The program is funded by the National Science Foundation (grant #2045492). It is designed by Dr. Patricia Garcia and her research group at the University of Michigan, School of Information.
The program is part of a research study that examines how public libraries can provide justice-oriented technology programming to youth, ages 11-17.
The program will consists of twenty hours of instructional time with librarians serving as the facilitators. The instructional time occurs over five days, with each day lasting four hours. Youth learn block-based computer programming and beginning circuitry using materials such as LEDs, copper tape, paper, and 3V cell batteries. Full participation in the 20 hours of instructional time is recommended but not required for participation.
The youth participants will be observed during the implementation of the program by the researcher (Patricia Garcia) and the student research assistant (Melissa Perez) for 14 of the 20 hours of instructional time.
Since the program is part of a research study, Dr. Garcia and her team ask for your permission to photograph program activities. You do not have to agree to have your child be recorded in order to participate in the study. The audio recording and photographing of these activities is optional. The recording(s) will be used for reviewing youth responses to the program activities and the development of their programming and circuitry skills. The study team will avoid full facial pictures and focus on photographing the artifacts created by the youth, such as their programming code and circuits. The recording(s) will be accessed only by the research team. The researchers will not use the recording(s) for any other reason than those stated in the consent form without your written permission. You have the right to preview the recordings upon request by contacting Dr. Patricia Garcia at garciapg@umich.edu.
Code & Craft 