Everyone has a story—how will you tell yours? The OSC Digital Storytelling Lab is designed for creators, learners, and digital media enthusiasts eager to explore digital storytelling in various formats. Each event combines inspiring presentations with hands-on workshops to ignite and develop your creative and professional projects. Additionally, we’ll offer advanced sessions in the Spring Quarter to strengthen participants’ skills and support their ongoing creative work.
Participants who attend multiple sessions across the Winter and Spring sessions have opportunities to:
- Showcase their work on the OSC’s digital screens and digital exhibits.
- Present at our Digital Media Festival at the end of the Spring Quarter.
Participants who attend at least one presentation or workshop over both quarters will receive an OSC Digital Storyteller Certificate (click here to apply). Recipients are highly encouraged to present at the Digital Media Festival, though participation is not required.
Workshops & Events:
Hacking the Academy – Fireside Chat with Professor Emily M. Bender (Hybrid)
Monday, February 10, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
In-person Registration – OSC Presentation Space
Join us for a fireside chat with Professor Emily M. Bender as she discusses the creation of her podcast, “Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000” with Dr. Alex Hanna. Discover the process behind producing a podcast that critically explores AI and its societal impact, all while engaging listeners in accessible, thought-provoking conversations. Learn how Professor Bender uses podcasting to demystify AI and challenge the hype surrounding emerging technologies as she takes us behind the scenes of her podcasting journey. Don’t miss this chance to ask questions and gain valuable insights into the world of podcasting and public scholarship. This presentation is part of the OSC Digital Storytelling Lab.
Listen to Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
Professor Bender and Dr. Hanna’s upcoming book, The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want, is available for pre-order today! “A smart, incisive look at the technologies sold as artificial intelligence, the drawbacks and pitfalls of technology sold under this banner, and why it’s crucial to recognize the many ways in which AI hype covers for a small set of power-hungry actors at work and in the world.”
Introduction to Podcasting Workshop (Online)
Tuesday, February 18, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Curious about starting a podcast? Join us for Introduction to Podcasting at the UW Open Scholarship Commons! In this online workshop, you’ll create a podcast intro, share and listen to others’ projects in a supportive environment, and learn practical tips for recording high-quality audio. Gain hands-on experience editing tracks in Audacity, and explore important topics like accessibility, preservation, open access, and digital safety. This workshop is part of the OSC Digital Storytelling Lab.
In this online workshop, you will:
- Produce an introduction for your dream podcast or for an imaginary one.
- Listen to the podcast introductions of others in the workshop in a kind, supportive, growth-mindset environment.
- Learn some level-up tricks for getting good voice/sound recordings.
- Practice editing 5+ tracks in the sound-editing software Audacity.
- Learn about the importance of accessibility, preservation, open access, and digital safety.
This workshop requires the completion of a pre-workshop assignment. This assignment shouldn’t take more than 2 hours.
Automated captioning will be provided for all online large-group sessions. The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: 206.543.6450/V, 206.543.6452/TTY, 206.685.7264 (FAX), or e-mail at [email protected].
Playing Pedagogy – Digital Games and Storytelling in the Classroom (Hybrid)
Wednesday, February 26, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
In-person Registration – OSC Presentation Space
Unlock the power of gaming as a pedagogical tool in this exciting panel discussion, part of the OSC Digital Storytelling Lab! Join students using gaming in their assignments to enhance learning experiences alongside early-career professionals bringing these innovative methods into the job market. Together, they’ll share how gaming is reshaping education, the challenges they face, and the future of gaming in teaching and professional development. Don’t miss this chance to explore the intersection of gaming, storytelling, and education! This presentation is part of the OSC Digital Storytelling Lab.
Twine for Beginners: Interactive, Game & Text-Based Storytelling Workshop (Online)
Thursday, February 27, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Can you type? Do you have access to a browser? Then you can make and share imaginative, branching stories in Twine, without knowing a word of code. Twine is an open-source, free tool for telling interactive, non-linear, text-based stories/ games. It lends itself to fictional storytelling, to critiquing and challenging narratives, and to making new narratives of your own. It is an excellent platform for communal learning/ play and for public scholarship. This presentation is part of the OSC Digital Storytelling Lab.
