COMPUTER SYSTEMS LABORATORY

Senior Tech Lab   -   Information for Juniors

Mandelbrot

WHAT KIND OF PREPARATION IS NEEDED FOR THIS LAB?

  1. Pre-requisite
    Advanced Placement Computer Science
  2. Recommended Electives
    Computer Architecture
    Artificial Intelligence
    Supercomputer Applications

WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

  1. One period, all year
  2. Mentorship, two periods (Fall or Spring)

WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS DO STUDENTS DO?

The Senior Technology Research course in the Computer Systems Lab provides an opportunity for students to use the latest high performance computing technology to investigate something of personal interest. Projects in this lab do not have to be pure computer science, although many students will pursue that field of research. Former students have explored topics in almost every subject area including mathematics, physics, biology, medicine, anthropology, English, social studies, art, music, sports, and many interdisciplinary fields. However, every project must emphasize advanced computer algorithms, high performance or parallel computing, or graphics visualization techniques. Students may learn some of these leading edge computing skills on their own, or in the recommended advanced electives. The primarily computing systems used by students include high-powered Pentium systems running LINUX, a 16-processor LINUX Cluster, and equipment in the Multimedia Sound room.

For students interested in the Mentorship program, there are over thirty firms in northern Virginia that have worked with our students. Projects will vary depending upon the firm, but most companies want students who know C++ or Java, and have UNIX experience. In order to do Mentorship in Computer Systems, a student must satisfy the regular acceptance criteria for the lab.


WHAT DO STUDENTS LEARN?

As part of Senior Independent Research in the Computer Systems Lab, students learn many valuable skills that will be useful for summer employment, college success, and eventual career choices. Opportunities in the computing field are excellent at this time and are only expected to improve. Students who have mastered the skills taught in this lab are usually able to obtain lucrative summer jobs in the computer industry. The curriculum goals in the CS Lab stress advanced skills in C++, Java, Perl, PHP, parallel computing, UNIX, X-Windows, 3-D OpenGL graphics, and various World-Wide Web and Internet technologies. As in any Technology Lab, students will develop formal research papers during the school year, but in the CS Lab they will also receive instruction on technical writing, visual presentation and other communication skills. The lab also includes a short unit on career skills including resume writing and successful interview techniques. Some students serve as system administrators on the lab's network and Internet domain, and students in this lab manage the TJHSST webserver and Intranet. Many students have been very successful entering their projects in science competitions and scholarship programs including ThinkQuest, the Intel Science Talent Search, and the Science Fair.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Look at the posters on the walls of the CS Lab, ask students who are in the lab about their projects, talk to some of our wealthy alumni, or check out the following web page:

http://www.tjhsst.edu/~dhyatt/superap