Area 49 offers a number of learning opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and classes. Check them out below!
Go to our Workshops and Events page to register and guarantee your spot for the trainings and workshops. If you haven't registered, feel free to show up for the session, and we'll get you in if space is available.
Our workshops and trainings are open to all current students, faculty, and staff, unless otherwise noted in the event description.
Don't see a scheduled training that works for you? Contact us at atkinsarea49@charlotte.edu and we'll set something up. Send us some times you're available. We may need up to a week's notice.
We also have an opportunity available for you to develop a workshop, event, lecture, or other program related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and creativity, innovation, and emerging technologies. If you are interested, take a look at the information in the Area 49 DEIA Programming Series drop-down below.
Content: Learn to set your own prints on the 3D printers.
Location: Makerspace, Atkins 223
You’ll Learn:
- How to use Cura software to set up your file for printing.
- How to set up the 3D printer including change filament colors and adjusting settings.
To get a training, go to our Workshops and Events page.
Content: Learn to cut and engrave materials using the laser cutter.
Location: Makerspace, Atkins 223
You’ll Learn:
- How to set up a file in Adobe Illustrator that can be engraved or cut into a list of approved materials.
- How to run the laser cutter and adjust setting to work best with your design.
To get a training, go to our Workshops and Events page.
Content: Learn to carve materials using the Carvey CNC Router
Location: Makerspace, Atkins 223
You’ll Learn:
- How to use Easel Inventables software to set up a file that can be engraved or cut into a list of approved materials.
- How to change bits and secure your materials in the Carvey CNC Router.
To get a training, go to our Workshops and Events page.
Content: Learn to use the equipment in the Visualization Lab, including the HTC Vive virtual reality system.
Location: Visualization Lab, Atkins 244
You’ll Learn:
- How to operate the lights, projectors, Smartboard, and VR headset in the room.
- You’ll have a chance to get into the VR headset if you’d like.
To get a training, go to our Workshops and Events page.
Content: Learn how to construct your first design for 3D printing using TinkerCad (a drag-and-drop program).
Location: Makerspace, Atkins 223
Bring with you: Your laptop
You’ll Learn:
- How to drag and drop, resize, and combine shapes in TinkerCad.
- How to bring in your own image file.
- Things to consider so your design can work for 3D printing.
To find workshops, go to our Workshops and Events page.
Call for Program Leaders
Do you want to lead a workshop, event, lecture, or other program to help others understand more about the connections between Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and creativity, innovation, and emerging technologies? Area 49 can help you facilitate it!
Our world is seeing an increase in innovation, but DEIA is seldom the focus of these projects. In order to highlight diverse approaches and cultural perspectives within technology and making, Area 49, Atkins Library’s collection of innovation spaces, is calling for anyone interested in hosting DEIA-focused programming in Area 49.
Programs can be led by anyone in the university or community, including students, student groups, staff, faculty, researchers, and community members or groups, and the program can be a workshop, event, lecture, or anything we can accommodate in our spaces. We can work with you to figure out how your idea will work best within the spaces, and even if your idea is not fully formed, we would welcome the chance to work with you to develop it. If you have an idea for programming that expands the notion of what it means to engage with technology or making in more inclusive or culturally-relevant ways, we’d love to hear it.
Potential focal points could include, but are not limited to:
- Culturally-specific making
- DEIA in data and visualizations
- Accessibility in visual design, making, or gaming
- Identity and representation in innovation and design
- Any combination of DEIA and emerging technologies or making
Area 49 can facilitate programming for technologies including, but not limited to:
- Low-tech making (crafting, DIY, sewing, and more)
- High-tech making (3D printing, laser cutting, and more)
- Video creation (one-button studio, green screen technology, filming, editing)
- Gaming (console, PC, and VR gaming; limited AR tech; game design)
- Multimedia creating and editing (including 3D modeling)
- Data visualization
For more information on Area 49 spaces and services, visit area49.charlotte.edu.
Please fill out the form with your idea, and we’ll get back to you soon.
Link to form: bit.ly/A49DEIAprogramming
Check out the webpage for this initiative at https://guides.library.charlotte.edu/area49/DEIAseries
Content: Learn to create a video podcast in the EZ Video Studio.
Location: EZ Video Studio, Atkins 242
You’ll Learn:
- How to use the room’s built-in recording system.
- How to use Adobe Premiere Pro CC to edit your recording.
Content: Learn the basics of DSLR photography.
Location: EZ Video Studio, Atkins 242
Bring with you: Your laptop
Classes
Instructors, if you would like to request an Area 49 session for your class, or even if you would just like to discuss possibilities, please email atkinsarea49@charlotte.edu.
We can collaborate to develop workshops and activities that align with your course’s goals and will help your students think about topics in new ways. Possible focal points include:
- Design thinking
- Critical thinking
- The basics of digital scholarship
- Collaboration
- Making or Makerspace use
- Video development
- Developing unconventional projects
Let us know if you have ideas or if you’d like to start developing something with us!