Giving Compass' Take:

· Pennsylvania’s East Pennsboro School District has created an after-school club for students interested in YouTube and creating content. According to Education Dive, students not only learn about digital media, but also gain skills in leadership and teamwork.

· How do after-school programs help students develop both academic and soft skills? 

· Read about this after-school STEM program that has grown to inspire students.

Digital media has pushed a transformation across school libraries, with students walking through their doors less often for books than for media training and computer time. Educators are eager to bring students into the space, hence the proliferation of makerspaces, as well as after-school activities that help children build strong digital skills.

After-school activities are traditionally focused on interests that class time doesn’t typically encompass, such as gardening or even video game playing. Indirectly, however, these clubs also support the development of both academic and soft skills, including creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration abilities. While not necessarily measured by achievement tests, these so-called “Four Cs,” as defined by the National Education Association, are considered 21st century skills necessary for today’s students.

“Twenty-first century learners can expect to be part of a culture that values participation, with ample opportunities to initiate, produce and share one’s creations,” said the authors of “The Futures of Learning 2,” a report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. “They will be expected to communicate and collaborate in a variety of contexts, engage in peer-to-peer learning and develop as global citizens.”

Read the full article about after-school programs by Lauren Barack at Education Dive.