MARIN R.O.P. MEDIA CENTER

IMAGINE TODAY: CREATE TOMORROW

The Intel Clubhouse at the Marin Youth Center (MYC) has been a successful after-school program offering Marin students a safe place to learn valuable state-of-the-art technology skills. Over the last six years, the Intel Clubhouse has offered project-based learning activities in media production, graphics, and sound.

Now through a partnership with the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE) programming at the Intel Clubhouse will be aligned with the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) curriculum for 21st century technical skills through the use of technology. The new curricular structure for The Marin ROP Media Center activities will incorporate the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Foundation Standards in the Multimedia and Engineering Industry Sectors. The Marin County Office of Education School To Career Partnership will provide high-quality work-based learning opportunities for students in technology and engineering career areas.

The Marin ROP Media Center now offers a full slate of project-based multimedia learning for Marin county middle and high school youth. Project-based learning opportunities in audio and video production along with graphics, 3D prototyping, mobile “app” development and robotics are just some of the classes for Marin county youth.

Accredited Middle School and High School Classes now Available!

The Importance of Youth IT Skills

If you've ever taught a class computer science, you'll know that experience varies wildly. Some of them are comfortable with a wide variety of tasks, and some just know how to use Facebook. This discrepancy will not be beneficial to those lagging behind, and in the digital age, can harm their ability to find gainful employment.

Teaching children IT skills helps them to find a ground from which they can explore other avenues of education and find the career of their choice. There are few careers out there that don't involve a computer in some way, from becoming an engineer to working with a booking system in a restaurant. Whether they grow up to work for O2 or decide to become a tree surgeon, these skills will give them confidence and make them feel that little bit more prepared to take on the world.

What we aim to do with computer clubhouses is introduce children to computers, especially those who would not normally get access to the sort of education and computer technology on offer at a computer clubhouse. Not only can they learn new skills, they can potentially discover an entire career simply sitting at a keyboard - to inspire someone through a clubhouse opportunity to take up a career in IT is a great feeling and an accomplishment for the staff at the clubhouse.

If you feel you have the skills to volunteer at the clubhouse, then by all means do so - to have someone working in IT come and teach or talk to the children about what you can do with a computer if you put your mind to it is an incredible experience for both you and the children present. Hopefully we have inspired you to take part, form your own computer clubhouse or support one local to you, and we look forward to reading your success stories with children in the future.

San Rafael Intel Computer Clubhouse

The Computer Clubhouse provides a creative and safe learning environment where young people work with adult mentors to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence through the use of technology.

Here in San Rafael, youth ages 11- 20 can discover and explore how multimedia is created and shared in a networked digital world. Whether on stage, behind the camera, or through hands-on projects, youth learn how to create meaningful media that is shared with friends, family, and the community.

Working with both Middle School and High School youth, we provide project-based learning to foster and train youth to become technically competent, while having fun designing and developing their projects.