Greg Pinto has been coaching basketball for more than 15 years. He has coached children from the ages of 5 to 18, from the beginner to advanced levels. Greg’s passion for teaching and mentoring young children has propelled him into a lifelong career in teaching. He currently is a Physical Education teacher at Robert College where he has spent the last 8 years. Before his move to Istanbul, Greg taught at the Greenwich Country Day School in Connecticut. During his time there, he had the privilege of coaching multiple students who ended up playing at Division I schools in the United States. Greg had the pleasure and honor of coaching NBA star Donovan Mitchell for four years while at GCDS. In addition, Greg has also spent 12 years working at RC Summer as a counselor, a core staff member, and director. Greg is excited to return for this opportunity to share his knowledge and love of basketball with the RC Academy community.

HAPPY HEALTHY CHEFS

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

Is it possible to eat healthy food that is fun and tasty? Well, this is a hands-on course that will give you the opportunity to learn about what makes people healthy and how people from different cultures prepare food. While we prepare delicious dishes, we will discuss/question different types of diets people prefer, e.g. raw, vegan, vegetarian, organic, macrobiotic, gluten-free, etc.

Each day, we will start off with a short wellness practice, such as meditation, yoga, breathworks, or mindfulness. We will then move onto food preparation, which will include kitchen safety, hygiene, basic cutting skills, presentation, and most importantly nutritional information. Moreover, you will taste different foods and appreciate cultures from around the world, namely sushi (Japan), taco (Mexico), pizza (Italy), hummus (Middle East), rice noodles (China). Finally, you will go home with your own recipe book to add new recipes and your own creations.

The two-week adventure aims to increase awareness of healthier eating habits, teach useful kitchen skills, and appreciate new tastes and recipes.

Ayda Manukyan has had careers in the fields of business, art/culture sociology, and English teaching in the US and in Turkey. She has taught young learners and university students alike. Cooking and nutrition have been her lifelong passion. She has completed a 6-week Healthy Vegan course. She has also taken several food preparation courses, e.g. sushi making, raw food, and Changa Restaurant recipes. She has attended many courses and retreats of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. She is currently an English teacher at Robert College and a member of both the Food Committee and the Environmental Committee at the school.

VIOLINSPRATION

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

Strings demand strong sense of sacrifice; both of your time and soft fingertips. We couldn’t think of a better time than summer to perfect the choreography of your fingers on that fingerboard! Not only you will get to practice your technique but also will learn many new pieces and will take part in Academy Strings Orchestra!

Important Note: Students will need to bring their own violins.

Emel Özer had an academic history, taking her from Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory to NY Mannes College of Music for her Master’s Degree. Being performed in many countries from the United States to Republic of China, she took her violin to Russia, Austuria, France, Spain, Italy, Israel Estonia, Netherlands, Moldova, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Pakistan.

She took office as General Coordinator in both Turkish State Opera & Ballet and LİMAK Philarmonic Orchestra.

Miss Özer worked as a violin instructor in Robert College & TED Association Ankara college for 10 years and also took coordinator duties in Istanbul ENKA Schools, Şiişli Terakki Foundation Schools, ITU Foundation Schools and TED Ankara College.

She is currently part-time music teacher at Robert College and manages her own concert & organization projects.

BIO-MATH

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

How can we use DNA to track the spread of a virus? How can medical tests and scans tell us about what is going on with our health? How do survival strategies work in nature? Can patterns in the natural world be described? To answer these questions, we need math and it is not the type of math typically taught in school. This course will use simulations, puzzles, computers, and nature walks on Robert College’s Faralyalı Trail to answer these important questions and to discover how math relates to biology.

Andrew Tingleff has taught math at all levels including AP calculus and AP statistics at Robert College for the last 19 years. He has been involved with special projects with Intel and the Biomath project at DIMACS, a research center in the United States, and he is a long time advisor of Robert College’s outdoor Adventure Club.                              

