LinkedIn Learning for Makers
It’s been a banner year for maker services at Burlington Public Library with Alton’s MakerStation and New Appleby’s MakerStudio recently joining Central’s MakerSpace fabrication workshop for small-scale projects.
Makers, crafters, and do-it-yourselfers, you know how quickly time flies when you’re creating and tinkering. Since most maker equipment and spaces at Burlington Public Library need to be booked ahead, a little prep work goes a long way and will help you make the most of every production minute.
So, before you get hands-on with the tools, why not brush up on some of the skills you may need for your maker project. With LinkedIn Learning, you can learn online at your own pace—free with your BPL card.
Read our short article for general information about the LinkedIn Learning online resource available through Burlington Public Library.
Skill-Building Classes for Makers
Build your maker skills with beginner-friendly LinkedIn Learning classes taught by industry experts. Before visiting our featured classes, first sign in to LinkedIn Learning through BPL.
Graphic Design
Give your projects a professional touch by learning the basics of good design from industry experts. These courses cover the key principles to elevate the visual impact of your maker project.
Introduction to Graphic Design: Concepts: Covers the core concepts you need to know, such as layout and composition, colour, typography, and imagery, and how they relate in a design project.
Graphic Design Tips & Tricks: Short episodes that touch on all areas of design, including logo design. Browse the table of contents to see the wide range of topics covered.
Design Your First Logo: Get the skills you need to build a strong logo—for yourself, your small business, your company, or your event. Then, apply your knowledge to create branded signs and promotional items using our MakerSpace and MakerStation equipment.
CorelDRAW
Planning to use the laser cutter, vinyl printer, or vinyl cutter at Central’s MakerSpace? A solid grasp of CorelDraw—the design software behind these tools—will help you get from idea to finished product smoothly.
Learning CorelDraw: Develop the core skills you need to use this powerful design software, such as learning how to manipulate vector objects, converting raster images to vector graphics, and improving image quality.
3D Printing
Turn your digital designs into real-world objects at Alton, Central, or New Appleby branches. These beginner courses will introduce you to the essentials of 3D printing and design.
Learning 3D Printing: Explore the world of 3D printing in this basics class that walks you through various 3D design tools, such as 3D modelling, 3D scanning, and how to create ready-to-print designs.
Learning Tinkercad: Tinkercad is a free online app that makes it easy to get started in 3D design and CAD. Geared to absolute beginners, this two-hour class is packed with tips and shortcuts and will build your 3D design skills from the ground up.
Video & Audio Editing
Create polished videos and podcasts with confidence. These LinkedIn Learning classes will teach you the basics before you head to the New Appleby MakerStudio to bring your projects to life.
Digital Audio Foundations: Learn everything you need to know about working with digital audio, in particular digital audio workstations (DAWs). This course is designed for new musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, those making the leap from analog to digital, and pros needing a refresher. Topics covered include the three domains of sound, converting analog to digital, recording performances with MIDI, and mixing and processing audio.
Producing Podcasts: From planning your podcast, through recording, editing, mixing, and mastering your podcast episodes, to publishing and distributing, this one-hour class covers what you need to know to get started.
DaVinci Resolve Fundamentals: Get started with post-production using this powerful digital video creation tool. In just six hours, you’ll explore DaVinci Resolve’s key toolsets, learn how they fit together, and follow the process from rough cut to final rendering—covering editing, colour correction, sound, and much more.
Where to Find LinkedIn Learning
Select RESOURCES on BPL’s website main menu to find LinkedIn Learning under Learning & Research > Classes & Learning. Connect directly to the online resource or select More Info to read how to access LinkedIn Learning on your laptop or device with the LinkedIn Learning app—and start exploring!
