John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation September 2012
AT A GLANCE• MacArthurlaunchedthedigitalmediaandlearninginitiativein2006toexplorehowdigitalmediaarechangingthewayyoungpeoplelearn,socialize,communicate,andplay.
• Since2006,theFoundationhasawardedgrantstotalingmorethan$100millionforresearch,developmentofinnovativenewtechnologies,newlearningenvironmentsforyouth,includingaschoolmodelbasedongamedesignprinciples,andeffortstobuildthenewfieldofdigitalmediaandlearning.
• Thegoalofthegrantmakingindigitalmediaandlearningistocreatemoreopportunitiesformoreyoungpeopletoachievethetimehonoredoutcomesofagoodeducation—career,academic,andcivicsuccess—throughtheadoptionanduseofasimplesetofprinciplesthatreimagineshowyoungpeoplelearnandhowthatlearningissupported.
• Anewframeworkforthinkingaboutlearning—connectedlearning—hasemergedasaresultofthegrantmaking.Itdrawsonsuccessfulapproachesofthepast,isbasedon
evidenceofwhatworksbestinthecontemporarycontext,andisdesignedforthedigitalage.
• MacArthursupportsdemonstrationsitesthatputtheconnectedlearningapproachintoaction.TheyincludeHiveLearningNetworks,QuesttoLearnschools,andYOUmedia,aninnovativeteenspaceforengagementandlearning.
The MacArthur Foundation’s digital media and learning initiative aims to determine how digital media are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. Answers are critical to education and other social institutions that must meet the needs of this and future generations.
DiGiTAL MEDiA AND LEArNiNG
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BACKGrOUND
Contemporarysocietyisreinventinghowknowledgeiscreated,organized,accessed,andshared,withfarreachingimplicationsforinstitutionsoflearning—schools,libraries,museums,andmore.Digitalmediamayfacilitateanewwayofthinkingaboutlearningthatacknowledgesandnurturesindividualtalents,skills,andinterests.TheinitiativeindigitalmediaandlearningaimstosupportpositivechangeinAmericaneducationthatbuildsonnewmodesoflearningobservedamongyoungpeopleusingdigitalmediaandrelatedtools.
Theinitiativeisexaminingwhatmaybenewwaystothinkaboutlearningforyoungpeoplewhoare“growingupdigital”thatcouldbefacilitatedandsupported.Whenitwaslaunchedin2006,thehypothesiswasthatyoungpeoplearedifferentbecauseoftheirexposuretodigitalmediaandtheInternet—differencesthatarereflectedintheirsenseofself,inhowtheyexpresstheirindependenceandcreativity,andintheirabilitytolearn,exercisejudgment,makeethicaldecisions,andthinksystematically.
Phase 1: Exploration, 2006-2011
InPhase1,wefocusedoninquiryandraisingawareness,withthegoalofunderstandinghowlearningischangingasaresultofdigitalmedia.Weconsideredquestionssuchas:
• Howareyoungpeoplechangingasaresultoftheiruseofdigitalmedia?
• Howarelearningenvironmentschanging?Howshouldtheychangeinthefuture?
• Howarecivicandsocialinstitutionschanging?Howshouldtheychangeinthefuture?
ThefirstsignificantprojectsreceivedsupportinMarch2006.Wefundedresearchonhowyoungpeopleusedigitalmedia,newtheoreticalwork,andexperimentationinthedesignoflearningenvironments.Grantsexploredhowinformallearninginstitutions,suchaslibraries,museums,andafterschoolprograms,couldsupportlearningandprovidepathwaystosuccessinschoolandinlife.Allofthisshapedthecreationofnewlearningenvironments,policiestosupportlearning,andinnovativepractices.
A New Framework for Learning: Connected Learning
Whatemergedfromthisworkwasanewframeworkforthinkingaboutlearningthat,whiledrawingonsuccessfulapproachesofthepast,isbasedonevidenceofwhatworksbestinthecontemporarycontext,andisdesignedforthedigitalage.Thisframework,calledconnectedlearning,isasetofeducationalanddesignvaluesandprinciplesthatcan
beadaptedandappliedinanycontext.Itreimaginesthelearningexperienceofyoungpeopletoconnectthethreespheresoftheirlivesthatmattermosttothem—peerculture,interests,andacademics.Itensuresthatyoungpeoplelearntraditionalreading,writing,andnumeracyskills,whileenablingandinspiringthemtobecreative,analyticalproblemsolvers.Itprovidesformoreengaging,relevant,andenduringlearningexperiencesthatpreparethemforcollege,theworkforce,andcitizenshipinademocracy.
