2004 Campus-Community Partnerships

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Mentoring Partnerships In Programming

Abstract:

For the last decade youth's interest in using technology has been at an all time high but interest in making, or programming, technology virtually absent. A great deal of attention has been focused on the lack of access to computer technologies and skills in poor urban schools and homes. Less attention has been paid to the fact that even with increased access students in college often lack sophisticated technology skills. Programming mentoring partnerships aim at broadening the access to technology fluency for both groups: Undergraduate students will partner with Computer Clubhouse members in developing and completing projects while learning at the same time about programming and software design. Programming projects will emphasize the use of graphic, music and video -- media that have been found to be at the core of technology interests for both urban and college youth. The goal of this proposal is to test the feasibility of such mentoring partnerships, to research its problems and benefits, and to prepare its inclusion into the undergraduate community service course program for further continuation.