VR Storytelling for Media Makers, Librarians & Educators

Learn the Basics of Virtual Reality Labs & VR Storytelling at the Public VR Lab in Brookline!

For decades, libraries, educators and community media centers have provided access to media-making tools, equipment, and offered media literacy, youth media, and storytelling programs, and facilitated community dialogue through local media, events, resources, and curriculum.

With new media tools emerging, how might we consider extending our nonprofit organization's mission of public access into virtual worlds and into new forms of media?

Well-designed immersive reality (VR, AR, 360, MR=XR) experiences can invoke a powerful sense of wonder, embodied cognition, and empathy, and often have a transformational effect on the viewer. Community media centers, libraries, and arts and cultural orgs across the country are learning about these new filmmaking techniques and using XR to create stories and 3D experiences, to train youth and adults, for local journalism, public safety and health, history, and on social issues. As a result, staff reports seeing new interest in their local storytelling, youth and media making programs, increased community engagement, and new members, volunteers, funders, and partners.

Learn steps to engage your community with Community XR and VR Storytelling! 

This workshop is ideal for library, school, arts or media center staff or community members who focus on production, youth media, journalism, and outreach/engagement, education programs, and will cover the following:

• Creating a framework for Community XR at your library, school, media, or arts center,

• The basics of VR filmmaking: What you need to know to begin creating content,

• Examples/use cases of immersive stories in XR,

• A few basic AR tools for fun,

• 360 Filmmaking: Understanding equirectangular & spatial computing,

• Hands-on exercises using the Nikon Keymission 360 cameras; capturing high-quality footage,

• Editing in 360 - learn a few simple basics to get started editing your videos, experimenting with text, transitions, etc.,

• Uploading 360 to the web,

• All participants will leave with ideas to implement in their community!