Members of the Digital Youth Lab have published a white paper synthesizing current research on youth, digital media, and learning across disciplinary boundaries. This white paper is a direct result of the Digital Youth Seattle Think Tank (DYSTT), hosted by the Information School at the University of Washington in October 2014. With funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the DYSTT brought together approximately 100 leaders in academia, industry, practice, and policy to discuss the current state of research related to youth and technology. The full white paper can be downloaded here.
Session summaries
Opening Keynote: Understanding Change
The keynote speaker, Mike Eisenberg, called educators, researchers, and policy-makers to action, to become the strongest advocates for youth.
The Youth Panel: The Main Event
The teen panelists, eight Seattle-area high school students representing diverse socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, shared their insights on the pressure to stay connected, the anxiety they experience when they’re disconnected, and the challenges associated with digital drama reveal an ambivalence towards technology that belies the stereotype and myths of the digital native.
Digital and Information Literacies
Participants discussed the new literacies that have emerged with digital media technologies and considered their relationship to traditional conceptions of literacy.
Formal and Informal Learning
Participants discussed bridging formal and informal learning; technology and families; and personal learning heroes.
Games and Learning
Participants considered the specific qualities that make games so motivating, identified key insights from existing research on games, and discussed implications for learning and libraries.
Mind, Brain and Behavior
The Mind, Brain and Behavior breakout groups explored the current state of mind, brain and behavior research as it relates to the impact of technology on child and adolescent development.
Social and Mobile Media
Participants in this session considered the opportunities and challenges associated with youth’s social and mobile media. In particular, participants were interested to understand if and how social and mobile media can be used to increase access to libraries.
Information and Digital Policy
Sessions explored the nature of policy—how policy making occurs internally, within all types of organizations and at different levels of society, and how it draws participation from multiple stakeholders. Participants created a policy agenda to promote digital literacy that emphasized youth safety and anti-bullying through the lens of vulnerable populations in schools.