The Computer Clubhouse: Constructionism and Creativity in Youth Communities (Technology, Education--Connections

by Yasmin B. Kafai (Editor), Kylie A. Peppler, Robbin N. Chapman

This book is about the Computer Clubhouse the idea and the place that inspires youth to think about themselves as competent, creative, and critical learners. So much of the social life of young people has moved online and participation in the digital public has become an essential part of youth identities and their lives. The Computer Clubhouse makes an important contribution not just in the local communities but also as a model for after-school learning environments. The model has been very successful scaling up, with over 110 clubhouses now in existence worldwide. Presenting research by scholars that have documented and analyzed the Computer Clubhouse Network across the globe, this book considers the implications of their findings in the context of what it means to provide youth with a rich array of computing experiences, preparing them to meet the goals of the 21st Century.

Genres: Technology, Education

176 pages, Hardcover

First published July 2, 2009

About the author

Yasmin B. Kafai, Ph.D., is a Professor of Learning Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, past president of the International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS), and an executive editor of the Journal of the Learning Sciences.

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, as a whole, is an excellent introduction for readers (like myself) who were previously unaware of what exactly the Computer Clubhouse is, and the impact it has had on its young members worldwide. The book presents the reader with not only an overview of the theory and practice of the Clubhouse model, but also with the editors’ and authors’ detailed research and evaluations of the creative work produced by Clubhouse members, as well as the impact of the activities that occur inside a typical Clubhouse. Perhaps the greatest praise I can give to the editors and authors of this volume is that reading it cover-to-cover made me want to visit a Clubhouse, and become an ‘honorary member’ for a day! I absolutely loved the fact that the voices that are really at the core of any Clubhouse, the voices of its many young members (and mentors and coordinators as well), were skillfully interwoven throughout the majority of the book. Reading direct quotes from members who have experienced the power of the Clubhouse learning model drives home the impact of such a place in the lives of urban, minority, or disadvantaged young people worldwide. The book will appeal not only to educational researchers and techies, but also to coordinators of after-school programs and educators both in and out of the classroom, as there are many lessons to be taken from the Clubhouse’s constructionist, creative approach to learning.