The Fifth Dimension

"In The Fifth Dimension, Michael Cole and his university and community- based colleagues offer many important ideas. One is that colleges and universities have much to gain from getting involved in the creation and implementation of after-school programs."
-ROBERT C. GRANGER, president, William T. Grant Foundation

"The Fifth Dimension describes in an honest and subtle way the process of trying to translate theory into practice. The authors began with a rich stew of ideas-about broadening access to literacy, the potential of computers as a new tool for creating learning communities across time and space, about integrating play, learning, attachment, and work, and about the power of myth. They turned these into a unique role playing game called the Fifth Dimension, and then introduced this game into diverse community-based after-school settings. The results were rewarding, frustrating, and illuminating. The book itself is a model of how to report this kind of work. The authors are respectful of their own ideas, the children, and adults with whom they worked over the years, and not least the reader."
-ROBERT HALPERN, professor, Erikson Institute

The significant increase in the number of working mothers over the last twenty years has led to widespread worries about the plight of “latchkey kids,” who return from school each day to empty homes. Concerned that unsupervised children might be at greater risk of delinquency, schools and communities across the nation began providing after-school activities. But many of these programs were hastily devised with little understanding of what constitutes a quality program that meets children’s developmental needs. The Fifth Dimension explores and evaluates one of the country’s most successful and innovative after-school programs, providing insightful and practical lessons about what works and doesn’t work after-school.

The Fifth Dimension program was established in the 1980s as a partnership between community centers and local colleges to establish an educational after-school program. With an emphasis on diversity and computer technology, the program incorporates the latest theories about child development and gives college students the opportunity to apply their textbook understanding of child development to real learning environments. The Fifth Dimension explores the design, implementation, and evaluation of this thriving program. The authors attribute the success of the Fifth Dimension to several factors. First, the program offers a balance of intellectually enriching exercises with development enhancing games. Second, by engaging undergraduates as active participants in both learning and social activities, the program gives local community organizations a large infusion of high-quality help for their educational efforts. Third, by rewarding children for their achievements and good behavior with greater flexibility in choosing their own schedules, the Fifth Dimension acts as a powerful, enduring motivator.

The Fifth Dimension program serves as a model for what an enriching after-school program can be. The product of years of innovation and careful assessment, The Fifth Dimension is a valuable resource for all who are interested in developing successful community-based learning programs.

MICHAEL COLE is university professor of communication and psychology at the University of California, San Diego.