Mitchel Resnick

Abstract

In many parts of the world today, young people grow up surrounded by computers, electronic toys, game machines, and mobile phones, and they use these digital devices to engage in a diverse range of activities: playing games, texting friends, exploring virtual worlds, searching for information online. But most young people have little experience designing and creating with digital media. They feel comfortable playing with interactive games, animations, and simulations, but not creating their own. They are not truly fluent with digital technologies: it is as if they can “read” but not “write.” This paper uses stories from the Scratch online community to explore the meaning of digital fluency, providing examples of how young people can learn to express themselves fluently with digital media.