09/2024 - 12/2024, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA.
A class I ended up taking over after the original professor had an emergency; the syllabus was already in place - all I had to do was guide the students through a very comprehensive intro to using Maya. The students started out creating a simple tea set, then proceeded to design / model a game prop, and finally completed an entire scene environment with lights, props and at least one camera.
09/2024 - 12/2024, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
Another Maya class, but one where I only had 10 weeks (as opposed to 16) to teach students the basics of modeling, texturing and rendering. By the end, all the students were able to
a) re-create an object from a series of photographs and present a turntable video of their model
b) complete an in-class assignment where they were asked to solve several modeling problems without consulting the instructor or their classmates (notes and internet resources were both fair game!).
01/2023 - 05/2024, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
My first foray into teaching and the only class I could begin with "Today, we'll be setting things on FIRE!" In addition to Pyro simulations, we covered Rigid Body Dynamics, Cloth, Fluids, Particles and Hair - as well as basic Houdini interface, Karma Materials and Karma Rendering. Super-proud of all my students, many of whom had little to no experience with any 3D software, let alone a temperamental beast like Houdini.
01/2024 - 05/2024, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
A truly one-of-a-kind class, where the students and I talked about different ways technology affects society - and vice versa! We discussed whether it's a good idea to terraform other planets, why is the human face so often missing from prehistoric art, what small invention allowed Genghiz Khan to conquer almost a third of the world, and how long would our society last if a CME were to take out the global power grid! I was really looking forward to teaching it again, but sadly, the class disappeared along with the University.