Spotlight on Digital Media And Learning

Nafiza Akter: Virtual Video Projects

A graduate of Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program reflects on her work on their virtual video projects. Nafiza’s post is part of a series of posts from digital media’s young content creators.

Mariel García: My Digital Life

We begin our series on today’s young digital media innovators with a post from a student now studying cultural and virtual media in Mexico. A participant in Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program, here she reflects on her own work and contributions to the Youth Media Exchange community.

Connie Yowell:  Digital Media’s Young Innovators

MacArthur’s Education Director introduces a new series of posts highlighting the work of youth in digital media production.

Recent Links in Digital Media & Learning

We’ve gathered links in digital media and learning from around the web over the past few months that seem worth highlighting. They include photos of a recent virtual conference, a podcast and discussion on the implications of online play for literacy learning, and dynamic writing and research.

Erin Reilly: MIT’s Project New Media Literacies

The research director for MIT’s Project New Media Literacies gives an overview of their work with classroom teachers and after school mentors to bring media literacy theory into practice.

Leff & Temkin: 2009 WebWise Conference, Digital Debates

Reflections on the upcoming WebWise conference, why it matters, and its 2009 theme—from a museum director and the conference coordinator.

Audrey Aronowsky: WhyReef

The scientific program manager at the Biodiversity Synthesis Center describes the Field Museum’s new collaboration with the virtual world of http://www.whyville.net.

Jonathan Fanton: New Fall Grants

Foundation president announces new grants and wishes happy holidays.

Mizuko Ito: Working with New Media

Digital media can support opportunities for youth to engage in diverse forms of work and volunteerism. Mizuko Ito concludes our series from the authors of a forthcoming book on youth new media practice. Findings from a three-year ethnographic study were just released last month.

Digital Youth Research Attracts Wide Coverage in Press and Blogosphere

We summarize the coverage of new findings from a three-year ethnographic study of young people’s digital media use, which was released by Mizuko Ito and her colleagues last month.

Lange and Ito: Literacy and Creative Production

Researchers describe new forms of media young people are making and sharing and how access to adult and peer mentors both on and offline are enhancing this work. This is part of our series from the authors of a forthcoming book on youth new media practice. Findings from a three-year ethnographic study were released last month.

Ito and Bittanti: Genres of Gaming Practice

How do learning outcomes of gaming differ based on the social contexts of play? Researchers discuss the diversity in game play and practice as part of our series from the authors of a forthcoming book on youth new media practice. Findings from a three-year ethnographic study of young people’s use of new media were released last month.

Heather A. Horst: Families and Media Ecology

How do parents feel about new media? How do family dynamics shape young people’s learning in and through new media at home? In her chapter on families, Heather Horst continues our discussion about the Digital Youth Project findings, released last month.