Online Classes Technology Requirements

Our Online classes are an exciting immersion experience for your child. In order to ensure the best experience, we ask that you take a few steps to make sure you have the right setup. Each child attending Online programs will need their own setup described below. Depending on the class, you or your student may need to install or sign up for additional software.  

Your student will need the following for Online classes:

1. Computer with microphone, speakers and internet. We recommend a recent Windows or Apple computer. If you have used this computer for Zoom, or used audio collaboration features in Fortnite or Minecraft you’re probably all set. If using a laptop, a mouse is highly recommended for ease of navigation. Chromebooks and tablets will only work for some of the classes below (be sure to check the details) and also don’t fully support Zoom features that we use in online classes.

2. Internet Connection. We recommend speeds of at least 20 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up. Here’s how to check your speed: fast.com. If you have multiple people streaming or working remotely on the same connection, you should have 20 Mbps per person.

3. Zoom. Zoom is the program we use to create the virtual classroom that connects your child to our teachers and the other students. We ask that you download the free Zoom application at https://zoom.us/download rather than connect to Zoom in the browser.

4. TalentBox. Empow’s online curriculum and learning management system, Talent Box, is accessible and fully functional on any web browser. We will provide a log-in before your class starts.

5. Application software. Empow teaches its students to code, create movies, build video games, architect buildings, design in Minecraft and more in industry-standard software. Please check your class below for details on what needs to be installed ahead of time.

6. Other equipment or supplies. Some classes require additional equipment or supplies. We will clearly identify these below and provide clear instructions on where and how to obtain them. Please find your class in the list below.

Tech & Design Survey Class

NOTE: This is a survey class, exploring one topic every 4 weeks. You do not need to install all software in advance. We will let you know which topic is coming up so that you can set up your student’s computer in advance. 

System Software
Computer:

  • Desktop/Laptop with Windows 7, 8, or 10 or Mac OSX 10.10 – 10.14.
  • Memory6 GB of RAM
  • Other: Microphone and webcam are required, headphones are recommended.
  • The following computers will not work for this program: Mac OS 10.15 Catalina, Linux Systems, Apple/Android Tablets, and Chromebooks.
Tinkercad account:

  • Cost: Free
  • www.tinkercad.com/: Click “Join now” to create an online account for your child, then “Create a personal account” and follow the steps.  When asked for a birthday, we recommend you put your own birthday rather than the child’s, or some features needed for class may be restricted

Sweet Home 3D installation:

Scratch account:

  • Cost: Free
  • scratch.mit.edu/ – set up an account by clicking “Join Scratch” in the top right corner of the website and following the steps

Stykz installation:

Sculpt GL:

HUE Animation

  • Cost: $19.99 one-time purchase
  • huehd.com – purchase just the software if you already have two cameras (one for Zoom, one for Hue) including a laptop camera. You can also purchase a bundle with the software and one camera

Flowlab

  • Cost: Free
  • www.flowlab.io – create a free account and your instructor will invite you to your Flowlab classroom

Adobe Rush

  • Cost: $9.99 per month, only 1 month fee required for the Survey classes
  • adobe.com/products/premiere-rush.html
  • Click “Buy” and follow the steps to download and install the program on your computer

Minecraft

  • Cost: $26.95 one-time purchase for a new account, or an existing account
  • minecraft.net, follow the steps to create a Minecraft Java Edition account
  • Once you have an account, email minecraftinfo@empow.me with the username and full name of the student who will be using this account (do not send the password). This is a vital step to  ensure that unauthorized players do not enter our Minecraft server

Roblox Studio

  • Cost: Free
  • roblox.com/, Create an account download Roblox Studio

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session.

3D 101: Model & Sculpt & Architect, 3D 201: Modeling & Printing
System Software
Computer:

  • Desktop/Laptop with Windows 7, 8, or 10 or Mac OSX 10.10 or later.
  • Memory6 GB of RAM.
  • Other: Microphone and webcam are required, headphones are recommended.
Sculpt GL:

Tinkercad account:

  • Cost: Free
  • www.tinkercad.com/: Click “Join now” to create an online account for your child, then “Create a personal account” and follow the steps.  When asked for a birthday, we recommend you put your own birthday rather than the child’s, or some features needed for class may be restricted

Sweet Home 3D installation:

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session.

Minecraft Exploration and Coding with Redstone & Commands
System Software
Computer:

  • Desktop/Laptop with Windows or Mac OS.
  • Memory6 GB of RAM.
  • Other: Microphone and webcam are required, headphones are recommended.

NOTE: Linux Systems, Apple/Android Tablets, or Chromebooks earlier than 2018 will not work for this camp type. Chromebooks from 2019 or later can work with an advanced setup.

