The Digital Media and Learning Initiative
The Power of Youth Voice: What Kids Learn When They Create With Digital Media
On November 18, 2009, Woodrow Wilson, with the National Writing Project and the MacArthur Foundation, held a public forum at the Academy of Natural Science in Philadelphia on the Power of Youth Voice: What Kids Learn When They Create With Digital Media. The event was attended by more than 200 local educators, parents, students, and researchers, and included a panel discussion—(video available at right)—that was watched by 150 people via webcast and viewed by 45 avatars in Second Life.
The panelists were Elyse Eidman-Aadahl from the National Writing Project, Nichole Pinkard from the Digital Youth Network, and Renee Hobbs from the Media Lab at Temple University. It was facilitated by Connie Yowell from the MacArthur Foundation. Discussion focused on why today is such a critical moment in education, the opportunities that digital tools provide for young people to learn, and some of the challenges that teachers and parents should be aware of in young people’s digital media.
Before the panel discussion, youth groups presented about 20 examples of youth-created digital media. These groups included:
Philadelphia Organizations
Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush
Big Picture Alliance
Media Education Lab, Temple University
Messages in Motion
Philadelphia Student Union
Science Leadership Academy
Youth Empowerment Services
National Organizations
Digital Youth Network at the Chicago Public Library
Encyclopedia of Life, MIT
Global Kids
The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
The National Writing Project
F.E. Willard School, Philadelphia, PA
Life Academy, Oakland, CA
Messalonskee High School, Oakland, ME
SimSavvy Girls, Arizona State University
You can also see the a slideshow on Teen Content Creators from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
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