UC Links is a US university faculty initiative to establish computer-based
after-school educational activities for youth from various backgrounds
at school and in communities. These activities, carried out by
undergraduates, create a dynamic interaction between young people
outside the university and college students inside the university.
The project started with the recognition that, traditionally,
colleges were disconnected from the communities around them, that
marginalised youths had little opportunity to interact with college
students and that undergraduates, in turn, had little knowledge
or experience of life in neighbourhoods surrounding campus, especially
those isolated or excluded from mainstream society.
Through the project, disadvantaged youths get the chance to access
new instructional technologies and receive mentoring from older
peers. In turn, this interaction grants both academic and community
service opportunities to university faculty students. Activities
take the shape of informal sessions with undergraduates in after-school
hours, youths receiving intensive learning experiences in maths,
science, and basic literacy whilst undergraduates develop field
research skills in assisting children's computer and basic learning
experiences. As mentors and models for the young children, undergraduates
help create a pipeline to higher education for these children
who come from a very different community-based experience. The
project is especially relevant for youth from linguistic or ethnic
minority groups (Latinos, etc.) and represents an example of collaborative
efforts at bringing educational opportunities to the widest number.
UC Links has grown from a total of three sites at two campuses
to a total of 15 sites at nine UC campuses.
The UC Link methodology is an intricate process. It has the following
steps:
-allocating a space for after-school activities (classroom, computer lab, etc.);
-securing the necessary computer hardware and software for the educational content;
-instituting the training course which enables UC students to work with youths in the area;
-consolidating ties between students and community youth through
use of educational technology.
Example of a UC Link programme:
At Santa Cruz university (UCSC), the UC Links project has taken
on a life of its own at a community site called Barrios Unidos.
UCSC and Barrios Unidos are partners in this after-school programme,
serving largely elementary and middle school students from surrounding
low-income areas. The collaboration between students and community
aims to promote communication, dialogue, problem-solving on violence
prevention and other issues. About 30 elementary-school children
attend UC Links in the neighbourhood. Four days per week, 10-12
children fill the small, lively computer room. Slowly, undergraduates
are developing knowledge of child development issues and children,
by daring to interact more with technology, are becoming computer
literate.
Contact information:
mcamras@weber.ucsd.edu