Minecraft: Java Edition purchase & installation required:

Cost: $26.95 lifetime purchase or an existing Minecraft Java Edition account. Note that Minecraft: Java Edition is not the same as Minecraft from “pocket edition” or  “Bedrock” or “Windows 10 Edition” and is therefore a separate purchase.  All versions of Minecraft require unique accounts, and therefore if you have more than one child joining a Minecraft class, a unique account will need to be purchased for each child.

  • For Windows, Mac, or Linux:
    1.  Navigate to minecraft.net in your web browser.  Click “Get Minecraft”.  
    2.  Click “Computer”.  Choose your operating system.  
    3.  Click “Minecraft: Java Edition”.  
    4.  Click “Buy Minecraft”.  You will now be prompted to create a Mojang (company who owns Minecraft) account if you don’t have one.  Follow the steps as prompted on the webpage, going through the “Register” and “Verify Email” steps.  
    5.  After the “Verify Email” step, on the same page where payment info is requested, a username must be created by      typing it into the box under “Minecraft Profile”.  Please choose a username and write it down.  You will be asked for the username later in these steps and will need it henceforth for logging into the app.
    6.  Continue through the “Buy” and “Download” steps.  On the last step, you will be prompted to download Minecraft. 
      1. Once done, run the installer app to complete the process and install Minecraft.  
      2.  Run Minecraft:Java Edition, following the prompts to log in with your username/password and Play.  This step is to make sure Minecraft: Java Edition is working on your computer.
    7. Please email minecraftinfo@empow.me with the username and full name of the student who will be using this account (NOT your password). This is a vital step in securing the Minecraft server so that we know who is joining and we don’t let strangers in.  
  • For a 2019 or later Chromebook (advanced setup):
    1. On a supported Chromebook (most from 2019 onward), go to settings>Linux>Enable Linux.    If you do not see a Linux setting, it likely means your Chromebook is NOT compatible with Linux, and therefore cannot be used for this camp.
    2. After Linux is enabled, head to https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download/alternative/ and download the .deb Minecraft file.
    3. Open the Files app, and click on Linux Files>minecraft.deb
    4. Follow Installation procedures.
    5. After installation, launch Minecraft: Java Edition and log in using your Mojang account credentials.  If you do not own a Minecraft account, please refer to the steps 1-6 in the paragraph above this one for steps to purchase an account.  You may skip the download at the end of step 6.
    6. Hit PLAY – so you can test out your install, and adjust a setting.
    7. In Minecraft Settings, turn available graphics options to low, and render distance down to 6. You can close Minecraft once this is finished.
    8. Type “chrome://flags” into the search bar in chrome, and click enter.
    9. Scroll down and enable both “Pointer lock for Linux applications” and “Crostini GPU Support”
    10. Restart your computer so the necessary changes take effect.
    11. If you already happen to own Minecraft: Java Edition but need to redownload it, navigate to   minecraft.net, sign into your account, then navigate to https://my.minecraft.net/en-us/store/minecraft/#owned and you will see download options.  Download and run the   installer app, following the steps in the install process.

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session. Unfortunately, we cannot support issues resulting from the advanced setup for a Chromebook.

Minecraft Modding with mCreator

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System Software
Computer:

  • Desktop/Laptop with Windows or Mac OS.
  • Memory6 GB of RAM.
  • Other: Microphone and webcam are required, headphones are recommended.

NOTE: Linux Systems, Apple/Android Tablets, or Chromebooks earlier than 2018 will not work for this camp type. Chromebooks from 2019 or later can work with an advanced setup.

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session.

Minecraft Modding with Java
System Software
Computer:

  • i5+ Intel Processor or AMD equivalent
  • Memory:  4 GB of RAM.
  • Ideally, a dedicated graphics card.
  • Desktop/Laptop with Windows 7, 8, or 10 or Mac OSX 10.10 – 10.14.
  • Mac OS 10.15 Catalina, Linux Systems, Apple/Android Tablets, or Chromebooks will not work for this camp type.
  • Other: Microphone and webcam are required, headphones are recommended.
Note: This is probably the most technically difficult setup process of any Empow Studios camp. Feel free to reach out to us for technical support.

Step One: Follow instructions for Minecraft Exploration to purchase and Install Java Edition

Step Two: Install the Java Development Kit (JDK)

    1. Go to OpenJDK and download Version 8 Hotspot by clicking “Latest Version.”
    2. Your web browser (Chrome) may prompt you to verify you want to download the installer. If this is case, choose to download or “keep” the file.
    3. Open the installer by clicking on it in the downloads section of your browser or opening it from where your computer downloads file i.e. “Downloads” for Windows or Mac.
    4. Your computer may prompt you for permission to install the file, if so, click yes or enter the administrator password and click yes.
    5. Once the installer opens, click the “Install” button.
    6. After installation succeeds click the “Close” button.
    7. Restart your computer.

