Get in the Game: Re-Coding the Margins

This research agenda seeks to respond to the question “how can marginalized groups and communities be empowered in the design and use of digital technologies?”. We propose to offer computer science training through game design to single mothers in Toronto, Ontario who self-identify as novice computer users. In recent years, we have seen an international rise in women and girl informal learning programming (Girls Make Games, Ladies Learning Code, XX Games, Pixelles, Dames Making Games). Despite the inclusion orientation of these types of projects, they tend to be accessible to some more than others. Single mothers may lack the ability to participate for a number of reasons including child care, work (domestic and professional) and financial costs. This proposed research will directly target that underserved community, seeking to learn about how to best support the development of significant technology skills in a population that is often overlooked.