FUSE and CAF: Strengthening a Partnership To Create Visible Learning Pathways in Architecture and Design For Chicago Youth

  • Jona, Kemi (PD/PI)

Project: Research project

Project Details

Description

This project will support continued collaboration between 2 Hive programs, FUSE and the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) that will highlight opportunities for connected learning across Chicago. This proposed project will develop new tools to encourage teens to progress from hanging out and messing around in a new architectural themed FUSE challenge, to geeking out in CAF’s teen programming. This project will provide a model for creating future learning pathways for youth among Hive organizations. This project will expand FUSE and CAF programming, thereby leveraging current funding, resources, and expertise already working to create and advance connected learning experiences and program models in STEAM within Hive Chicago. FUSE’s Hive-funded pilot work in 2011-2012 demonstrated success in igniting and nurturing STEAM-focused interests among teens through an innovative challenge-based approach. Since then FUSE has grown with support from the MacArthur Foundation and supplemental Hive Chicago funding and offers a strong program model that provides teens with the opportunity to EXPLORE+CREATE+SHARE across informal and cyber spaces and within a diverse STEAM learning community comprised of peers and mentors, educators, and the academic and business communities. CAF has strong career-path aligned youth programs further strengthened through the collaboration with professional mentors from the design community. In addition, this collaboration further innovates the CAF Design Jam model MacArthur has supported over the last two years. It integrates the creative, prototyping nature of a face-to-face design program within the online FUSE platform and still outlines the creative process of architectural design for students to follow. FUSE and CAF’s complementary youth programming creates a network effect within Hive Chicago. FUSE challenges engage teens in the Hanging Out and Messing Around stages of engagement (as defined by Ito, et al). In contrast, CAF’s
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date5/1/141/31/15

Funding

  • Chicago Community Foundation (A2014-03472)

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