Tech Freebies & Program Ideas Robin Bryan Technology Education Manager ImaginOn & Matt Gullett Emerging Technology Manager Virtual Village The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

Creators & Participators Generations of learners are hungry to create and participate. They look for opportunities to develop skills and to create things. They are interested more in participating in creating their experience rather than just passively consuming it.

“Make It” Happen Creating things at the library is nothing new Children’s programs often feature arts and crafts to supplement story experiences Creating with technology is the new arts and crafts for a new generation –Painting Pixels –Crayons Cameras

Use What You Have “Kidsize” traditional adult programs, such as MS Office –Excel becomes Fun with Charts and Graphs (and Skittles!) –Word becomes Create a Downloadable freeware -Tux Paint art program -BabySplat -Picassa Web activities –PBS Kids, StoryPlace, author sites, Image Generators, puzzle makers, scavenger hunts

Using what you already have … Word Excel Powerpoint MS Paint

Other freebies and other things …

Purchased software and activities …

What Happens at ImaginOn Drop in tech activities –Comic wall –Animation collage –DDR Day Programs –Creative software (KidPix) –Computer basics –Computer guts –Advanced skills (Photoshop, Dreamweaver)

Imagine this … ImaginOn & Studio i

Studio i An animation, video, editing and music creation room 3 stations –2 for downshooting 2D animation –1 live action or 3D animation (like claymation) Blue screen wall for changing the background eMac with keyboard for music creation

Portable Animation Station iMac Mini “station” with camera, lighting, blue screen and whiteboard capability I Can Animate software (Mac only) Ability to provide animation programming at branch locations and schools

What is created Fun, learn how to animate projects Family projects (such as animating family photos) School projects Music compositions Music videos Teen/Staff projects

Software Stop Motion Pro Pinnacle Studio Sony Acid Music Studio Garage Band (Mac) Final Cut Studio (Mac)

How can I do This? Windows comes with Movie Maker Photos can be turned into “movies”, not just video

Next steps … “… the greatest opportunity for change is currently found in after-school programs and informal learning communities.” “Participatory culture shifts the focus of literacy from one of individual expression to community involvement.” Quotes are taken from Henry Jenkins paper, “Confronting the Challenges of Participatory culture: Media Education for the 21 st Century.”