Phase 2: influence and impact, 2011-present
InPhase2,thefocusisoncreating,atsufficientscale,theconditionstocontinuallytest,refine,andexpandtheideas,practices,andpoliciesthatemergedfromPhase1andnowconstituteconnectedlearning.Thegoalistocreatemoreopportunitiesformoreyoungpeopletoachievethetimehonoredoutcomesofagoodeducation—career,academic,and
DigitalMediaandLearning
civicsuccess—throughtheadoptionanduseofasimplesetofprinciplesthatreimagineshowyoungpeoplelearn,andhowthatlearningissupported.
Grantmaking Priorities
research.Foundationfundedresearchiscontributingtoagrowingbodyofevidenceabouthowyoungpeoplelearntoday.Ethnographicstudies,surveys,interdisciplinaryresearchnetworks—oneonyouthandparticipatorypoliticsand
anotheronconnectedlearning—andotherprojectsareexaminingwhatyoungpeoplearedoingonline,theirviewsonsuchactivities,andtheknowledge,skills,andcompetenciestheyaregaining.
Practice.Grantsalsosupporteffortstodevelopnewlearningenvironmentstounderstandhowschools,libraries,museums,andotherformalandinformalinstitutionsneedtoadapt,change,andcollaboratetomeettheneedsofyouthin
the21stcentury.Projectsarelookingatlearninginvirtualworlds,throughgamedesign,withmobiledevices,andthroughtheinteractionsinsocialnetworks—inandoutofschool.Resourcessupportnewschooldesign,includingamodelinoperationinChicagoandNewYorkbasedontheprinciplesofgamedesignthatshapesandinformsallaspectsofteachingandlearning.WesupportHivelearningnetworksinChicagoandNewYorkCity,inwhichcollaborationsofcivic
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andculturalinstitutionsareworkingtogethertohelpyoungpeopleintegratelearningacrossformalandinformal,virtual,andphysicalenvironments.
Field Building.Tohelpbuildtheemergingdigitalmediaandlearningfield,theportfolioincludestheMacArthurFoundationSeriesonDigitalMediaandLearningandtheMacArthurFoundationReportsonDigitalMediaandLearning.Awebsitewithresourcesandresearch
relatedtoconnectedlearning—www.connectedlearning.tv—andtheDigitalMediaandLearningResearchHub,aninternationalresearchcenterattheUniversityofCalifornia,Irvine,areadditionalresourcesforthefield.
Digital Media and Learning Competition.Toencourageinnovationandprovideresourcesfornewlearningenvironments,theFoundationfundstheDigitalMediaandLearningCompetition.
Thisannualendeavor,administeredbyHASTAC,invitesU.S.andinternationalparticipantstocompetefor$2millioningrantawardsfordomesticandinternationalprojectsthatusedigitalornewmediaasplatformsforparticipatorylearning.Themostrecentcompetitionissupporting30teamsofpractitionersanddesignerstodevelopdigitalbadgesystems,analternativeassessmentandcredentialingmechanismhousedandmanagedonline.Moreinformationatwww.dmlcompetition.net.
DigitalMediaandLearning
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rEPrESENTATiVE GrANTS
research
HARVARDLAWSCHOOL,BERKMANCENTERFORINTERNETANDSOCIETYCambridge, MA$500,000toresearch,evaluate,developcurriculum,andconductyouthoutreachtoaddressonlinemeannessandbullying.
HARVARDUNIVERSITY,GRADUATESCHOOLOFEDUCATIONCambridge, MA$900,000insupportforastudyoftheeffectofdigitalmediaonyoungpeople’sethicaldevelopmentandthecreationofcurriculaforparentsandteachers.
MILLSCOLLEGEOakland, CA$4,500,000insupportoftheMacArthurResearchNetworkonYouthandParticipatoryPolitics.
UNIVERSITYOFCALIFORNIA,IRVINEIrvine, CA$4,500,000insupportoftheMacArthurResearchNetworkonConnectedLearning.
DEMONSTrATiON SiTES
MacArthurhassupportedexperimentationinseveraltypesofinstitutions—libraries,museums,schools,communitycenters,afterschoolprograms—todemonstratewhatconnectedlearningcouldlooklikeinaction.Theyinclude:
YOUmedia and Learning Labs www.youmedia.orgYOUmedia—whichfirstopenedattheChicagoPublicLibrary’sdowntownHaroldWashingtonLibraryCenterin2009—isaninnovativelearningspaceforteens.BasedonresearchsupportedbyMacArthur,YOUmediawasdesignedtorespondtotheinterestsofyoungpeople,whileconnectingthemtobooks,media,andinstitutionsaroundChicagotoencouragecollaborationandcreativity.YOUmediahassinceexpandedtothreebranchlocationsinChicagoandhasbecomethemodelforanumberofYOUmedialiketeenlearningspacesinothermuseumsandlibraries.TheMacArthurFoundation,inpartnershipwiththeInstituteforMuseumandLibraryServices,alsoissupportingplanninggrantsforupto30additionalYOUmediainspiredteenlearninglabsacrossthecountry.
