reporting evidence of learning in informal settings

Mark P Smith (mpsmith who-is-at cwv.net)
Tue, 05 Jan 1999 18:29:15 -0500

Dear List Participants:
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I=92m Mark Smith, currently working as a research assistant for Eugene
Matusov, at the University of Delaware. I am the site coordinator for the
5th dimension project at the Latin American Community Center in inner-city
Wilmington, Del. Our program involves the use of computers, among other
activities, in an informal after-school environment among kids aged 8-12.
First-year university students in the teaching education program
participate as guides for the kids in their activities.
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In our program, most of the kids participate with the university students
(and with each other, of course) in any number of activities,
mainly in the computer room at the center. We are not attempting to
direct children=92s=92
activities toward any particular goal set by an adult. We allow
the kids to determine the exact nature of their activity, and teach the
university
students to provide sensitive guidance along the way. We are
resisting the notion that there needs to be an external measure of
performance as well.
The University students do, however, regularly write about their
experiences on
a class web discussion group and I (the site coordinator) regularly write
field notes.
Many of the activities are also videotaped.
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So=85 here's a list of what I'm asking you all to think of:
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(1). Do you know of any references that have revealed or documented
evidence of learning in informal activity settings?
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(2) Do you know of any references which have interesting or useful ways=
of
reporting evidence of learning in informal settings (whether or
not they've actually revealed anything=85) These would be more
"methodological" type of
articles, I suppose.
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(3) Or perhaps we'd like to start a discussion on the topic of
"REPORTING EVIDENCE OF LEARNING IN INFORMAL SETTINGS." There's of course
plenty of
anectodal things=85 but we're looking to put it more concretely so
that it can be presented to grant givers and the State Legislature.
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By the way, the articles can be in Russian, Spanish or English (but the
discussion I guess should be in English).
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Thanks!
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Mark Smith
5940 Overbrook Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 477-6086
mpsmith who-is-at cwv.net