Do It Yourself – Creation Suites

Are you struggling to get students to move beyond passive learning and demonstrate their knowledge through creative application? Our Creation Suites offer a digital makerspace informed by a strong do-it-yourself philosophy.

Students and instructors can access resources for XR project development and digital media creation. These are the resources you need to produce high-quality assets—from podcasts and 3D models to immersive prototypes—that transform abstract theory into portfolio-ready content. Instructors can also use this space to record and produce content for their courses.

With over five decades of combined experience in media, XR and pedagogical support, our team is here to guide and consult with you. All consultations are by appointment only—please book in advance using our request forms.

Tutorial videos and other resources are available on the TLS Mediaspace channel.

Looking for inspiration? Below you’ll find examples of how some instructors at Carleton have leveraged the Creation Suites in their courses.

Vincent Andrisani: The Place of Sound – Fostering Critical Listening

Prof. Vincent Andrisani sought to foster a hands-on, “listening-centered” approach where students could move beyond early experiments to produce high-quality, professional sound work. Sustaining his project, The Place of Sound, required a reliable environment that balanced technical precision with room for creative exploration. 

By integrating the Creation Suites into his curriculum, Andrisani provided students with a professional recording environment and steady technical support. This access ensures the technical consistency the show depends on while allowing students the freedom to take creative risks. The suites have become essential for developing student confidence, teaching them to engage both critically and creatively with sound as they move from early trials to polished, thoughtful productions.

Peggy Hartwick: Digital Storytelling – Language Theory Application Through Creation

Peggy Hartwick faced a key teaching challenge in her grad-level second language acquisition course: making dense theory relevant and ensuring students read the theory critically and applied it to experiences. To move beyond the traditional essay format, she integrated the digital storytelling framework supported by the Experiential Learning Hub.

Her students used Creation Suites equipment to produce ePortfolio projects showcasing their experience using language learning apps (like Duolingo). The measured outcome was not just practice but having students demonstrate a solid understanding of theory as they explained their language learning journey. This use of the Creation Suites provided the crucial hands-on space for students to synthesize their learning in a creative format, fostering curiosity and achieving explicit theoretical connections.

Shawn Kenny: Precision Documentation for Heritage Conservation

Shawn Kenny faced the teaching challenge of ensuring students could perform professional-grade heritage documentation for their fourth-year capstone design project. Students leading the Pinhey’s Point Heritage Conservation Project needed specialized software and support to create a foundational 3D photogrammetric model of the Manor House. Using the Creation Suites, they were able to achieve professional precision in their real-world conservation planning.

See the team’s models below: