Tom’s research focuses on organized activities that youth attend during out-of-school time (OST) and what these voluntary environments can teach us about learning. Studying the topic from a motivation perspective, Tom’s research investigates instructional practices, thought processes, decisions made during learning, and the developmental and educational consequences of participation.

Tom’s work on young people’s motivation and learning in out-of-school time structured activities such as afterschool and community-based programs suggest that such activities can be beneficial to youth but only when certain features are present so that these spaces are motivating enough that the kids keep attending.