Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a program that was introduced in the 1860’s in Hartford Connecticut. “Believing that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, they organized the first Club. A cause was born.” Now made up of more than 4,300 clubs and in their 103rd year, the goal of these clubs is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” Boys & Girls Clubs across the country offer a range of programs that, according to the organization’s website, “Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a lineup of tested and proven nationally recognized programs that address today's most pressing youth issues, teaching young …show more content…

Technology is used in many ways in Boys & Girls Clubs. These technologies to be typical between of the sites I visited. Technology programs are used to promote learning around the following four ideas, general technical ability, application ability, non-technical learning, and positive socialization.
General technical ability would cover the core computer skills like using the keyboard and mouse, and determining which applications would be useful depending on the situation. Once the children began to understand the uses of each program they demonstrated more confidence and excitement for technology.
Application ability would include using word processing and productivity applications for formatting and creating documents for varied purposes, Using spreadsheets for basic numeric expressions, Internet safety and digital arts.
Non-technical learning is user friendly and highly supportive environments for technology access and creative expression. A non-technical environment would consist of knowledgeable, trusted adults and peers with whom to ask questions and learn.
Positive socialization would consist of enabling 21st century socialization by using online social communities like Facebook and MySpace. “Positive socialization is the type of social learning that is based on pleasurable and exciting experiences. We tend to like the people who fill our social learning processes with positive