Youthlearn News Archive 2006

First-of-its-kind school seeks to meet the needs of 21st-century learners
By Corey Murray, Senior Editor, eSchool News

"A paperless environment; flexible classroom furniture that easily can be arranged to support collaborative, project-based learning; high-tech tools to support hands-on instruction; and a sustainable architecture designed to save thousands of dollars in energy costs--all of these innovations mark Philadelphia's new School of the Future, which opened its doors to students for the first time Sept. 7.

(September 2006) The Freechild Project announces the availability of a new publication focusing on youth action. The "Guide to Social Change Led By and With Young People" provides a brief introduction to the issues and actions addressed by children and youth around the world as they lead community action. The Guide also includes an introduction to Freechild's unique Cycle of Youth Engagement, as well as a resource directory.
This new publication was written for interested youth, youth workers, advocates, activists, educators, academics, and others who are interested in social change.

YouthLearn facilitated a session, Harnessing Technology to Advance Afterschool Learning, at the recent Annual Community Technology Centers Network (CTCNet) conference in DC on July 28, 2006.

Using Graphic Organizers: Mapping
Mapping is a simple and wonderfully versatile technique that you can use with your colleagues and kids for brainstorming, organizing thoughts, and generating ideas. They can be used to define a curriculum, plan a project, select a theme, develop a simple story or to add energy and enthusiasm to a repetition-based exercise such as pattern writing.

Whether you're doing a project with the whole class, breaking up into teams or working on individual projects, mapping should be a part of almost every group activity—and you should do lots of group activities.

UPS Foundation Education Grants fund high impact philanthropic programs that raise the level of educational instruction, family learning opportunities, and school involvement projects. Maximum Award: varies. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations. Deadline: N/A.

The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning is to provide funding to programs that support or provide job skills and/or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth.
Eligibility

The criteria listed below will be used to evaluate potential funding.
The organization must:

• Have a nonprofit tax-exempt classification under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

• Align with Staples Foundation for Learning's mission and give focus on job skills and education.

Application Procedure

We've simplified the proposal process by introducing an online syste

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people in grades 5 through 12 who have demonstrated exemplary voluntary service to their communities. The program was created in 1995 and is sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Over the past twelve years, the program has honored more than 70,000 young volunteers at the local, state, and national levels.

Schools and officially designated organizations may select one middle level and one high school Local Honoree for every 1,000 students (or portion thereof).

Check out "IFC's Film School Curriculum, a FREE public service initiative that uses the excitement of filmmaking to engage high school students in their English classes. Developed to meet the standards of the National Council of Teachers of English, the International Reading Association, as well as the National Education Technology Standards from ISTE, IFC's Film School Curriculum provides the tools to get students energized about classroom activities while simultaneously accomplishing core educational goals.

A growing number of Web sites offer knowledgeable and useful ideas, suggestions, lesson plans, activities, and resources for integrating technology. Whether you're a newbie or a technology guru, you'll learn something new at these featured sites.

The [Young Digital Creators Educator's] Kit is designed to help teachers and educators working in schools, youth clubs, community centres, and training institutes to generate and manage project-based learning activities through creative digital practises and collaborative web applications.
"The first part of the Kit explains some basic concepts of the Young Digital Creators teaching model. The second part introduces a detailed lesson plan with a number of learning activities that are expected to be implemented in sequence.