Step Three: Install Forge

    1.  Go to the Forge Download website
    2. Click “Mdk” not  “Installer.”
    3. The website will display an ad, wait 5 seconds then click “Skip” in the upper right hand corner.
    4. Forge will download and if you had to verify the download for Java, you will have to do this again for Forge.
    5. Once you have downloaded the file, extract its contents to the folder you downloaded to.
    6. Make a copy of the extracted folder and put it in “Documents” then rename it to something like “MyAwesomeMods” that you will remember.

Step Four: Install and Configure Eclipse

Note: I have found that sometimes Eclipse “hiccups” on a task but that closing Eclipse, starting it again, and repeating the step will work.

    1. Go to Eclipse Downloads and click “Download X” where X is the version Eclipse detected that you need.
    2. Similar to Java, open the installer and select the first option “Eclipse IDE for Java Developers.”
    3. Leave all of the options at default settings and click “Install.”
    4. After install, click “Launch.”
    5. Choose a workspace that is anything but your Forge folder and close the “Welcome” tab by clicking on the circled “x” on the tab.
    6. Click “Import Projects” in the Package Manager on the left side of the Eclipse window.
    7. Select “Gradle” then “Existing Gradle Project,” click “Next,” then Browse.
    8. Navigate to your Forge folder and select it.
    9. Click Finish and allow the project to import. It may take awhile.
    10. In the bottom pane, select the “Gradle Tasks” tab.
    11. Select fg_runs folder then click on “genEclipseRuns,” this will run a script that may take some time.
    12. When this is finished click the “File” menu then “Import” then “Launch Configuration.”
    13. If you do not see your Forge folder, click browse and select it.
    14. Check “runClient.launch” and “runServer.launch” then select finish.
    15. Are you still with me? Great! Click “Run” from the “Run” menu and watch Minecraft launch!
    16. If you encounter an error when running try this additional step.
    17. Select “Run Configurations” from the “Run” menu, click on “runClient,” then “Environment” tab, then make sure MC_VERSION is set to 1.16.5

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session.

Coding with Scratch
System Software
Computer:

  • A recent desktop or laptop with Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, or Linux OS. 
  • Other: Microphone and webcam are required, headphones are recommended.
Scratch account:

    • https://scratch.mit.edu/ – set up an account by clicking “Join Scratch” in the top right corner of the website and following the steps

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session.

Coding with Python, all levels
System Software
Computer:

  • Desktop/Laptop with Windows 7, 8, or 10, Mac OSX 10.8 – 10.15, or any modern Linux distribution.
  • Apple/Android Tablets or Chromebooks will not work for this camp type.
  • Other: Microphone and webcam are required, headphones are recommended.
  • Python / IDLE installation:
    • https://www.python.org/downloads/ – Download the installer for your computer system and run it.  Make sure to check “Add Python ___ to PATH” (blank space will be a number) which is a checkbox immediately visible when running the installer.  After that checkbox is checked, click Install and follow the rest of the prompts until done.  (If you don’t see any screen with checkboxes, you can ignore that extra step)
  • PyCharm installation:
    • PyCharm – download Community version (NOT Professional) for your operating system.
    • Once the installer is downloaded and run, proceed through it by following the prompts until you reach a screen with multiple checkboxes.  On this screen, you should see one checkbox labeled “Add launchers dir to the PATH”.  Make sure this box is checked, then press Next and keep confirming the prompts until the install is finished.  (If you don’t see any screen with checkboxes, you can ignore that extra step)

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session.

Movie Production
System Software
Computer:

  • A recent Windows or MacOS computer 
  • Other: Microphone and webcam are required, headphones are recommended.

Note: Adobe Rush is a fairly resource-intensive application. Please check Adobe website for specific requirements. 

Adobe Rush :

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session.

Roblox: Game Design
System Software
Computer:

  • Windows 7, 8, or 10, Mac OS X 10.10 or higher
  • Dedicated video card or less than 3 year old integrated graphics (i.e. Intel Graphics)
  • Roblox Studio
    • Go to https://www.roblox.com/create and click “start creating” to download Roblox Studio.
    • Follow e-mailed instructions from Empow.

Need Help? If you would like support setting up your child’s computer, please click here to book a live video tech support session.

Empow is moving and expanding to more communities!Read our fall announcement to learn more