pdxOpenTech was a grant-funded initiative that got started in response to the pandemic-induced closure of physical maker-spaces & community programming around Portland (including my own). I served as coordinator for the project & web-master for the site – managing the back-end, personnel, equipment, infrastructure, & scheduling.
pdxOpenTech seeks to develop courses that explore emerging tech through creative applications and in the context of various equity frameworks.
A diverse range of instructors and creatives are employed to generate curriculum and hold free workshops with under-served middle and high-school students recruited through community partners. Students were provided with preloaded computers, tech support, and mentorship. We focus on free software tools so that students can continue learning and creating, even after the workshops end.
Current and developing workshops include:
- AI & Machine Learning
- Sound Design with Max/MSP
- Live coding in TidalCycles
- Worldbuilding in Scratch
- Worldbuilding in Unity
- AR Activism
- 2D Game Design
- BorderXR
- 360 Video
- Afrofuturism
- Blender Foundations
- Paper Circuits + Zines
- Data & Representation
Many live digital workshops were developed into asynchronous online workshops and posted publicly for anyone to explore. Full-length course equivalent online classes were also being developed to parallel Portland Community College’s Creative Coding, Sonic Arts, & Multimedia curriculum prior to the grant’s end. Not shown on the site are the in-person 2021 community classes focusing on Music and Electronics.
Our hope is that we can still provide robust and accessible educational content and training for Oregon educators (& beyond) who want to lead STEAM workshops in their own classes or communities.
Check out our mention in Technology Association of Oregon’s #STEMSpotlight campaign.