Quest to Learn NewYorkCity:www.q2l.orgChicago:www.chicagoquest.orgThedesignanddevelopmentoftheQuesttoLearnmodelwassupportedbyMacArthurandfirst
launchedin2009inapublicschoolinNewYorkCity.ChicagoQuestwasopenedinthefallof2011.TheQuestmodelwasdevelopedinresponsetogrowingevidencethatdigitalmediaandgamesofferpowerfulmodelsforreconsideringhowandwhereyoungpeoplelearn.AtQuestschools,educatorspartnerwithgamedesignerstodevelopcurriculumthattrulyengagesyoungpeopleinlearningthroughaseriesofqueststhatsimulategameplay.Inpursuitofbothtraditionalskillsinreadingandmathaswellas21stcenturyskills,studentstakeontheidentitiesandbehaviorsofexplorers,mathematicians,historians,etc.,astheyworkthroughthechallengebasedcurriculum.
Hive Learning Networks www.hivelearningnetwork.orgTheHiveLearningNetworkisacommunityoforganizationsthatserveyouthintheoutofschoolspace.TheHiveiscurrentlyactiveinChicagoandNewYorkCity,withotherlocationsunderdevelopment.HiveLearningNetworksaredesignedtocreateconnectedlearningexperiencestonotonlyengageyouthandpromotelearningthatalignswiththeirinterests,buttosupportthemastheydevelopnecessary21stcenturyskills.Throughpublicprivatepartnershipsupport,HiveLearningNetworksfundinnovativeyouthprogrammingtoconnectlearningacrossthethreespheresthatmattermosttoyouth:peerculture,interests,andacademics.
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DigitalMediaandLearning
UNIVERSITYOFSOUTHERNCALIFORNIA,ANNENBERGCENTERFORCOMMUNICATIONLos Angeles, CATwograntstotaling$1,426,580inpartialsupportofamultisiteethnographicstudyofhowandtowhateffectyoungpeopleusedigitalmedia.
Practice/Demonstration SitesTHECHICAGOCOMMUNITYFOUNDATIONChicago, IL$1,500,000insupportoftheSmartChicagoCollaborativeforactivitiesoftheChicagoHiveLearningNetwork.
COMMUNITYFUNDSNew York, NY$1,500,000insupportofafundforactivitiesoftheHiveNewYorkCityLearningNetwork
INSTITUTEOFMUSEUMANDLIBRARYSERVICESWashington, DC$1,250,000insupportofthescaleupofYOUmediateenlearningspace.
INSTITUTEOFPLAYNew York, NY$1,800,000todeveloptheQuesttoLearnschoolsinNewYorkCityandChicago.
$3,300,000tosupporttheGamesLearningandAssessmentLab.
MOZILLAFOUNDATIONMountain View, CA$1,000,000todevelopanddesignadigitalbadgesystemforaccreditationoflearningandskills
UNIVERSITYOFCALIFORNIA,IRVINEIrvine, CA$5,632,000tooperate,publicize,and
supportthewinnersofanopencallcompetitionatHASTACtobuildthefieldofdigitalmediaandlearning.
Field Building
UNIVERSITYOFCALIFORNIA,IRVINEIrvine, CA$4,500,000insupportoftheDigitalMediaandLearningResearchHub.
$490,000tosupportthepublicationofnewmonographsinthe“MacArthurReportsonDigitalMediaandLearning”series.
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ADDiTiONAL rESOUrCES
Digital Media and Learning research Hub: www.dmlcentral.net
Connected learning: www.connectedlearning.tv
The Digital Media and Learning Competition: www.dmlcompetition.net
The International Journal of Learning and Media: www.ijlm.net
Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning: www.spotlight.macfound.org
MacArthur research Network on Youth and Participatory Politics: www.ypp.dmlcentral.net
MacArthur research Network on Connected Learning: www.clrn.dmlhub.net
DigitalMediaandLearning
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation September 2012
About The MacArthur FoundationTheJohnD.andCatherineT.MacArthurFoundationsupportscreativepeopleandeffectiveinstitutionscommittedtobuildingamorejust,verdant,andpeacefulworld.InadditiontoselectingtheMacArthurFellows,theFoundationworkstodefendhumanrights,advanceglobalconservationandsecurity,makecitiesbetterplaces,andunderstandhowtechnologyisaffectingchildrenandsociety.
For more information or to sign-up for news and event updates, please visit www.macfound.org.
JohnD.andCatherineT.MacArthurFoundation140S.DearbornStreetChicago,IL606035285Phone:(312)7268000TDD:(312)9206285Email:[email protected]
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For more informationabout MacArthur’s digital media and learning initiative:
Connie [email protected]
An-Me [email protected]
Jennifer [email protected]
www.macfound.org/dml
