How to influence informal learning – a focus on public libraries

For nearly 40 years, EDC’s Center for Children and Technology has been investigating the roles that technology can play in teaching and learning in both informal and formal learning spaces. With the radical shift in home and school use of digital tools due to covid-19, families and educators are creating tech-enabled home learning experiences on the fly. EDC researchers offer best practices around selecting and using digital tools for learning, leveraging media as launching points for learning on and off the screen, and ways to support families in bridging learning across home, school, and community settings.

Where do libraries fit within this digital shift?
From supporting families in building positive tech habits to advising on what to look for when searching for an app, librarians are acting as “media mentors” in many ways. Join us for a conversation with education researchers and library leaders. We’ll highlight available resources, reimagine how libraries engage with users of all ages and ponder what informal learning opportunities we’ve yet to discover.

This webinar was open to librarians of all expertise levels who engage with diverse populations, but will focus mostly on how libraries and librarians can support families with young children, from toddlers through middle school.