From left, teachers Ethan Berl, A.J. Martinez, and Chris Nixon get ready for class. Photos courtesy Chris Nixon (click to create a slideshow)

Subfreshman Charlie Bullock enjoys the vast world of calculator programming. (click to create a slideshow)

PEOPLE DON'T TYPICALLY scramble to get in line for some of the academic classes offered over Agora Days. There are, however, many who would love to learn how to improve their calculator programming skills.

For those students, the teaching team of Ethan Berl, Chris Nixon, and A.J. Martinez had just the right class.

Calculator Programming was an introductory course that started on the first day with basic commands for writing programs on TI-83/TI-84 calculators.

Berl, Nixon, and Martinez showed their 18 students some basic programs, talked about some of the fundamental ideas of computer science, and demonstrated how some programs can be written in many different ways but still effectively carry out the same task.

Berl, a senior, got into computer programming as a subfreshman. Over the past few years he has invented his own techniques and written programs that have helped him in his math, chemistry, and Latin classes. He has even earned some extra cash from selling his programs.

“I thought this course would benefit many people,” said Berl. “We wanted to show how, with some imagination, the calculator program can help with just about anything.”

Fellow senior Nixon also got interested in calculator as a subfreshman by writing programs to do the repetitive steps in math problems. He mainly writes math and physics programs.

“We were hoping that everyone would come away with enough knowledge to be able to create and program simple programs by themselves, both math related and simple games,” said Nixon.

The third member of the team, Martinez, is actually a subfreshman himself, but that didn't deter the seniors from seeking him out.

Berl had known Martinez and his family for a number of years; in fact, the two appeared in a play together at Parkland College, “The Phantom Tollbooth.”

More importantly, Berl said, “He's really very talented at calculator programming.”

The second day was devoted to exercises helping students with other programs, in preparation for programming a version of the game “Breakout ” on the third and fourth days. “Breakout” is one-sided pong with bricks at the top of the screen.

As the week went on, students were encouraged to improve their programs, and they received the knowledge to write their own programs. According to Berl, students also provided many good ideas when the teachers asked for suggestions on what to do next.

Even though there was not enough time in the last two days to finish certain aspects of “Breakout,” the class left people inspired. According to Berl, a few of his former students have come up to him to show him their finished programs.

However, students were not the only ones to learn something from this class. The teachers also came away with a bit of new information themselves.

“I learned a lot from this class,” said Berl. “I now realize how much work my teachers have to do before they come to class. My class had people from every grade from subbie to senior so I had to try extra hard to make it interesting for everybody.”