À propos du projet
51 823 $
574
Background
Last year, I had a dream to write BubbleSort Zines, a computer science textbook in zine format, full of drawings and diagrams and stories! I turned to Kickstarter for support, and all of the amazing backers helped raise 6x more than I asked for!
This has been both a busy and great year for BubbleSort Zines! Thanks to the previous campaign, BubbleSort Zines was able to publish 6, ~100 page issues about:
- Microcontroller programming and toy hacking
- Encryption and cryptography
- Memory and caching
- Sorting algorithms
- How the Internet works
- Logic circuits
The zines were featured by The New Yorker, Recode, MIT CSAIL, and Chelsea Clinton!
The past year of BubbleSort Zines
Now introducing BubbleSort Zines 2.0!
I'd like to continue writing more issues of these zines, with your help! The next 6 issues that I've planned will include more in depth and advanced computer science topics like:
- Image processing
- Operating systems
- Computer languages
- Data structures
- Machine learning
- Interesting applications of computer science
Rewards
You'll be able to receive a bunch of rewards (some of them Kickstarter-exclusive!) in thanks for your support!
You'll be able to order the zines in digital or physical form! Physical zines will be ~100 pages each, printed on premium recycled paper, and bound locally. Digital zines will be in PDF format to readable on your computer or tablet.
You'll also be able to order a deluxe boxed version of the zines with color covers!
Another special thing we're excited about offering this time around is introduction to electronics kits!
They'll come with a breadboard, pastel alligator clips and wires, led's, resistors, and a zine with a bunch of project ideas! This is going to be the intro to electronics kit I've always dreamed of. Lots of the parts (like the pink and mint alligator clips) will have to be custom designed and ordered direct from an electronics manufacturer in Shenzen, because components this cute don't exist yet!
Some tiers will also include the option of a BubbleSort Zines poster!
Reviews of Past Issues of BubbleSort Zines!
Here's are some nice things people have been saying about the first 6 issues of BubbleSort Zines!
P.S. Don't be fooled by their exteriors—these zines are adorable while providing thorough and robust explanations of complex technical topics.
"You strike a good balance of not dumbing down while at the same time introducing complicated material in a way that's very easily understandable."
"My favorite part is the fact that this hard technical stuff can be taught in such a fun way. I really wish I had these back in my first semester but they're still loads of help."
"it's got much more easily understandable explanations, and includes lots of interesting background that is hard to find in normal materials."
"I read Bubblesorts & Other Sorts right before my course went through sorting and I felt like the (humble) queen of the class! After that lecture, there were many people who were confused of hadn't quite grasped it so I helped them out (and of course showed them the bubblesort zine I had in my bag and recommended it to them!) It felt so great to actually fully understand what was going on."
"They are friendly and fun. I love the nature of the historical aspect, it's great that I can place the topics in history and the evolution of society."
"Your writing style and how you explain things is great :)"
About me
I've worked in the tech industry for 10 years, most recently as a web developer at Airbnb. Prior to that, I did HCI research at Tokyo University in their media lab, did machine learning research for the humanoid robotics team at Honda Research Institute, and got undergrad and grad degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from MIT. During undergrad, I was a lab assistant for the department's intro to computer science lab, and during grad school, I was a teaching assistant for the department's discrete math class, explaining concepts like recurrences using hand-drawn cartoons of vampires.
I've been using cartoons to explain science and math concepts to myself since i was little & always drew comics in the margins of my notes all through high school & college.
Why this is important
Nothing is neutral and nothing is unpolitical. Science and technology are affected by the biases of the people and culture that research it and produce it. This extends to the resources that we use to teach and learn about science technology in classrooms. Think about how many women scientists have been written out of their own scientific discoveries. Think about the last time that a textbook bothered to mention a contribution from a black scientist. This is not so much a "let's get marginalized people into STEM" movement as a "marginalized people are here, recognize, acknowledge, and include us" movement.
We need inclusive, decolonized STEM textbooks if we want to build an inclusive and diverse tech community and if we want to build products that help real people. We need inclusive STEM resources if we want to encourage and include the marginalized people that are already here interested in learning about it.
Computer science is a powerful tool for expressing creativity, problem solving for real world problems, and for understanding the world Let's make computer science an accessible and inclusive topic for all.
credits: videography by André Arko, music used with permission from mathgrant.
Risques et défis
After running the first BubbleSort Zines last year, I've learned a lot about about the printing process, packing process, shipping process and digital fulfillment process! With that under my belt, I feel confident to ship a second round of these zines, on more advanced computer science topics!
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