Hot, Free, and Downloadable: tech for teens and why you care

Amy Boese andMarcus Lowry

Ramsey County LibraryMinnesota

Ramsey County Library: Teen Services

• Seven Libraries• Five School Districts• 740 programs per year (365 gaming at Roseville)• 10,000 Teens• Three sushi places, one Pizza Ranch, no Waffle

House• Two librarians

How we do it.

• Active classes– Librarian instructors– AmeriCorps CTEP – Community Ed., TV– School collaborations – Youth serving organizations

• Passive access to tech• Drop in tech

Coolest. Things. Ever.

Replicator in action

Replicator II

http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/product/gsu.html

• Free!• Most popular 3D modeling software

http://pixologic.com/sculptris/

• Free!• More detail• Less architecture, better suited for forms

http://scratch.mit.edu/

• Free!• Golden oldie of video game creation, still

golden• In many school classrooms• Focuses on creative animation, programming

http://www.stencyl.com/

• Free!• Creates a stand-alone flash game• Focuses on creating playable games, less on

how to create the pieces

http://inkscape.org/download/?lang=en

• Free! (No, really.)• Open source vector editor• Future Fashion Designers

http://pixlr.com/

• Free!• Online photo editor• Taking and Editing Great Photos

http://www.weebly.com/

• Free! (But you have to sign up.)• Create your own website, link all of your stuff

in one place

• http://jnsbhello.weebly.com/mangaaaa.html

http://clubcreate.com/

• Free! (Sign in to save your work.)• Remix songs or create your own• Ability to import vocal and instrumental tracks

MusicLab (Maidah's Music).mp3

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

• Free! (open source.)• Audio editor• Podcasting• Edit sound for importing elsewhere

Tangents, or:Not free, hot, or downloadable

• Minecraft• Flip• Apps• Python• Artemis• Whomptrix

Challenges

• Teen tech open lab – drop in versus drop off• Cutting edge tech sometimes FAILS• Free software goes away (RIP: aviary.com)• Schools block free software• Libraries block downloads• Vendor issues: bugs are bugs• Staffing changes

Why we think you should care.• Navigation of new technology• Gamification• Courage is learned• Inspiration and exploration• Career exploration – “People do this for $$$, you could too.”

Time for more play.

Thanks! Questions? aboese@rclreads.org mlowry@rclreads.org