Overview of Public Library Association Conference session 2008

21st Century Technologies for 21st Century Teens
Program Organizer: Jennifer Nelson jrnelson at hclib.org
Presenters: Christy Mulligan clmulligan at hclib.org
Keith Braafladt keithb at smm.org

Outline:

Background
In 2006 with a generous grant from the Best Buy Children’s Foundation, the Minneapolis Library contracted with the Learning Technologies Center (LTC) of the Science Museum of Minnesota to conduct a year long series of classes for teens based on innovative programs developed by Keith Braafladt.  In early 2007 Teen Librarian Christy Mulligan wondered out loud if money was available to pay teens to conduct technology training classes for their peers, based on the Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu) software program. With this, the Teen Tech Squad was born.

Currently
The combined Minneapolis and Hennepin County Library (HCL) system offers regular programs for teens based on a variety of free software tools. Some classes are taught by the Teen Tech Squad, which is at Central Minneapolis and North Regional Community Library; some are taught under contract by LTC (funding again provided by the Best Buy Children’s Foundation).
In addition, the library and Science Museum collaborated on a research project designed to investigate the type of learning that teens get from participation in a rich media software class.  And with five partners from across the country, we’ve applied for an IMLS Nation of Leaders Demonstration grant to scale up the newly-christened Media MashUp to a diverse set of libraries.  Grant awardees will be announced in late September 2008. Stay tuned!

MEDIA MASHUP

Attitude (required)

    Given the tools and support, youth will learn
    It’s okay not to know the answer to every question
    Use participating youth as your primary resource for learning
    Have fun with it

Computer Space and Equipment

10-12 computers (pc or mac) (lap top or fixed space)
Computer with Projection and Display Equipment
Internet access desirable but not required
Jump drives are useful for file transfer, but not required
Blank CDs are useful for project saving/take home, but not required

Related Technology Tools (not required)
    
    Digital Cameras (still and video)
    Digital sound recorders
    Crickets (hand-held computers by Playful Inventions, Inc)
    Multipurpose photo printer/scanner

Software Tools

Digital Drawing Software
    Art Rage -http://www.ambientdesign.com/artragedown.html

Digital Image Editing Software

    Picasa - http://picasa.google.com/download/thanks.html
Gimp   - http://www.gimp.org/

Rich-Media Software Platform:    
    Scratch – http://www.scratch.mit.edu

Sound Editing Software    
    Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
    Garage Band -http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/#overview