Workshops

Data play a growing role in our society; humans and machines generate more and more data that are stored better and are more often available. This data supply, combined with innovative research methods offers fascinating possibilities for researchers and students. Utrecht Data School (UDS) is a research platform and a course that offers an inside in the possibilities and the risks of data research.

UDS brings together students and researchers from different disciplines, experts in the field of data analysis and speakers from different organizations where data practices play a role. By doing so, we try to show the different sides of working with data and allow students to learn from these disciplines. You experience what it’s like to work on data projects and learn based on practical examples how to reflect on the decisions they face in your own research.

During the UDS Practicum I, you are trained to work with the latest tools for data research. In ten weeks, you are trained to work with these tools, reflect critically on data practices and make analyses and visualizations. During the course, you work on a portfolio that demonstrates their data skills. 

After completing the UDS Practicum I, you can follow UDS Practicum II. 

Data play a growing role in our society; humans and machines generate more and more data that are stored better and are more often available. This data supply, combined with innovative research methods offers fascinating possibilities for researchers and students. Utrecht Data School (UDS) is a research platform and a course that offers an inside in the possibilities and the risks of data research.

UDS brings together students and researchers from different disciplines, experts in the field of data analysis and speakers from different organizations where data practices play a role. By doing so, we try to show the different sides of working with data and allow you to learn from these disciplines. Furthermore, you experience what it’s like to work on data projects and learn based on practical examples how to reflect on the decisions you face in your own research.

In UDS Practicum II, you learn to set up a data project of your own. This second Practicum introduces a few new skills (network analysis, text analysis) and asks you to apply the skills from Practicum I. Practicum I is required for participation of Practicum II.

Please note that the set-up of this course Interactive Storytelling has changed compared to the original course description, partly due to the new reality of teaching in Corona times. The focus of this course, is not on creating interactive work but on curating interactive work, that is scouting and selecting interactive art works and thinking about how to present these in a meaningful way in the form of an exhibition or program.

We are very happy that this course will be taught by Paulien Dresscher, an independent curator, advisor, and researcher in arts, culture, and digital media. Currently, she develops and curates the Interactive program of the Nederlands Film Festival and the art program of Into The Great Wide Open. http://www.dresscher.nl

In this course, you will work together in editorial teams and develop a concept for an exhibition about Interactive Storytelling. You will learn more about interactive storytelling, more specifically about the question of how to program and present interactive works (also called “curation”), which is very different from how one would program and present movies or performances. This question of how to curate interactive storytelling is approached in a practical and hands-on manner, allowing you to develop important professional skills that are useful in the field of media and art. You will also be introduced to and work with several online tools such as https://miro.com, and https://slack.com.

At the same time, through the practical work, you will also deepen your theoretical understanding of interactive storytelling, touching on concepts such as interactivity within cultural and artistic technologie; the changing roles of the audience as a possible participant or agent and the changing notion of the platform as a physical and non-physical location.

Part of the course will also consist of visiting exhibitions and studio’s (if regulations allow), meeting artists and designers (online), doing online and literature research, discussing works, and writing exercises. 

The Workshop Audiovisual Media offers you the opportunity to use your research skills and media studies knowledge for the development of an audiovisual product. The professor determines the theme for the assignment to guarantee that the content is consistent with the themes and research areas of the Department of Media and Culture Studies.

In the Workshop Audiovisual media, you practice skills which are important in the creation of an audiovisual product: research, concept development, script writing, camera work, sound and lighting technology and editing.

In a team, you first produce a short leader based on your own script and soundtrack of your choice. In part two of the workshop, you work on a short audiovisual documentary as final product. As a team you are responsible for compiling a production dossier (including log books and story boards), in which you collectively reflect on your collaboration and the artistic result of your two audiovisual productions.

The Workshop is an intensive course with technical instructions and a lot of group work (e.g. brainstorm, preparation, writing, recording and editing days) outside the formal Seminar times. Therefore, we ask you to be available for this course in the time slots A and D. Teams are formed during the first seminar, in consultation with the participating students.