The Beta Lab at UC Davis studies how young people learn and
develop through participation in making and the Maker Movement.
We investigate the nature of learning that occurs during
extended, youth-driven maker projects, and we design learning
environments and tools to support learning through making.
The Integrating Literacies Project
explores the nature of work and communication in the lives of
Latinx youth. Our aim is to generate knowledge about young
people’s work-related communication skills and strengths, and the
conditions that encourage their development. The project’s
practical goal is to inform programs and policies that shape
the career opportunities and trajectories of Latinx youth.
Our research focuses on the language and literacy development of
young children, particularly dual language learners. We have
several ongoing projects. The lab is supported by grants from the
National Institute of Health, Foundation for Child
Development, Language Learning, and Yolo Community Foundation.
With Youth-focused Citizen and
Community Science (YCCS), youth contribute to authentic science.
They can do this through data collection, but also interpreting
or sharing findings. But what does this mean for science
learning? To answer this question, we began conducting case
studies with YCCS projects in Northern California and bringing
together key stakeholders to explore when and how YCCS works
best.
