What is Zach's Cool Stuff?
"Zach's Cool Stuff" (ZCS) provides individuals with the knowledge, encouragement, and resources to turn their ideas into reality. In conjunction with a belief in active, self-directed learning, classes focus on teaching practical skills while offering students hands-on access to the latest technology. This breaks down barriers of perceived complexity, teaches troubleshooting techniques and logical problem solving, and reinforces students' motivation and curiosity.
INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED CURRICULUM
ZCS services are based on a project-driven model. We believe that many people learn best when motivated by their own curiosity and allowed to learn at their own pace. Students who come to ZCS with project ideas are presented with focused, individual curricula that can help them achieve their goals. Other students may want to develop specific, career-related skills, or simply explore areas of interest. In each case, the granular, customizable curriculum can be tailored to the student's needs.
No matter what the class, all ZCS activities encourage learning with a focus on individual goals and interests. For example, in a plastics workshop, one student may make a leg for her robot while another works on a piece of his art installation. Students learn by doing and emerge with concrete results that fit individual goals.
LOCATION
ZCS is located in Berkeley, at the corner of Adeline and Harmon Streets, just south of the Ashby BART station. The open 2,500-square-foot space is part of a new 7,500-square-foot building designed for ZCS by Remiker Architects. The space's safety, modularity, and technical facilities make it a perfect home for ZCS.
In addition to a common area, storage, and bathrooms, the space features:
- Machine shop
- Computer lab
- General building lab
- Classroom and meeting space
- Office area and staff workspace
- Natural light and high ceilings
- Safe, advanced technical features, from wireless Internet access to RFID-card-enabled machinery
ZCS is centrally located--close to BART, buses, and freeways, with on-street and private parking available.
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