In just two semesters, students in the Digital iCreation in the Context of Community course (AKA Digital Content Creation for Communities), have served a total of 9 community organizations. This is the iSchool course that takes on actual information needs that can be addressed through digital media. The organizations served last semester included the North Side Learning Center (NSLC), The Determination Center, and the Brady Faith Center. The application level course takes place in the new Innovation Studio on the basement level of Hinds Hall. With start-up funding from the Imagining America Foundation, this project brings a unique opportunity to both students and partnering community organizations.

Guided by media producer and iSchool professor Dr. Marilyn Arnone, student teams learn and apply digital/technology, information, and visual literacy theory and skills to address information gaps that have been identified by participating community organizations. The students plan, research, design, and create solutions that incorporate digital video, text, and web-based media.

Community organizations with few resources to produce their own digital media work with students to identify and solve specific information needs. While some of the community organizations already have their own web site,  the Digital iCreation web site hosts some of the individual organizations’ sites and offers a way to distribute their information to others. The course and site are designed to encourage scholarship in action through service to the community. Due to the studio nature of the course, enrollment is limited.