Hello everyone...

Is anyone in this community presenting next week at the AERA (American
Educational Research Association) conference in NYC?  

If so, could you please share information on your sessions?  It would be
great to meet folks in person and learn more about your work.

My team is presenting at a couple sessions. (See below.)  The second
study may be particularly interesting to folks in this community b/c it
involves a more novel way to engage adolescents (and perhaps adults and
families) in reading activities - through simulation games.  The game I
used for this study, Real Lives (see www.educationalsimulations.com) is
largely text-based but even so, it was motivating for even the
lowest-level readers in my sample-early adolescents reading at grade
level 2 and 4.  The reason why it's so engaging is that as a player, you
become a character in a potentially real life drama.  The choices you
make have consequences on the outcome of your character's life and their
family's life.  In the process, you learn a lot of information about
culture, geography, employment, money management, and even
relationships.  

Best regards, 

--Kallen :)
 

(1) Home Computing, School Engagement, and Academic Achievement of
Low-Income Adolescents: Findings from the CFY Intervention

Scheduled Time: Fri, Mar 28 - 12:25pm - 1:55pm   
Building/Room: Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers/Carnegie Suite East, 3rd
Fl
Session: Learning In and Out of School: Formal Settings, Nonformal
Settings, and the Interplay Between Them

Authors: Kallen E. Tsikalas (Computers for Youth); Jihyun Lee (ETS)

Abstract:
This study examines the relationship between specific home computing
practices and low-income adolescents' school engagement and achievement.
We surveyed 174 middle school students who participated in the Computers
for Youth (CFY) program. More than 90% were Black or Hispanic, and a
majority performed below grade level on reading and math standardized
tests prior to receiving CFY's intervention. We found that the students
actively and regularly used their home computers and the Internet for
learning and that their computer use was associated with increased
success in school. Students' engagement and home computer use,
particularly their home Internet use and computer use for self-regulated
learning, explained 14% of the variance in their 2006 math test scores
over and above 2005 scores.

(2) Computer-Based Life Simulations and Young Adolescents: Identity
Exploration, Information Learning, and Sense-Making

Scheduled Time: Wed, Mar 26 - 12:25pm - 1:55pm   
Building/Room: Hilton New York / Americas Hall, 3rd Fl
In Session: Science and Technology Learning Posters
Author: Kallen E. Tsikalas (Computers for Youth)

Abstract:
This descriptive study examined patterns of play and learning within a
computer-based life simulation game for 13 low-income, urban
adolescents. Behavior log and structured interview data from 63
different simulated lives were used to characterize participants'
identity explorations, information learning, sense-making, beliefs and
values. Findings suggest that students engaged in three types of
identity exploration when playing the game - projective play, identified
play and experimentation. Additionally, they were able to abstract
personally-meaningful decision-making strategies about relationships,
education, jobs, and money management. The research indicates that life
simulation games can play a valuable role in supporting healthy
adolescent development, and it outlines possible applications for
teachers and counselors.

Kallen Tsikalas | National Director of Research & Learning Services
Computers for Youth (CFY)
322 8th Avenue | Floor 12A | New York, NY 10001
www.cfy.org