Featured Video

Have tattoos become an accepted norm? Or are they still markers of outsider status? WHYY young journalists Maddie Ecker, Emilie Ikeda, and Janai Keita hit the streets of Old City and the tattoo shops of South Street to discover why people get tattoos, what others think about them, and whether or not inked skin is the new normal. This video was produced as part of WHYY's Young Journalists Summer Camp.

Watch "Tattoos in Philly" »

Community Courses

Community Courses offered by Hamilton Commons are geared toward adult learners with stories to tell. Classes will cover such topics as "Introduction to Digital Storytelling" and "Digital Scrapbooking." Beginning and advanced classes -- all taught using commonly available computer equipment and popular editing applications such as Final Cut Pro -- are offered. WHYY's instructors are well-versed in working with students at different skill levels, combining discussions of the storytelling process with the necessary technical skills.

Course Listings & Enrollment

Watch Community Videos

Wider Horizons Courses

Wider Horizons is WHYY's suite of programs and services for people enjoying the second half of life. These community courses are designed with this group in mind, employing smaller class sizes and a slower pace.

Course Listings & Enrollment

Professional Development Courses for Educators

Educators participating in the professional development courses will learn to teach their students the 21st century skills needed to create and produce digital media and will receive tips for integrating those skills into existing curricula and project-based learning approaches.

Participants may be teachers of any content area looking for a new outlet for student expression and education. Classroom video and audio production projects are designed to be student-centered. As such, participating teachers will learn to guide their students through hands-on lessons while students develop their voices as multimedia storytellers. Teachers will also learn basic camera skills and editing skills with Final Cut Pro.

Through WHYY teacher professional development course offerings, local educators will:

Gain an overview of a variety of ways students can tell stories through images and sounds, including videos, audio stories, sound slides and PowerPoint presentations with embedded video and sound.
Learn to instruct students in hands-on video and multimedia production skills and assist them as they create short video and audio pieces.
Develop tools for teaching team-building, group-level collaboration, organizational, social, creative and leadership skills.
Forge stronger relationships with the local public media organization.
Earn Act 48 credit hours for professional development hours.

Course Listings & Enrollment

Youth Programs

The Hamilton Public Media Commons provides a place for young people to learn video and audio production, team-building skills, leadership skills and the confidence that comes with accomplishment. WHYY Afterschool Programs are offered as a public service by WHYY at no charge to participants. Classes are filled on a first-come first-served basis.

Tell Your Story

Students of all ages and skill levels can enjoy learning video production from pros at WHYY's Dorrance H. Hamilton Public Media Commons. View available courses.

Introduction to
Digital Storytelling

This introductory two-hour course is the perfect starting point for beginners who want to learn the basics of creating video and audio to share with family and friends. Participants will use WHYY's equipment to shoot and edit interviews. The session includes a tour of the WHYY studios. First course is September 16.

WHYY Educator Open House

WHYY Educational Programs and Services invites local educators to our Educator Open House. WHYY will showcase its new state-of-the-art Dorrance H. Hamilton Public Media Commons, a space designed with educators in mind. We will introduce middle and high school teachers to the Act 48 approved professional development offerings and digital media production opportunities that are planned for the 2010-2011 school year and beyond. Open house is October 19th, 4 - 7 p.m.

WHYY Afterschool
Youth Programs

Learn to shoot, edit, and produce great media pieces with the WHYY's award-winning Public Media Commons. Explore topics and stories that are important to you and your community with state-of-the-art equipment, tools and facilities. WHYY Afterschool Programs are offered as a public service by WHYY at no charge to participants. Classes are filled on a first-come first-served basis, so sign up today!

Field Trips

Bring your class or after-school group on a field trip to WHYY. Take a tour of our TV and Radio studios, and work with staff from WHYY's Hamilton Commons. Your students will have the opportunity to use WHYY's equipment to conduct person on the steet interviews on Independence Mall. Book a field trip »

Events and Programs

A full schedule of program screenings, discussions, lectures, and performances including live broadcasts of some WHYY radio programs.
Event Schedule

Building Capacity
At Non-Profits

The Hamilton Public Media Commons also works with local organizations to train staff and volunteers. For example, a project with the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition along with Penn and Temple engages Laotian and Vietnamese seniors in first-person storytelling, video production, and community discussion about hypertension and communicating with your doctor.

Facilities

The three areas of the Hamilton Commons provide space and equipment to encourage creativity and learning using a wide variety of digital communication tools. For information on facility use and rental, click here.