In this hour-long hands-on, online tutorial, you’ll learn the basic mechanics of Twine: 1) how to create your first, simple story (we’ll provide the text, so you can concentrate on the mechanics) by 2) creating scenes and 3) creating branching paths for differing outcomes; and 4) how to edit, save, and share your story. If there’s time, we’ll discuss basic styling.
Join us for Part II: Styling for Aesthetics & Meaning.
This workshop will teach you how to add style and complexity to your basic story using CSS styling, game elements like timers and scores, and sound and images. Bring your own narrative.
Accessible Captions and Transcripts for Digital Storytelling (In-person)
Tuesday, March 4, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
In-Person Registration – OSC Presentation Space
For faculty, students, and digital creators, designing accessible content is essential for reaching all audiences—join our workshop on writing captions and transcripts for digital storytelling and video creation! We’ll explore best practices based on WCAG 2.1AA and DOJ ADA Title II guidelines, teaching you how to craft accurate, clear captions and transcripts that enhance accessibility on your digital projects. You’ll also get hands-on demonstrations and experience testing tools to simplify the process, ensuring your content is inclusive and engaging for everyone. Whether you’re new to accessibility or looking to sharpen your skills, this workshop will provide the tools you need to make your content truly accessible. This presentation is part of the OSC Digital Storytelling Lab.
Can I Steal That?* Thinking Through Responsible Reuse (Online)
Wednesday, February 19, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 932 4316 7576
Passcode: 806164
*The Libraries discourage stealing, and beyond that, we can’t offer you any legal advice. However, art and scholarship are built on the innovations of those who came before us, and there are many ways to responsibly integrate other people’s work into your own projects. In this workshop, we will introduce you to the legal, professional, and ethical frameworks you’ll need to navigate when thinking through whether and how to reuse third-party materials. Bring your own object to research during the workshop. This presentation is part of the OSC Digital Storytelling Lab.
Introduction to Video Production for Digital Storytelling (In-person)
Thursday, February 20, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
In-person Registration – OSC Presentation Space
Curious about making videos? Ever wanted to showcase your research to the wider public through YouTube? Join us for Introduction to Video Making at the UW Open Scholarship Commons! This workshop will discuss storytelling, storyboarding, and editing your videos to showcase your digital story. Gain hands-on experience using video editing tools, tips, and level-ups to create videos that grab the audience’s attention and effectively share your ideas and personality. This presentation is part of the OSC Digital Storytelling Lab.
In this online workshop, you will:
- Produce a quick 2-3 minute video intro for a dream video series or an imaginary one
- Learn how to use a handful of video editing tools (including organizing clips, adding music, adding segments from other videos, creating voice overs, transitions, and more)
- Discussions about what makes a good story and video
- Develop a narrative script that reflects your experiences as a researcher
- Learn about the importance of accessibility, fair use, preservation, open access, and digital safety.
This workshop requires the completion of a pre-workshop assignment. This assignment shouldn’t take more than 2 hours.
Exploring Digital Storytelling: A Personal Journey (In-person)
Wednesday, February 19, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
In-person Registration – OSC Presentation Space
Join Yasi Naraghi as she shares her journey into video making and reflects on her exploration of visual storytelling. In this session, Yasi will share her work and highlight how digital storytelling is an accessible and powerful tool for anyone looking to convey ideas, experiences, and narratives through video making, regardless of their field or expertise. Yasi will discuss her experience translating complex ideas into compelling visual narratives. This event is an opportunity for participants to learn how digital storytelling can serve as a bridge to new forms of knowledge, communication, and engagement, encouraging everyone to experiment with the potential of video as a storytelling medium.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking for inspiration, this presentation will show that digital storytelling is a versatile, approachable tool for any storyteller—regardless of your discipline or experience. Scholars, researchers, artists, or those interested in exploring different methods of creative expression will discover how digital storytelling can be an enriching and inclusive avenue for communication. Come explore how the world of digital media is open to everyone and discover the creative possibilities waiting for you!
Presenter Bio: Yasi Naraghi received her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature (Theory and Criticism) from the University of Washington in 2018. Titled A Natural History of Genius: Aesthetics, Ethics, and Totalitarianism, her project thinks through the concept of the genius as an ambivalent figure that is revised in the late 18th to denote a singular man; arguing that this re-conceptualization of genius sets up systems of knowledge whose logic inevitably promotes a movement towards nationalism and further into totalitarianism. She currently works at the Simpson Center for the Humanities. She also has a background in photography and is interested in visual storytelling.