CRIME SCENE – RCS ACADEMY

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

Participants will work in the ‘RCS crime lab to learn Forensic Science skills and then use their learning to solve a number of cases including at least one crime scene simulation on campus! It is going to be Clem McDonnell’s third year at RCS Academy’s popular course Crime Scene!

Clem McDonnell worked in Robert College Science Department for 32 years. He has taught most age groups from Orta prep to Lise 12 including Physics and General Science. He founded the RC Forensic Science Club which has been a popular club, he co-hosted with RC teacher Sibel Almas. He is a recipient of the Master Teacher Award and The Joukowsky Family Foundation Travel Award. Robert College’s legendary teacher was kind enough to be back with us once more after his retirement!

ECOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

Ecological Explorations will take participants out of the classroom and into the wild. This course will take full advantage of the summer and the outdoors at Robert College to help participants develop qualitative and quantitative research skills in natural sciences. Participants will learn and apply the principles of ecological research; making observations, collecting data, designing experiments and reporting their findings. The course will aim to present the participants with a holistic ecological view to inspire a sense of awe, exploration and protection of nature. If you have ever wondered how the natural world works, this course is for you!

After graduating from Robert College in 2003, Dünya Önen followed her curiosity for understanding nature and studied Biology and Environmental Science at Dartmouth College, USA. Her love of research and adventure took her to places such as Australia, Costa Rica, Alaska and Hawaii. Since returning to Istanbul in 2010, Dünya Önen has shared her enthusiasm and excitement for the natural world by first teaching Ecology to primary and secondary school students. She has since then been teaching Biology to high school students. This is her second year teaching Biology at Robert College.

ADVENTURES IN DRAMA AND PERFORMANCE

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

Adventures in Drama and Performance will take students through a progression of skills that will enhance and improve their abilities to act and perform on stage in both standard drama and musical theatre. There will be a focus on learning the English terms for the theatre as well as acting and choreography. Students will have the chance to learn famous musical theatre standards and perform monologues from Shakespeare to modern works. They will progress from basic performance skills of body language and projection, to conveying emotion to an audience effectively and performing short scenes in front of an audience. Not only will students get to explore drama, they will have fun in a supportive and creative environment where the only limit is their imagination.

Caitlin Dunne is originally from Massachusetts, USA before she found her way to New York City where she worked for eleven years teaching English, Drama, & Music. She received a Fulbright Teaching Fellowship in 2007 to the United Kingdom that created a desire to explore teaching overseas. She took the leap internationally in 2014 when she came to Robert College. During the school year, she teaches English and runs The Hamlin Players Musical Theatre performance club.

GLOBAL ISSUES, GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

Are you interested in world history? Do you ever read or watch the news and think, we could do better than that? Would you like to be top-notch debater or Model UN delegate? Bringing together history, politics, and international relations, we will examine the roots of current world issues, brainstorm creative solutions, and hold debates about their possible effectiveness. This course will be exciting for young people interested in world history, current events, and developing English skills. In particular, people who enjoy Model United Nations will have a chance to push their research and debating skills to new levels.

Important Note : For each session, participants will need an internet-connectable device: preferably a laptop or a tablet, although a smartphone will do in a pinch.

Francis van der Hoeven has been an English and History teacher at national and international schools in Canada, Switzerland, and Türkiye for over 25 years. He has supervised middle school and high school Model UN for several years. In addition to teaching English at Robert College, he is one of the supervisors of RCMUN.

RCS BESTSELLERS LIST

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

Want to be the next Nazım Hikmet, Elif Şafak, or Orhan Pamuk? Then this is the course for you! During the RCS Bestsellers course, students will learn to excel in a variety of creative writing genres. Each day students will study novels, short stories, poetry, plays, or graphic novels from around the world to see why great writing is considered great. Then they’ll put this knowledge into practice by creating their own original work. And the best pieces from each student will be published in a student anthology at the end of the course! Bring your creativity to a whole new level and join RCS Bestsellers!

