Library Re-Opens Digikidz Media Lab

PHILIPSBURG—The Philipsburg Jubillee Library re-opened their multimedia workshops in the DigiKidz Media Lab last week Thursday, August 14, 2014. The Media lab, officially opened on April 17, is a newly built space in the library’s reading room, equipped with modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) equipment. This program was designed especially for courses in digital multimedia, where children and adults can learn how to use computers, using new media technology as a tool of expression. Earlier this year, approximately 600 students from schools all over the island visited the medialab. The students were taught how to make animations, quizzes and creative presentations by the following teachers: Minne Belger, Niels Hoebers, Ilse Godtschalk and Georgiane Henriquez.

This month, Peter Kleijn, will be conducting workshops in short film, in the style of a movie trailer. A follow-up workshop will be taking place this week in news broadcasting using green screen. In September, visiting teacher, Marja Hedemans, will be teaching participants how to make interactive comics, music and games, by using a programming language, called Scratch. There will be medialab workshops teaching participants how to make an animated film or cartoon, using clay objects. These are just some of the medialab courses which will be offered at the Library throughout the year.

The medialab sessions are open to people of all ages and will be held on Tuesday afternoons in the Library from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm. The courses are free for children and teachers. Persons age 18 and over pay a contribution of $ 5 at the start of the workshop. For more information about the courses and to enroll in any of the classes, visit the medialab website on www.medialabsintmaarten.com or call Joy Lambert at the library on 542 2970.

The medialab project is an initiative from Foundation Kultuurkameleon. The Digikidz project was made possible through funding from the Windsong Foundation and the Kultura fund. Digikidz is a project from the Foresee foundation.