The Jargon File defines "hacker" as:

"A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary ... a person who delights in having an intimate understanding of the internal workings of a system, computers and computer networks in particular."

This course aims to follow the spirit of the definition above by helping students develop an understanding and passion for computers and technology. The syllabus for the course is very fluid; the students decide what topics they wish to pursue as a class. Some possible topics include: Lego Robotics, building a computer, networking and the Internet, and configuring a server from scratch.

There are no prerequisites for this course, but students must be highly motivated to practice and learn on their own outside of class. Evaluation will be based on projects, reports, and research.

Please note that this course does not teach programming concepts (though some limited exposure to programming is likely). Students seeking a more structured programming experience should consider Introduction to Computer Science instead of (or in addition to) this course.