Scaffolding Long-Term Interest Into Coding Through Scratch

• In Event: 54.066 - Using Digital Media to Inform Learning, Pedagogy, and Assessment

Abstract

Youth are exposed to many activities that could become interests but how does brief exposure become a sustained pursuit? This paper is based on data from a three-year multi-site and multi-modal study, which examines both youth who participate in the online community and youth who use Scratch in informal learning contexts. The data set includes 42 interviews with Scratchers, ranging in age from 8 to 21. From my analysis, I describe three main introductions that youth have into coding from exposure to interest, and some of the scaffolds that supported their progress from entry to sustained interest.

Author

• Crystle Martin, University of California - Irvine