Case studies

Outreach

York Cares Aspirations Programme and The Creativity Lab

The York Cares Aspirations Programme connects employees from their membership with opportunities to engage in activities that inspire and raise the aspirations of young people. Aimed at broadening horizons and exposing students to diverse career paths, the programme encourages young people in and around North Yorkshire to explore new opportunities. As part of this initiative, the Creativity Lab partnered with the York Cares to deliver hands-on sessions for participating schools. These sessions introduced students to emerging technologies, offering practical experiences that deepened their understanding of innovation and its applications across various industries.

The Lab played a key role in enriching the York Cares Aspirations Programme, enhancing student engagement and expanding their exposure to cutting-edge tools like VR, 3D modelling, and multimedia technologies. As Hannah Corkery, the programme lead explains:"It has been an amazing resource and opportunity to showcase different emerging technologies and let the students experiment with things they may never otherwise have the chance to see. I believe the sessions inspire students to be creative and offer them insight into the vast range of career opportunities available."

Expanding Impact: Sharing and Using Insights

The benefits of the Creativity Lab extend beyond the students who participate in its sessions. Following their visits, York Cares' partners at The Place have integrated Tinkercad into their own educational programs, expanding access to digital creativity tools. This demonstrates the far-reaching impact of the Lab, as its innovative approaches continue to influence and inspire educators, organizations, and young people beyond the initial collaboration.

Through this partnership, the Creativity Lab has not only provided students with valuable experiences but has also empowered partner organisations to adopt new technologies, ensuring a legacy of innovation and inspiration.

Teaching

Embedding Immersive Technologies in Historical Education

Dr Elizabeth Spencer, a lecturer in the Department of History, collaborated with the Creativity Lab to integrate immersive technologies into her MA-level module, Performing, Playing, & Re-enacting the Long Eighteenth Century. This module, in its inaugural year, was taken by 12 students across History and related disciplines like English.

Collaboration with the Creativity Lab

Dr Spencer first connected with the Creativity Lab through an HRC newsletter and initiated discussions with the team. A tailored two-hour session focusing on video games and virtual reality was created by Sam Hazeldine.

The session was split into two one-hour workshops, accommodating smaller groups of six students for a more immersive experience. The Creativity Lab provided:

• A curated programme of activities, blending hands-on engagement with VR and video games alongside critical discussions.
• Access to resources, and preparatory materials before and after the session, enhancing students' understanding and engagement. We created a slide deck with examples and details on the experiences being offered. 
• Expert facilitation from Sam and Helen, who ensured the activities aligned with the module’s theoretical and practical goals.

Impact and Outcomes

The Creativity Lab’s involvement was pivotal to the success of this session in the module. The hands-on exposure to VR and video games allowed students to move beyond theoretical discussions to actively engage with the material.