Description

The Workshop hosts virtual hands-on demonstrations of tools and software available at home to help you be productive and creative on academic and personal projects.

Sessions take place Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.

To receive a link to join the sessions, please register using the links below. For questions or accommodations, please contact Multimedia Teaching and Learning Librarian Oscar Keyes at keyesok@vcu.edu.

Schedule and Registration

Sept. 15, 2021
Animate with A.I. Using EbSynth
Led by Oscar Keyes, The Workshop
Online
Register for this Sept. 15 session

Ever wanted to animate but were intimidated by drawing hundreds of images? Come learn about a tool called EbSynth that allows you to record a video, draw over one frame and then apply that drawing to the entire video via artificial intelligence. Watch this video by Joel Haver to get a taste of the technique.

Sept. 22, 2021
Mini-Game Jam: Create Pixel-Based Games with Bitsy
Led by Tammy DuPlantis, Computational Media Department, UC Santa Cruz
Online
Register for this Sept. 22 session

Make a game in an hour. This mini-game jam covers the basics of the free, online pixel-based game engine Bitsy. The session will include a brief overview of all the basic functions but largely be driven by your questions as you create your own simple games. We will also discuss the indie game dev community and resources for those interested in learning more.

Sept. 29, 2021
The Art (and Science) of Accessibility: How to Make the Scientific Process and Communication More Accessible Using Multimodal Approaches
Led by Sarmistha Talukdar, VCU Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Online
Register for this Sept. 29 session

Creating a culture of accessibility in the sciences helps in integrating researchers and students with disabilities from diverse backgrounds into the STEM fields. This talk briefly describes some of the ways to make science more accessible by use of multimodal approaches, merging some aspects of the arts, creating new ways of processing and presenting information such as data sonification, data visualization and tactile designing. These would make science not only more interesting but also more accessible to blind, deaf and neurodivergent people in science.

Oct. 6, 2021
Podcasting 101
VCU Writing Center
Online
Register for this Oct. 6 session

Ever wanted to make a podcast? Come and learn from the student staff who produce the Writing Center podcast series. This workshop covers the basics of podcasting: what it is, how to plan a podcast, how to record materials and how to edit using an online, collaborative web-based tool called SoundTrap.

Oct. 13, 2021
Making Electronic Music 101
Led by Eli Owens, VCU Alum
Online
Register for this Oct. 13 session

This introductory-level workshop is aimed at students who are curious about electronic music production but have not been able to dabble with confidence yet. The session covers a mix of different tools and workflows to make this process as accessible (and fun) as possible.

Oct. 27, 2021
Breaking Blender: Digging Deep into Open Source 3D Software
Led by Patrick Nugent, Villanova University
Online
Register for thisOct. 27 Session

This session covers the basics of the open-source 3D creation software Blender. The workshop is structured around an autopsy, in which participants will dig into the guts of a professional-grade project. This deep-dive into the backend paired with approachable explanations and guided instruction should be a useful exercise for both advanced and beginner users from all disciplines.

Nov. 3, 2021
Interactive Computer Art with Pure Data
Led by Joshua Hahn, VCU
Online
Register for this Nov. 3 sesison

Get creative with coding using Pure Data (Pd), an open-source visual programming language designed for musicians, visual artists and performers to create software without writing lines of code. This session walks participants through the basics of the software as they create their own interactive projects.

Nov. 10, 2021
Making Magic with micro:bits
Led by Oscar Keyes, The Workshop
Online and in person
Register for this Nov. 10 session

Ever wanted to turn fruit into a keyboard? What about a drawing into a game controller? micro:bit is a pocket-sized computer that allows you to create interactions between data inputs like light, sound, pressure, etc. and a computer across all types of software.

Nov. 17, 2021
Projection Mapping with VDMX
Led by Oscar Keyes, The Workshop
Online
Register for this Nov. 17 session

Projection mapping can be a powerful technique for transforming a space with visuals. VDMX is a tool used for live video performance that includes a range of effects to create interactive elements that can accompany live music or be used for standalone installations. This workshop walks through the basics of the software as well as tips and tricks for preparing for a live show.

Dec. 1, 2021
Collaborative Poetry with Google Docs
Led by Gregory Kimbrell and Oscar Keyes
Online
Register for this Dec. 1 session

Poetry is a time-honored tool for self-expression and experimenting with language. Take a break from exams and final projects and join in this collaborative poetry activity using Google Docs that guides participants in improvising and remixing a jointly written poem. It’s a great icebreaker for conversation and a jumpstart for creativity of all kinds. Things are likely to get surreal. No poetry expertise required.

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