Teaching and Learning Lab

For 25 years, the Teaching and Learning Lab (TLL) has been the university's hub for educational innovation. We are multimedia experts who create engaging games, web apps, graphics, animations and presentations to enhance the learning experience.

Our team stays on the cutting edge, integrating AI, 3D scanning, AR, and VR into our projects. Led by Director Paul St. Denis, with his 40 years of coding experience, we combine deep expertise with modern technology. We invite instructors and TAs to collaborate with us to bring your innovative teaching ideas to life.

Beyond the Slideshow: Multimedia in Modern Education

The definition of "multimedia" has evolved far beyond a simple mix of text and images. Today, it refers to the rich, interactive digital experiences that are essential for modern teaching. At TLL, we see multimedia as a powerful tool to transform learning through:

Interactive Content: Engaging students with custom-built educational games, simulations, and web applications.
Immersive Media: Using Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) and 3D models to let students explore and interact with their subjects in new ways.
Dynamic Visuals & Audio: Clarifying complex information with data visualizations, animations, podcasts, and AI-enhanced graphics.

By using modern multimedia, you can move beyond traditional lectures to create a more inclusive and effective classroom. It helps make abstract concepts tangible, promotes active participation over passive observation, and provides students with flexible, on-demand resources that reinforce learning anytime, anywhere.

Resources Available at the Media Lab

Multimedia Stations with a variety of Multimedia Software, including:

Adobe Photoshop

Blender

Audacity

Animate (formerly Flash)

Illustrator

DaVince Resolve

Adobe Premiere

Media Conversion Station (VHS -> DVD & Blu Ray)

Figma

VSCode and Cursor

iMovie

After Effects

InDesign

DVD Studio Pro

ImageMagick

OBS

Teaching Learning Lab Services

IVQ - Interactive Video Quizzes

IVQ is an platform that allows you to make videos into interactive quizzes.
- Embed questions right into the content of the videos
- Can track students individual scores
- Quizzes can be shared easily through unique URLs
- Can be used on desktop and mobile devices
Here are tutorials on how to make a quiz and how to add IVQ to Brightspace and Linking it to Grades
For other questions, here is our FAQ

Games and Learning Objects

The use of interactive media such as games is an excellent way to assist the hands-on oriented learner in absorbing and retaining the information provided in class. Games can also be used to bring that little extra excitement to the lecture or presentation. The TLT Media Lab has a talented group of graphic designers and programmers who have created interactive applications for Stony Brook faculty, and are always up for a new challenge.

Creating Animations

The TLT Media Lab has used a variety of tools to create both sophisticated and whimsical animations for faculty to illustrate principles covered in class. Faculty come to the lab with a description of what principle they want to convey and the talented students working in the lab create the graphic design and animation based on the description.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing how we create and deliver educational content. At the Teaching and Learning Lab, we help faculty harness the power of AI to build smarter, more personalized learning experiences. We move beyond the hype to find practical applications that save you time while deeply engaging your students.

Profession Charts & Graphics

From the initial brainstorm to polished final assets, we help you give structure to your ideas and create professional-quality media. Our team can guide you through concept mapping to visually organize complex topics into clear, understandable flow charts and data visualization. We also provide expert multimedia editing, using tools like Photoshop to create and refine the images, graphics, and other core components needed for your educational projects, ensuring your materials are compelling and clear.

High-Impact Video & Presentation Design

We help you transform your course content into a powerful narrative. We specialize in digital storytelling, using a dynamic mix of video, animation, images, and audio to convey complex ideas and create engaging stories. Whether you are developing a professional slideshow, an interactive ePortfolio, or a web-based presentation, our lab provides the tools and expertise to help you communicate your message effectively and leave a lasting impact on your students.

Media Conversion Facilities

The TLT Media Lab offers a multimedia conversion station equipped to handle several media formats. These formats include: VHS, DVD, CD, miniDV and HDV. At the Media Lab we can take these existing formats and store them on external storage devices, or convert them for use on more up-to-date media. An example is to convert a VHS to DVD. We can also duplicate CDs or DVDs.

VR, AR, and 3D Scanning

Step into the future of learning with immersive technologies that transform abstract concepts into tangible experiences. At the Teaching and Learning Lab, we are experts in Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and 3D Scanning, and we are actively integrating these powerful tools into educational projects across the university.

...And More!

Our staff is happy to assist you with any projects or ideas you may have. The TLT Media Lab is located in the Melville Library, Room S-1430 and can be reached by phone at (631) 632-1033.

Concept Mapping

Concept Maps are flow charts created using digital media. They are used to assist in brainstorming, the organization of multiple ideas and the management of concepts into a more visually understandable format. Using a digital format for these concept maps allows for a deeper manipulation of standard flow charts, giving the means to incorporate more information without loosing organization.

Multimedia Development and Editing

The TLT Media Lab offers many forms of multimedia development, as well as the editing of existing media. We often edit images using programs such as ImageMagick and Photoshop for use in projects or personal use. We are also equipped to edit video in a variety of formats including DVD and VHS. We can also assist in the development of other multimedia such as slideshows, digital presentations and ePortfolios, as well a multiple forms of web-based media.

Digital Storytelling

Digital Storytelling is the practice of using multimedia tools such as video and film, digital animation, images and audio, to convey the individual's ideas or to tell a story. There are many ways tell a digital story and some of the more common tools used are DaVinci Resolve, Blender's Video Editors and iMovie, as well as some Internet options built into sites such as YouTube and Vimeo.

TLT Media Lab Projects

Protein Database Viewer

See molecules in 3D

PBD Viewer >>

Bio Lab Simulators

Test drive virtual equipment before using the real thing.

Micropipettor >>

Graduated Cylinder >>

Scans of Skulls

Examine the skulls of our predecessors through your own device.

Anthropology 3D Collection >>

Boom or Bust

See how your company would perform in this simulation of a stock market crash.

Stock Market Crash Simulator >>

Interactive Bloom's Taxonomy Wheel

"Bloom's taxonomy is considered to be a foundational and essential element within the education community." - Harold G. Shane

Initially created as a die cut print designed by Fiona Cashell for the Faculty Center, the design was turned into an interactive page by Kelly Wong.

View Bloom's Taxonomy Wheel >>

Vitruvian Man

This animation was created for Dean Miller in the School of Journalism.

Program Used: Flash

Created by Kelly Wong.

View Animation >>

Saving Trees SINC Site Initiative

This animation was created for the Stony Brook Univeristy SINC Sites.

Program Used: Flash

Created by Paul St. Denis and Kelly Wong.

View Animation >>

Illustrating Hierarchical Relations

These animations were created for Ivan Chase in the Sociology Department.

Program Used: Flash

Created by Ha na Lee and Hronn Axelsdottir.

View Animation 1 >>

View Animation 2 >>

Source Evaluator

This website was created for Dean Miller in the School of Journalism, it is intended to assist students in "Weighing" the qualities of a news source to determine biases.

Source Evaluator Website >>

ePortfolio Faculty Flowchart

Created for Cynthia Davidson who is overseeing WRT 102 classes, this project illustrates the steps necessary for students to complete the requirements for this class.

Created by Kelly Wong.

View this flowchart >>

Anandamide Metabolism and Transport

Postulated Mechanism for Retrograde Transport of the Endocannabinoid 2-AG by the Trans-synaptic Fatty Acid Binding Protein carrier.

This animation was created for Dale Deutsch.

Program Used: Blender

View Animation >>

For More Information Contact

Teaching Learning Lab

tltmedia@stonybrook.edu

(631) 632-1033