Podcasts, gaming and more - reopening of the Karlsruhe City Media Center

The head of the Stadtmedienzentrum, Jan Hambsch, has been ensuring for some time that the services offered at the Stadtmedienzentrum Karlsruhe are even more innovative, diverse and future-oriented. Since the opening of the makerspaces, the facility now also offers technical equipment – and support of various kinds for schools and pupils in Karlsruhe. A wide variety of techniques and formats can be tried out in the makerspace.

Jan Hambsch and his team at the Stadtmedienzentrum Karlsruhe (SMZ) are working to improve the media education offer for pupils. To this end, many new learning elements have recently been created and new learning spaces have been set up on the SMZ premises.
The focus is always on participation and doing things yourself. Through practical experimentation and learning new technical possibilities, pupils acquire new skills while having fun, which optimally prepare them for dealing with a wide variety of media.

Podcast studio and green screen

From now on, you can record – and produce – your own podcasts in the media workshop at ‘s in-house podcast studio. And even a green screen has been installed. Scenes from film recordings in front of the green screen can be edited into any background in post-production. Hambsch explains what else is possible in the makerspaces : “We are constantly expanding our range of coding and small robots . For example, our drones can always be programmed on Fridays.”

Gaming and Coding School

Anyone interested in gaming will find a suitable offer at in the new Gaming School. There you can not only play together , there is also the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of game design, try your hand at augmented reality (virtual worlds) or take part in a collaborative construction game. If you would also like to learn what is behind the virtual worlds of games, websites and the like, can take part in the Coding School and the Technika Lab. Here you can work on your own technology and IT projects every Friday from 14:00 – 17:00. There is plenty of fischertechnik material available, so there are no limits to creativity.

World of technology: From T-shirts to 3D printing

“Pupils can also get creative at the sewing and embroidery machine, with T-shirt printing or with the foil plotter,” explains Hambsch.
The center also offers 3D printing, laser cutting and upcycling, for example, providing pupils with skills that are not only relevant in everyday school life, but also beyond.

Be quick with the vacation offers

This high-quality equipment is complemented by the technical expertise that the SMZ imparts to very different target groups . With its wide-ranging offer, the SMZ supports Karlsruhe schools in providing pupils with the most comprehensive and, above all, fun introduction to the world of technology and media.

The SMZ not only curates an ongoing varied program, but also creates seasonal workshops and hands-on activities to coincide with vacations and public holidays. These are always very popular, says Hambsch: “The offer for the carnival vacations is already fully booked. But there is also a lot on offer: from 3D printing to drone programming, but there is also a cosplay workshop and cosplay design workshop.”

Current offers

However, if you weren’t quick enough to secure a place at , you won’t have to wait too long. In addition to the regular offer, the next events are already being planned at . “On May 25, 2023, we will be represented at LEARNTEC with our Media Competence Day. The keynote speakers have already been confirmed. They include “Mr. Knowledge to go” and Björn Nolte from Berlin, digitalization professional and advocate of a new examination culture.” The SMZ will also be represented at Didacta in Stuttgart.

EducationNewsCast

Jan Hambsch also provides a deeper insight into what the Stadtmedienzentrum has to offer in the EducationNewsCast, . He talks to host Thomas Jenewein from SAP about acquisitions such as drones and Ipads, which are available for hire, how the SMZ is helping to make schools technically fit for future teaching tasks and about what might look like at some point – collaborative and very practical.