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by Srijani Chakraborty & Doris Wang for Silver Quest; Art by Sarah Zhang
Each academic year, Magnet challenges the norm with unique advanced course offerings. Although classes are available according to student demand, there is always a large selection to choose from. This year, some prominent standouts of these classes are Video Game Programming, Origins of Math, and Advanced Geometry.
Unleashing creativity through code, the Video Game Programming course is a hit among students. It’s one of the newer courses offered at Blair, and so the material and projects within it are still subject to change. As senior Alisha Wu explains, “It’s pretty new and it’s a trial-and-error course,” which adds to the excitement for the students who enroll. In Video Game Programming, students explore the different ways video games are made and have the unique opportunity to design a video game themselves. From science games to dress-up games, there is no limit to what students can create. Being in a class environment with others interested in the video gaming field, students find themselves branching out in new ways to create projects that incorporate both fun and technicality. “I like that the class wasn’t strict with what you could create; as long as you had something done, you could do anything,” Wu says.
Origins of Math is not your standard Blair math class. “The [other math electives] we have are all pretty intense,” junior Edith Yang says. “I enjoy the environment in my Origins of Math class ... and having a class that isn’t always stressing me out.” The course is known for its unconventional approach, which involves having students step into the shoes of ancient mathematicians, ultimately engaging them in a way that textbooks alone cannot. Notably, one of the teachers, Mr. Kirk, enjoys making bread based on different historical periods and sharing it with the class each week. The plethora of activities, such as Mancala, set this class apart from your regular test-heavy math classes. The ancient mathematical techniques discussed in Origins of Math developed in regions across the globe: Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Africa, China, and many more. Although the central focus of the class is math, Mrs. Contreras and Mr. Kirk enjoy demonstrating how past and present global cultures are deeply connected to mathematical concepts.
For many years, Origins of Math was not taught at Blair due to a lack of interest. However, back by popular demand for the past two years, it has quickly become a student favorite. Students love the class and note that its laid-back curriculum allows them to look at math from a unique point of view. “It gives a different experience of working with the history and foundations of math,” Yang says. The class involves lots of open discourse and student participation. “Even though it’s mostly seniors, everyone seems pretty welcoming, and we have a lot of student participation and collaboration,” Yang says.
Advanced Geometry, taught by Mr. Rose, takes students on a more intense approach. As a one-semester advanced math elective intended for upper-classmen finished with the calculus sequence, the course is unique to Blair. “It kind of picks up where the regular geometry class that [students] took in eighth or ninth grade [left off]...we explore Euclidean geometry with some advanced theorems,” Rose explains. The curriculum is original to Rose, though he provides a textbook the class follows. “It gets technical...there’s a chapter on transformations, a chapter on inversions, and a chapter on projective geometry and concurrence,” Rose explains. Students are also able to collaborate often. Rose noted that the class was unique because students discussed and observed different figures together. “The class [is sometimes] centered around exploring some particular figure for an hour,” Rose says. “We kind of all sit around and we make [shapes] using some geometry software.” The class is only for juniors and seniors, and Rose recommends the class to people who already have some experience with geometry, or are interested in the subject beyond the normal level. “It’s a class that’s challenging, but fun, and you should do it if you love geometry,” Rose says.
The broad spectrum of electives is a cornerstone of the Magnet’s educational philosophy, offering a unique learning experience for each student. These electives set it apart from other schools, allowing Magnet students to dive deep into subjects they’re interested in and passionate about. “I really like the Magnet electives at Blair,” Yang said. “There are so many options, especially for science.” However, although there is an abundance of unique math, science, and computer science electives, some students have noted the lack of engineering electives. “They should have more engineering programs,” sophomore Reanna Jin says. “The only one right now is Robotics.” If there is something in the wide breadth of courses that students feel is lacking, they can advocate to bring classes that they’re interested in. Seeing as how these new and returning Magnet classes have sparked inspiration and excitement, there is no shortage of courses that can be introduced, or re-introduced.
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