Media Commons, presented by Penn State’s Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT), has unveiled two new initiatives designed to help the University community get creative and also explore while sheltering at home.

“While Penn Staters are practicing social distancing to stay safe and healthy, we realize that there is a need to spend time in enriching activities,” said Bart Pursel, interim director of innovation with TLT. “We’re excited about offering programs to the entire Penn State community that allow participants to learn something new and exercise their creativity in an informal environment.”

Penn State Creates debuts on Wednesday, April 15, at 3:00 p.m. with an Adobe Fresco Painting Party. This is the first in a weekly series of sessions that gives attendees the chance to explore new forms of expression through technology. The relaxed, informal programs require no previous experience with the software or technology.

At the inaugural Penn State Creates painting party, participants will use Adobe Fresco to create digital works of art. An iPad, or another compatible tablet, is needed to participate along with the free Adobe Creative Cloud account available to University students, faculty, and staff. The painting party will be hosted via Zoom, and anyone who does not have an Adobe Fresco-compatible tablet is welcome to join and watch as the art is created in real-time.

More information on upcoming Penn State Creates sessions can be found by bookmarking the webpage or by following TLT and Media Commons on Twitter. University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Penn State community throughout the Commonwealth are all invited to take part.

For those who want to explore far-off locales with the help of immersive technology, there is the IMEX[scursions] program. Immersive technology can include 360-degree video, virtual reality, and augmented reality; its use can allow for up-close, hands-on discovery of cultures’ landmarks, traditions, cuisines, and more.

The team at Penn State Media Commons’ Immersive Experience Lab (IMEX Lab) plans to add a new, worldly excursion to the catalog each week. Currently, it offers explorations of France, South Korea, and Egypt. Those who are interested in taking an IMEX[cursion] should review the equipment requirements to be fully prepared for their trip.