This collaborative blog and curated collection of free and open resources is produced by the Digital Media and Learning Research Hub, whose mission is to advance research in the service of a more equitable, participatory, and effective ecosystem of learning keyed to the digital and networked era.

Located at the systemwide University of California Humanities Research Institute and hosted at UC Irvine, all of the Research Hub’s activities -- which include original research, blogs, websites, publications, and an annual conference -- are supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media and Learning Initiative.

What we do
1) We investigate the ways in which digital technology is changing learning environments, social and civic institutions, and youth culture.
2) We work to support the growth of the emerging digital media and learning field and community.
3) We spread thought leadership and best practices for next generation learning and civics.

How we do it

• Carry out an extensive agenda of original research
• Produce blogs, websites, a report series, other publications
• Hold an annual conference
• Support emerging scholars by sponsoring workshops, working groups and a weeklong summer institute
• Partner with like-minded research organizations and individuals

Our research

Connected Learning

With principal investigator Mimi Ito at UC Irvine, this network of scholars is carrying out research tied to the historical moment of the rise of social media, the Internet, and networked culture, and is developing a new model for learning. This new learning paradigm takes advantage of the promise of newfound connections youth have to peers, ideas, knowledge, interests and mentors through the Internet and digital media.

Youth and Participatory Politics

With principal investigator Joseph Kahne at Mills College, this interdisciplinary network of scholars is working together to understand the ways youth participation in online networks and environments is reshaping youth civic and political engagement in the public sphere.

Our supporter

We are supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as part of its extensive Digital Media and Learning portfolio.

The MacArthur Foundation launched its Digital Media and Learning initiative in 2006 with a single question: How, if at all, are young people being impacted by digital media and the Internet? That question blossomed into other major areas of inquiry, including: How is learning and education changing? How are social and civic institutions changing? How are important aspects of youth culture and development, such as identity, literacy, and citizenship, being impacted?

Based on years of research and the foundation's seeding of numerous new programs in libraries, museums, school and afterschool, the MacArthur initiative is now focused on reimagining learning for a networked society rich in new forms of connectivity, sociality and technology-fueled knowledge and information sharing.

(Image by NuclearLullaby ..09)