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Dear Friends,
As you may know, I have been developing Construct Studio, a 3D multimedia annotation platform specifically for college courses in the humanities & social sciences. From my masters thesis in Learning Experience & Technology Design at NYU, I researched and designed an innovative instructional tool that simultaneously enhances a learner's critical thinking skills and deepens their understanding of the subject matter. In January 2023, I founded my company Construct Studio and in August 2024 I partnered with Ric Soares of TechMeUp development to create our pilot version.
What is 3D and how is it relevant to the humanities & social sciences?
3D environments allow learners to view objects in 360 degrees. They can rotate to examine such objects from all angles and zoom-in for details, which is not possible with 2D images or videos. While architecture, engineering, and gaming industries have relied on 3D models for decades, museums and heritage sites are starting to capture their collections in 3D for preservation and research. 3D models give students access to museum artifacts or heritage sites that are impossible to see in person and a safe hands-on experience to evaluate 3D scans of actual artifacts, without damaging the real thing.
How does your 3D Multimedia Annotation platform work?
Students begin by importing 3D model files to our website. Our patent-pending multimedia annotation feature allows students to add notes to their 3D models with text, images, video, audio, and PDF/Docx attachments. Students will be able to comment on their peer’s 3D annotations. This multi-user space allows total collaboration, as students can view other’s cursors moving around and interacting with these 3D objects in real-time. Teams can reconstruct historical sites or imaginative worlds, fully based on their course readings or research.
How do I use this in my course?
History-related courses focus on replicating accurate depictions. An art history instructor may have their students import 3D models of museum artifacts. Students would then apply annotations to these 3D models to practice methodically organizing their ideas in order to better learn the material in a more meaningful way. Students may analyze historical documents and artworks throughout the semester to continuously build their understanding of the topic. PDFs of these historical documents, video clips from curator presentations, and images of famous artworks can be added into their 3D object annotations to help them strengthen their connections to the course content. When adding multimedia to an annotation, students are required to enter a bibliography to cite their sources.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
It has come to a point where we are financially unable to pay our engineers to complete the platform, who require $2,000/month. Although we have applied to federal and local grants, we are stuck in limbo as we wait to hear back from these agencies.
Your contribution ($20, $50, $100+) today will make a huge impact on our growth right now. All donations will go directly to our engineers so we can complete our platform without further delay!
We must raise a total of $10,000 to optimize the platform for user-testing, which is already scheduled in four NYC humanities courses in September 2025. We cannot miss this deadline!
I am sincerely thankful for all of your support, guidance, and enthusiasm throughout the years. Each month I will send updates detailing our progress. All supporters will be added to our website's Thank You page. Finally, when the platform is complete, you will be the first to know. The faster we are able to complete this platform, the sooner we can offer this learning tool for your courses!
Sincerely,
Sondra Phifer
Founder & Creator, Construct Studio
PS - If you are unable to give at this time, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share this GoFundMe with colleagues and friends who may be interested!