Clubs and Tech: A Good Mix

Back in the early 1980s, Apple created Apple Computer Clubs, which later became Apple Computer Clubs International. It was a unique idea, but didn’t last, probably because this type of Club in schools and communities was ahead of its time. The kids in those clubs had a great time earning pins for achievements and doing projects for national competitions. Today the Girls & Boys Clubs (BGCA) have what is called Club Tech . A recent study of some of the BGCA Clubs by the University of Washington found that the extra time on computers that Club members received promoted “creativity, expression, collaboration, and other skills that are crucial to 21^st century workplaces.” Involvement in Club Tech also made it possible for those students without home tech access to use computers for homework and to spend more time practicing use of technologies. Although study leaders suggest that further research on this topic be initiated, the findings from this study agree with what students, teachers and parents said about the Apple Computer Clubs several decades ago. Bottom line, students enjoy and benefit from tech time in a club-type organization, where time on tech may include projects, skill development, collaboration with club members, and/or simply time to do homework.