The Leveling Up project investigates the learning dynamics of interest-driven online groups that support academically-relevant knowledge seeking and expertise development. How do online groups and platforms support feedback, publicity, and reputation development that fosters skills and expertise? What kinds of learning resources are in the environment, such as teachers, coaches, and instructional materials? What kinds of social and technological supports encourage young people to participate, persist, and achieve? What are the learning and social outcomes of participation? Our initial case studies focus on the learning and production resources surrounding gaming. We are also developing a case study of fiber arts expertise development, centered on a case study of ravelry.com and plan to develop further cases that center on interest-groups that attract large numbers of women and girls.
Principal Investigators: Katie Salen Tekinbaş (https://clrn.dmlhub.net/people/katie-salen.html) & Mimi Ito (https://clrn.dmlhub.net/people/mimi-ito.html)