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Cryptography and Computer Programming-Online

Date(s) & Location(s):
July 8 - 26, 2024
Program Details:

The first two weeks of each course take place asynchronously and consist of about 7 hours of work per week. During the third week of each course, students will interact with their instructor and other students via video conferencing meetings, and the course will be about 20 hours of work.

The synchronous portion of this course during the third week will be from 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm Monday-Friday.

Grades Eligible:
Rising  10th 11th 12th
Course Description:

This course introduces students to cryptographic methods used to encipher and decipher secret messages with an emphasis on using computer programming to automate the process. Throughout this course, students will:

  • learn a variety of encryption schemes ranging from classical to modern and some techniques to read the secret messages without the key. 
  • master programming topics such as variables, functions, conditional logic, looping, and file input/output in the Python language to implement each cryptographic method. 
  • design data analysis and visualization projects.
  • become familiar with the fundamentals of programming in Python and simple cryptographic methods. 

As the learning journey unfolds, students will advance to explore more sophisticated cryptographic techniques, understanding not only their implementation but also developing the skills to analyze and break them. Join us in this immersive experience where the realms of programming and cryptography converge, offering a comprehensive exploration that goes beyond the basics.

Instructor:
Verónica Vázquez
About The Instructor:

An Ohio native, Verónica Vázquez studied natural resources at Cornell University before earning a master’s degree in education from Stanford University. She has been teaching mathematics since 1999 at both the high school and the college level and teaching cryptography and computer programming since 2018. Veronica is passionate about cryptography, ethnomathematics, crocheting hyperbolic surfaces, and recreational mathematics. She also loves reading — especially science fiction and fantasy — tabletop games, gardening, baking, and raising chickens.

Cost:
$695