Making the Case: Examining Communities of Learning in an After-School Program

• In Event: Division H Vice-Presidential Invited Session: Fresh and Innovative Graduate Student Work in School-Based Research, Evaluation, and Assessment

Abstract

Afterschool programs may provide rich environments for academic, social and emotional development of students. They are seen increasingly useful especially for youth at risk of school failure. In this study, an afterschool program, which is developed by researchers, is examined to understand how a community of practice developed in it over time for undergraduate mentors who assist low-achieving high school students. There are found 12 components leading the three main interactions in the community; a) interactions between mentors and researchers (e.g. changing participation), b) interactions between mentor-mentor and mentors-students (e.g. sense of responsibility to help), and c) tensions (e.g. lack of pre-knowledge/access for classroom).

Author

• Ruhan Circi Kizil, University of Colorado - Boulder