In this interactive live series (online on zoom), we will provide a framework for creating engaging and accessible community engagement programs for families. The framework outlines ways in which The GIANT Room partners with librarians to bring community publication programs into libraries through “Remix Publication Stations” as well as in-person family STEM workshops. GIANT Remix is a new program funded by the CT State Library, DLD, for local libraries through which families will be given “creative missions” to contribute writings, illustrations, and ideas to “community books” and “trading cards” throughout the year.

Select libraries from those registered for the workshops will receive 5 copies of the final book publications and trading cards to add to their library collection as well as a link to the e-book publication which families could access free of charge at home. This is a wonderful program for your community to gain a sense of belonging to their local library, keep coming back to the library to make more publications and read their books, and invite other families to join the program. 

In our pilot program last year in partnership with Killingly Public Library, Ansonia Library, Bristol Public Library, Granby Public Library, Warwick Public Library and Tiverton Public Library, hundreds of families joined our live events as well as Remix stations in libraries and published a halloween-themed book inspired by Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s I Used To Be Afraid, a DNA-themed book and trading cards inspired by Rajani LaRocca’s The Secret Code Inside You, a winter-themed storybook inspired by Jean Gourounas’ Something’s Fishy, a nonfiction zine about penguin facts inspired by Antoinette Portis’ A Penguin Story, an epic space-themed storybook, an underwater-themed storytelling game, and even a collectible deck of trading cards inspired by hatching Easter eggs! 

Watch this presentation to learn more about our pilot program last year and how it helped librarians to create truly engaging community programs. 

This session is one of the three sessions as part of The GIANT Room professional development for the Remix program. Librarians are encouraged to join all three sessions - we will share recordings of the sessions with those who register for the workshop in case you cannot join the live session.

Key take-aways:

• Participating librarians will have a chance to brainstorm on the themes for GIANT Remix stations to better align with their library programs such as monthly themes, summer reading, holidays, visiting author book readings, and more. 
• Participating librarians will be introduced to AI tools that make these community publications possible. Expect fun and interactive activities using AI to bring your ideas to life. These activities are designed to help librarians work with creative AI tools in a very engaging and accessible way. 
• Participating librarians will be considered to be chosen as one of the stations that receives GIANT Remix Stations and Family Events, free of charge, in their libraries.  

Join us to brainstorm, learn, and dream the next series of community publications for your library! 

Presenter: 

The GIANT Room 

The GIANT Room is a creative co-design lab that provides opportunities for children, families, and educators to collaborate, co-design, and co-publish books and games they can read and play with their friends and family. We also partner with libraries to plan and implement engaging family workshops which incorporate creative STEM, art, book reading, and writing activities. 

Azadeh Jamalian, PhD (she/her) 

Azadeh Jamalian, is founder and CEO of The GIANT Room, helping the next generation of creatives and inventors to think big and act on their most ambitious ideas. Jamalian is a TED speaker, former head of education strategy at littleBits, and co-founder of Tiggly. She has a proven record of designing learning products and programs that millions of children have engaged with, and thousands of schools have implemented in their programs. Through her work at The GIANT Room, they have provided creative STEM programs to more than 140,000 families in person and online, and through their partnership with more than 4000 schools, museums, libraries, and cultural organizations such as TED Ed and Joan Ganz Cooney Center. She has a PhD in cognitive studies in education from Teachers College, and has publications on a broad range of topics such as designing learning platforms for children, emerging educational tech, game design, mathematical education, and cognition.

Maria Eugenia Segovia (she/her)

Maria Eugenia (Maru) Segovia Siller graduated from the University of Monterrey (UDEM) with a Bachelor's of Education in 2015. After working for two years at the American School Foundation of Monterrey, she decided to pursue her Master of Neuroscience and Education at Teachers College — Columbia University. Once graduated, she joined The GIANT Room, an NYC based STEM + Arts Innovation Hub for children, as a Creative Tech Resident in mid 2020. She is now Executive Director of Instructional Design at the company. She uses her background in education and neuroscience to develop engaging STEM-based programming for children ages 3-12 years old.

Rebecca Schifilliti (she/her)

Rebecca Schifilliti is the Director of Product at The GIANT Room, where she has written hundreds of creative STEM programs, created over 550 educational videos about a range of STEAM (STEM+Arts) topics and experts in the field, and co-designed more than 800 books, trading cards, games, and comics with kids. A classically-trained musician, Rebecca founded two music education organizations, Art Beyond the Ink and MUSES: Music for Extraordinary Students, which taught instrumental music, music theory, and musical storytelling to children across NYC. She holds a Bachelor’s of Music and a Master’s in Arts Entrepreneurship from The New School.

Recording and Slides:

This program is being recorded and a link to the recording will be posted on the GIANT Room libguide. (Please allow up to five business days for availability.)

Who Should Come?

Perfect for anyone who would like to bring a new and fresh community program into their local library with a focus on energizing and engaging families with children 3 to 12 years old. Consider attending if you are a library director, department head, librarians, library staff, or plan to do any type of outreach in your community.

Accessibility 

This webinar will be captioned. If you require another access service to participate fully, please use the Accommodation Request Form at least 7 days prior to the event.