Teens and Technology Merge in CPL's YOUmedia Library Space

YOUmedia Chicago is a space within the Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center geared toward teens. It encourages learning about technology and science through giving kids the resources to pursue their own interests. Established in 2010 and supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Austin 2011), YOUmedia Chicago provides the ability for its users to create music, videos, designs, photographs, and blogs, in addition to providing more traditional library services such as checking out books. The library has equipment available for teens, including still and video cameras, an in-house reading studio, keyboards, turntables, a mixing board, drawing tablets, and video and photo editing software. Their online YOUmedia social networks allow teens to collaborate with each other, as well as contact mentors, media experts, and librarians. Membership is free, and this section of the library sees an average of 75 users per day!

It is clear that when given the tools, students will enjoy applying their own ideas to learning about science and technology, and will have their own motivation to push themselves to further their knowledge. I think it’s great that these new approaches to learning are being tested, and that we’re seeing such an enthusiastic response from these young patrons! As Mimi Ito mentions in her article referencing the YOUmedia project, “if we pay attention to what young people do when they are having fun… they are both highly engaged and learning a great deal. … When young people are supported in pursuing their own choices and interests, and when they are allowed to mobilize peer activity around those interests, suddenly socializing, fun, and peer pressure drive learning rather than detracting from it” (Ito 2011). The point that Ito makes, and with which I agree, is that libraries with the ability and desire to participate in programs such as this will find that the fields of science and technology can be discovered and learned in ways the students are used to learning, and they will enjoy it without feeling like it’s just more adult-assigned learning.

References:

Austin, K., Ehrilich, S.B., Puckett, C., & Singleton, J. “YOUmedia Chicago: Reimagining learning, literacies, and libraries: A snapshot of year one.” Retrieved from http://ccsr.uchicago.edu/downloads/6899youmedia_final_2011.pdf

Chicago Public Library – http://www.chipublib.org/

Harold Washington Library Center - http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/harold-washington/

Ito, M. (2011 Nov 24). “When youth own the public education agenda.” Huffington Post Education: The Blog. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mimi-ito/when-youth-own-the-public_b_787866.html

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation - http://www.macfound.org/

YOUMedia Chicago - http://youmediachicago.org/

Exploratorium’s Digital Library Offers Services to Further Explore Scientific Ideas

The Exploratorium, a hands-on science museum located in San Francisco, offers an array of additional services to their patrons via their digital library. The library is supported by the National Science Foundation and provides multiple formats of materials to those interested in learning more about their exhibits.

The museum encourages everyone to participate, and even offer a free admission day on the first Wednesday of each month. If visiting the museum isn’t an option, the virtual patrons of the library can learn about a multitude of subjects via webcasts, podcasts, video clips, images, and printable learning materials. They also include a special section for teachers which includes learning activities, tools, and services to enhance the classroom experience.

They also maintain an active Facebook page, highlighting their exhibits and events. This encourages participation and input from their visitors.

I had the opportunity to visit the Exploratorium in 2002, and was enthralled by the exhibits – they were all hands-on, and relatable. The kids AND the adults had an equally entertaining time learning. The digital library reflects the same notion that learning should be fun, interesting, and relatable to everyday life.

Resources:

Exploratorium’s Digital Library - http://www.exploratorium.edu/digital_library/

Exploratorium on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/exploratorium

National Science Foundation - http://www.nsf.gov/

Video Games - The Key to Sparking an Early Interest in STEM Fields?

“AASL joins challenge to motivate STEM learning”

The American Association of School Libraries (AASL) is teaming up with the National STEM Video Game Challenge to get more students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. The idea behind the challenge is for kids to learn about these fields via their natural interest in video games. The challenges are split up by age groups (middle school, high school, collegiate, and educator), and encourages the students to collaborate with their school librarians, teachers, and their peers to learn. They learn to create their own games, and in the process they learn many different skills in each of the subjects.

The STEM Challenge website states that the U.S. is falling far behind on math and science scores when compared with other countries. Their hope is that this kind of encouragement will spark an interest in the STEM fields which has been waning.

What a fantastic way to get students interested in learning and using STEM libraries! This user-centered approach takes what students already have an interest in (video games) and helps them realize that they may have an interest in science of which they weren't aware! It doesn't attempt to push students into learning STEM topics that they may or may not have an interest in, and it doesn't have a rigid curriculum; rather, it encourages them to explore topics in which they already have some knowledge, and even allows them to create their own project on the subject, with help from librarians and teachers in those areas.

Not only is this encouraging STEM education in students, but it's also a great way for the general public to see what kinds of resources STEM libraries can provide, given the opportunity to help!

Resources:

Habley, J. (2011 Dec 6) "AASL joins challenge to motivate STEM learning." American Libraries. Retrieved from http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/ala/aasl-joins-challenge-motivate-stem-learning

National STEM Video Game Challenge - http://www.stemchallenge.org/