Educational tracks for over 10,000 young men in women over two years with Google
From digital manufacturing to enterprise innovation, from gaming to immersive reality: these are the four didactic areas addressed by the “Officina” New Jobs Workshop, a free educational project started by Google and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale to promote digital skills and implement activities aimed at providing training and professional orientation for youth.
The courses will be held at the Rome Città Educativa on via del Quadraro 102. Interested participants can apply by completing the on-line application form: www.mondodigitale.org/call4youth.
The laboratories are designed for young men and women aged 15-29 and priority is given to youth who are neither studying nor working.
Educational Programme
The Officina provides four didactic areas that are already active:
- Fab Lab: learn to use a laser cutter, 3D printer and other typical fab lab tools
- Video Lab: video making with 3D animation and visual effects
- Game Lab: game development and interactive storytelling
- Immersive Lab: immersive technology and augmented reality
Each educational track also includes leadership, team building and motivational activities.
Participants can select one of two types of tracks, each of which last one week:
- ALL4ALL TRACK: all available tracks for one week (Monday – Friday) for a total of 22 hours (4 hours motivational courses, 4 ours in each of the tracks and 2 hours final re-evaluation). Participants attend a new track each day to complete the full immersion course in new emerging digital technologies.
- ONE4ONE TRACK: participants attend one track for one week (Monday – Friday) for a total of 22 hours (4 hours motivational courses, 16 hours selected track and 2 hours final re-evaluation).
TRACKS AND LABS
WELCOME AND SELF-AWARENESS LAB (4 hours)
Exercises, group work and tests to learn how to control one’s “interior barometer” to become aware of oneself and the challenges posed by today’s complex society. Strategies address the stimulation of an open mind and life skill exercises, etc.
Travel tips – individual tools for a guided observation of an experience: challenges, life skills, etc.
FAB LAB
Digital manufacturing lab based on MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms.
- ALL4ALL Track (4 hours)
Brief introduction to digital manufacturing, rapid prototyping and the main digital manufacturing tools; manufacture of a small object. - ONE4ONE Track (16 hours)
Introduction to digital manufacturing and rapid prototyping; description and operation of the main digital manufacturing tools (3D printers, laser cutters, plotters, milling machines, etc.).
Practical labs focusing on two devices in which small groups devise a product, design it and plan its manufacture: 3D Printer (brief history, overview of models, operation, software), Laser Cutter (how it works, characteristics, 2D drawing software, cutting exercises)
GAME LAB
Equipped area for introduction to digital entertainment: programming, game design, graphics and management.
- ALL4ALL Track (4 hours)
Game micro-sessions to understand styles and genres; overview of various skills and professions involved in the development of Games; Coding. - ONE4ONE Track (16 hours)
Analysis of styles and genres via games sessions; Professional game development processes and introduction to main development software.
The track includes methodologies and pre-production, prototyping and final product analysis techniques, as well as creative exercises. The aim of the laboratory is to develop the participants’ ability to produce videogames with particular attention to two professional profiles: game designer and game programmer. Small groups will design and develop a game prototype via all the implementation phases.
IMMERSIVE LAB
This is an innovative laboratory that introduces participants to discover immersive technology and augmented reality.
- ALL4ALL Track (4 hours)
Game micro-sessions to understand games and immersive reality; overview of competences and professions involved in interactive game development. - ONE4ONE Track (16 hours)
Brief interactive experience sessions (videogames) and immersive reality (virtual reality); overview of professional game development processes and main development software; methodologies and pre-production, prototyping and final product analysis techniques; analysis of psychological and sensorial concept of immersion; interactive storytelling concepts.
Small groups design and develop an interactive product via all the implementation phases.
VIDEO LAB
Digital entertainment with special effects… Discover the secrets of 3D animation.
- ALL4ALL Track (4 hours)
Selection of movie scenes with visual effects and brief demonstration of the techniques used to produce them; overview of professional competences. - ONE4ONE Track (16 hours)
Introduction to professional process for the creation of visual effects and 3D animation for movies, advertising and videogames (technological process and professional figures) and to main development software; methodologies and pre-production, prototyping and compositing techniques; project management, agile development and rapid prototyping.
Small groups design and develop a video product via all the implementation phases.
All laboratories include a teaching/learning modality (lecture, stand-up, engagement, interactive, training, learn by doing) and specific training to improve self-learning skills.
JOB DIARY (2 hours)
Practical guide for the development of a personal project to actively look for work; Post-track tools to organise and develop an individual project: what am I looking for, what do I want to become, how to accomplish my project, work offer, insertion, job search channels, my network, selecting work information channels, company archives, activity info-sheets, appointments agenda.