YouthLearn at the 2006 CTCNet conference

YouthLearn facilitated a session, Harnessing Technology to Advance Afterschool Learning, at the recent Annual Community Technology Centers Network (CTCNet) conference in DC on July 28, 2006. Drawing from promising practices on technology integration witnessed in the field today, this session was intended to share ideas for building and sustaining technology-integrated afterschool programs and creating activities that use media and technology tools to support youth learning, creativity, and fun.

The session was organized in four phases:
1) YouthLearn director, Tony Streit, shared an overview of afterschool technology, looking back 15 years of the CTC landscape,
2) Michael Funk, Director of Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center, discussed practitioners’ perspectives on effective use of technology that supports content-rich project-based afterschool curriculum,
3) Marilyn Heath, Program Associate of Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (TX), introduced the “Afterschool Training Toolkit” (http://www.sedl.org/afterschool) and helped the participants group brainstorming activities to further define promising practices of afterschool technology, and
4) Nettrice Gaskins from Massachusetts College of Art further defined how technology will influence learning 15 years in the future.

For more information and resources, visit http://www.ctcnet.org/conf/2006/at_conference/program_detail.asp?SessionID=135