Caitlin K. Martin

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Caitlin K. Martin is a learning sciences researcher whose work illuminates how youth develop digital fluency and creative agency across formal and informal learning environments. Her research centers on understanding learning ecologies—the interconnected spaces where young people create, collaborate, and build technological identities. In her highly cited 2012 study, “Creating Within and Across Life Spaces,” Martin examined how a Computer Clubhouse served as a pivotal node in a child’s broader learning ecology, demonstrating how informal settings can bridge home, school, and community experiences. Her 2016 chapter “Making Matters” provides critical evidence linking hands-on digital hobbies—such as website creation and digital art—to deeper engagement with computing, even among youth with limited resources. This work has been foundational for the maker education movement. Martin also co-led a three-year longitudinal study of the Digital Youth Network, documenting how intentionally designed learning environments support urban youth in becoming new media producers. Though her citation counts reflect a growing field, her contributions have shaped how educators and researchers design equitable, connected learning pathways for young people, making her a key voice in digital youth development and informal STEM education.