Marshall Hoovler has been an English teacher at Robert College for seven years and has worked in education for fifteen years. He has taught L9 English, Modern Novel, and World Literature and has worked in the school’s Writing Center for three years. His love of classic and modern literature and his 3,000 comic books make him the perfect reader for your future bestsellers! 

DIGITAL MUSIC PRODUCTION

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

Electronic music over the last fifty years has transformed from an experimental academic pursuit to the primary method of music production. In this course, participants will learn about the history of electronic music, from Kraftwerk to the electro-pop of the ‘80s, to mainstream techno, to gear geeks like Aphex Twin and up through the computer revolution of recent years. Participants will learn to use the basic tools of electronic music, including sampling sequencers, drum machines, synthesizers, and effects processors, all through a powerful digital simulator. Participants will learn some basic elements of song structure and then use these electronic tools to analyze and remix others’ work as well as create and publish their own songs.

Important Note : Students will need to bring a laptop and headphones every day.

Sean Vander Meulen Originally from the U.S.A., Mr. Vander Meulen (a.k.a. DJ Trogdor the Burninator) is a physics teacher at Robert College. This is his fourth year at RC, and he has lived and taught in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He has loved music since an early age, and has played drums in a number of bands with styles ranging from jazz to pop to metal. He plays a number of other instruments, most of them poorly.

RCS ACADEMY – STEM

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

RCS Academy STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math ) activities to explore the scientist in you. Explore science the exciting way, by trying out simple and fun experiments.

Each day, you will leave with new knowledge, a super fun day behind, and a thirst for the next day’s learning. Even if you have no interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), join us have a great memory! You’ll be glad you did.

We will also improve our practical skills through the use of hands-on playing and building. You will have lots of fun to explore science by trying out simple and fun -do try this at home- experiments.

Do you love being able to answer the question, “Why?” Science is an international language of its own, which you will learn to understand and speak by immersing yourself in it.

• Explore magnetic cereal.
• Get amazed with walking water.
• Have fun with invisible bowl.
• Make the paper clip move without touching it.
• Build up your magic fountain and water rocket!

Excited yet? Then come bolster your budding scientist mind.

Ferdi Kaya is a Boğaziçi University graduate with an Integrated B.A and M.A degree in teaching physics (Secondary Schools Math and Science education) He is a certified STEM teacher. He has facilitated ATIC (Abu Dhabi Technology investment company) STEM winter academies for secondary school kids twice.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

NOT AVAILABLE IN 2020

RCS Academy Social Entrepreneurship Course aims to equip young people with design thinking skills to drive positive change in their schools and communities. They will familiarize themselves with the basic terminology on social entrepreneurship, social innovation and UN Sustainable Development Goals. In teams, students will pick a challenge to identify, define, and solve a social issue. The students who have taken these classes in Robert College in the past initiated and organized a peer mentoring program, a murder mystery night, a TEDx event, and peer to peer workshops on social entrepreneurship with state schools in different cities in Turkey, and have been nominated as finalists in “Village to Raise a Child Social Entrepreneurship Competition” organized by Harvard University Social Innovation Collaborative with a project on creating an online recruitment platform for Syrian refugees in Turkey. If you enjoy interacting with people, listening to their stories, community building, problem solving, and designing projects to solve the social problems you observe around you, this course is for you.

Important Note : Participants will need to bring their laptops to the sessions every day. We will use Google Docs to prepare and share materials. Make sure you have a Gmail account!

Aybike Oğuz defines herself as a teacher accompanying young people in their journey to become themselves. She has been involved in education for 17 years and during the last seven, she has been teaching change making, social entrepreneurship and social innovation skills in her English classes, Social Entrepreneurship Club in Robert College, and in youth camps such as WINPEACE (Women’s Initiative for Peace) in different cities in Turkey and abroad to empower high school students to drive positive social change in their communities. She co-authored a workshop report in International School Magazine on integration of social entrepreneurship skills into a peace education youth camp and with Ashoka Turkey co-authored a workbook teaching social entrepreneurship to university students in Turkey.