Train the Trainer: The Science of Light

Along with our colleagues at ASSET STEM Education, we recently hosted a two-day train-the-trainer workshop for members of our Satellite Network around the principles of photography and its use in the classroom, particularly through the lens of social impact.

Participants kicked off the workshop building a pinhole camera, and concluded it putting together a digital camera. (see full workshop schedule below)


The goals of the workshop:

  • Deepen understanding of photography fundamentals, to anchor and enhance the GigaPan outreach and support provided by CREATE Lab Satellites.
  • Hands-on consideration of the Bigshot camera kit as a Satellite Network wide offering within a context of community empowerment. 


Below are testimonials from workshop participants. The accompanying photographs were taken with Bigshot cameras, which participants assembled and experimented with during the second day of the workshop.

"The workshop has been a lot of fun. It was really helpful to begin with photographic history and move through different techniques, tools and concepts. I learned a lot about how modern cameras work through examining older methods of photography. This is definitely something I can share with my colleagues and students."

Kris Hupp
Cornell School District
21st Century Teaching & Learning Coach

"Thank you for the last two days.  I have truly enjoyed learning more about the technical side of photography."

Deb Spencer
Manager of Professional Development
ASSET STEM Education

"Going through that training, it's much easier for me to see how to help others with little to no experience with photography, as I had. I have a better understanding of exposure and focus and what it means and how its used after the big shot session and its easily expanded into gigapan. It was a great session!"

Carrie-Meghan Quick-Blanco
Language/International Studies Specialist
Marshall University

"This picture was taken during our training on the BigShot camera. The session provided an interactive experience that encouraged individual creativity and voice!"

Renee Graham
Research and Development Manager
ASSET STEM Education

"The most engaging part of the workshop for me was when we had to think about harnessing photography as a tool towards making folks aware/educating about a specific social justice issue, and then actually capturing a few images with the BigShot camera towards that end. This took on the flavor of a "project" and strengthened my belief in the power of photography, especially in the hands of students."

Jim Rye
Professor, Curriculum and Instruction/Literacy Studies
West Virginia University

"This workshop was a wonderful resource for new techniques and methods for using photography in a classroom."

Rachel Shipley
Artist Educator Fellow
West Liberty University 

"The impact that art can have on society is not something I have ever thought about, and I now realize its power. The potential these materials have for out of school time is something I want to explore.  I am looking forward to working with and using the resources provided. Thank you for this experience."

Lisa Callender
Professional Development Manager
ASSET STEM Education 

"I loved the opportunity to build a kit-based digital camera and I’m sure the Bigshot will be a great resource for kids to learn more about photography. I also appreciated the examples of photography and image-making for social impact projects. All in all, a very valuable workshop. Thank you!"

Mac Howison
Senior Program Officer for Catalytic Funding
The Sprout Fund


Workshop Schedule

Train the Trainer: Make it Move

The CREATE Lab Satellite Network gathered at the Center for Arts and Education, home of our West Liberty University Satellite, to share two best practices:

Arts and Bots training developed and offered by Lori Maxfield of our Carlow Satellite in collaboration with Yvonne Ng of Engineer's Playground.  The program explores a progression from hand powered mechanisms to robots, while considering - and clarifying - concepts of engineering, design, electric circuits and programming. 

New maker-space at the Center for Arts and Education, a flexible learning environment put together by Lou Karas, the center's director. We explored it in the best possible way - by learning and making in it. 



Here are some testimonials from the event:

About the Workshop

"This workshop really helped me get a better understanding of how Arts & Bots fits into the larger context of an engineering curriculum. Now I feel a little more able to train people on Arts & Bots, not in the abstract, but with the broader picture in mind. I also think learning some nuts and bolts about engineering makes the general subject a little less intimidating for people, which in itself can be really empowering!"

"The session highlighted connection between different aspects of technological fluency: the engineered artistic design and the computer programming behind it. Incorporating this into trainings will be a powerful motivator to learn more about programming and computer science."

"The session gave Arts and Bots a context. All of the activities leading up to the creation of the robot were both foundational and engaging."



About the Space

"The space was fantastic. I did not have a single creative idea that could not be brought to fruition with the materials provided, many of which led to even more creative ideas! It's a very welcoming and functional space."

"It was a pleasure to work in an environment where a variety of tools and materials are readily available, organized and accessible - finding them does not slow the flow of making."

"The Make Shop space will be a real asset to the Education Department. Not only will it provide a perfect space to meet faculty and students creative needs, It will be a great facility for teacher training, for families and visiting public school children."

"best part of the training for me, very inspiring but it was torture to sit there and not put my hands on all the cool materials and make stuff as soon as i walked in!"


About the Event

"Face to face time with other Satellite Network members was important and we should use all the time we can get for those kinds of activities."

"We got to include pre-service teachers which is important as the next generation going into the classroom they are on the cutting edge."