Principal Investigator(s): Dr.
Suzanne Charlton, Department of Education
Contact: Dr. Suzanne Charlton, shcharlt@uci.edu
Site Description:
The Cosmic Dimension After School Computer Club,
an adaptation of the Fifth
Dimension model, serves children who are primarily
English language learners at Wilson Elementary School
in a low-income area of Costa Mesa. For four
days per week, children and undergraduates meet in
the school’s computer room to collaborate in
informal learning activities using educational software
or in project-based literacy building activities that
involve email. The children also have access
to homework help and a variety of technology-based
and hands-on resources and activities. Undergraduates
participate by enrolling in the Education 160 series
of theory and practicum courses in the Department
of Education at UC Irvine.
Course: Education
160 & 160L:
Practicum in After School Learning and Inquiry & Community
Field Work
Participants (based on 2005-06
data):
- Approximately 150 K-5th grade students per academic
year
- 99% Latino, 1% white
- 57% male, 43% female
- 80% English language learners
- Approximately 85 undergraduates per academic
year
Collaborators:
- Department of Education, UC Irvine
- Wilson Elementary School, Costa Mesa in the Newport-Mesa
Unified School District
Goals:
- Provide safe and
healthy places after school for children to learn
and develop a sense of self as participants in
a global world
- Promote academic achievement and encourage
low-income youth to pursue paths to higher learnin
- Increase
technology literacy
- Foster greater social equity for families through
education and through developing fluency in English
language, literacy, and information literacy
- Improve the quality of graduate and undergraduate
education by connecting academic coursework to
practicum field experience
- Encourage undergraduates to explore the possibility
of a teaching career in urban, low-income communities
Activities:
- Educational computer games, outdoor play, board
games, literacy activities
- Activities created by the undergraduate mentors
on various topics or crafts.
- Homework help, academic tutoring, and writing
assistance
Evaluation:
- University of California Student Academic Preparation
and Educational Partnerships (SAPEP) Annual Performance
Report
- UC Links Reading Assessment
- Survey of undergraduate interest in pursuing
graduate or professional school studies
Research Focus:
- Academic achievement of participants
- Students’ attitudes
toward learning
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