Study of the Digital NEST Technology Center

We collaborated with ETR, a research firm in Scotts Valley, CA, on a study about how Digital NEST, a community-based technology center in Watsonville, CA, incorporated open educational resources to serve under-served high school students, particularly rural Latino/a students, in computer science. The 3-year project was funded by the National Science Foundation. Modeled after successful technology companies such as Google and Facebook, Digital NEST is a non-profit, high-tech training and collaboration space for young people that inspires its members to be creative, innovative, and self-sufficient.

Through training, peer collaboration and professional mentoring, youth are supported in mastering the technological skills they need to pursue higher education and careers in our globally connected world. Its members work with state-of-the-art technology in a safe and learning-focused environment.

Digital Nest members receive a computer with all the latest software to use for doing homework, taking online courses, creating original projects, exploring the Internet, and participating in the same online social opportunities as their connected peers. Digital NEST is staffed by culturally aware and bilingual professional staff who serve as mentors and educators.

Learn more at http://digitalnest.org/