AADHum runs creative computing workshops at Bladensburg and Hyattsville Libraries

This past semester, AADHum has extended our partnership with the Hyattsville Branch Library and launched our partnership with the Bladensburg Branch Library. We have worked with their Teen Action Group, a community-based service learning program for Prince George’s County teens, to produce beginner-friendly creative computing workshops.

These workshops incorporate design, physical computing (basic electronics), and coding to teach students how to understand, build, and critique computing systems that they engage daily - especially their phones!

Based in humanities thinking, these workshops do not just teach students how to tinker, but also demonstrate how to relate tinkering to larger issues. So when they leave, the students connect their maker and crafting skills to economic difference, privacy, data, and environmentalism, amongst other larger issues.

Photo credit: Ana Martinez, Volunteers: Caleb Hurley, Lio Wu, Katelin Ten, Christin Washington

Our current program begins with a disassembled hydration monitor called H2Code that students devised to remind them to drink water. Students assemble and design the computing kit using touch capacitive fabric, coin cell batteries, a microcontroller, and paint. This assembly and design touches on the core components of our phones, time- and sensor-based notifications to prompt our attention, and the use of lithium batteries to power our devices. Each student leaves with a creative coding kit and resource sheet so they can continue to work with and innovate on what they have learned in the workshop.

Photo credit: Jehnae Linkins, Volunteers: Imani Finkley

We are growing a multidisciplinary team of volunteers to staff these workshops, drawing students from Computer Science, Engineering, English, and Linguistics. As we continue to grow, we look forward to expanding the subjects that we can offer - including an extended reality workshop for both the Teen Action Group and to students on campus next semester!

Photo credit: Jehnae Linkins, Volunteers: Jehnae Linkins, Sarah Scriven, Christin Washington, Ruka Ayele, Imani Finkley, Andrea Woguia Simo, Cassandra Hradil