[Air-L] New Youth-Centered Digital Learning Report and Toolkit Released

[Jamieson Pond]

Announcing the launch of “Reclaiming Digital Futures,” a free report and associated website for youth organizations to use as they integrate digital learning into their programming and practices.

Reclaiming Digital Futures website: https://digitallearning.tools/AOIR

The objective of the report and toolkit is to equip educators to leverage technology to foster learning that infuses digital tools and practices with deep focus on positive youth development, igniting the hearts and minds of youth and preparing them to be impactful 21st century citizens – a much larger task than simply teaching technology-related skills like coding or data analysis.

The report and the associated website contain a cross-section of adoptable and adaptable resources to aid organizations and educators in developing quality programming that integrate technology and youth development. Rather than focusing on efforts to help youth become fluent and skilled in uses of technology simply for the sake of meeting predetermined standards, the organizations highlighted in the report provide practical avenues to support youth in transforming their communities and worlds.

Creating the Report
Reclaiming Digital Futures was developed through a collaborative process between the Susan Crown Exchange, researchers from the University of California, Irvine and New York University, and eight exemplar youth-serving organizations.

Partner organizations:
- AS220 (Providence, RI)
- Beam Center (New York, NY)
- Digital Harbor Foundation (Baltimore, MD)
- DreamYard (New York, NY)
- Free Spirit Media (Chicago, IL)
- The Knowledge House (New York, NY)
- West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (Grand Rapids, MI)
- YOUMedia (Chicago, IL)

You can access the report and all resources of the toolkit at https://digitallearning.tools/AOIR



Respectfully,
Jamieson Pond, Communications Manager
Connected Learning Lab
University of California, Irvine