YouthLearn
Web Roundup, Issue #41 - July 25, 2003

Here's a whirlwind tour of news and information about learning programs
enhanced with technology. We hope this assists you in your important
work! If you like this newsletter, please feel free to e-mail it to a friend.

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News

Public Strongly Supports Education in 21st Century Skills
A survey recently released by AOL Time Warner found that more than 90
percent of Americans believe that young people should be taught "21st
Century Literacy" skills. Conducted by the AOL Time Warner Foundation,
this survey was followed by the announcement of grant awards to
organizations that build 21st Century literacy skills, including YouthLearn.

http://media.aoltimewarner.com/media/fn_press_view.cfm?release_num=
55253235

Further, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, of which AOL Time Warner is
a founding member, has just released the report, Learning in the 21st
Century, and companion MILE (Milestones for Improving Learning and
Education) Guide for 21st Century Skills. This concise guide is designed to
help communities assess and improve their educational programs.

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org

Report Concludes Afterschool Programs Yield Multiple Benefits
Critical Hours: Afterschool Programs and Educational Success is an
important new research study funded by the Nellie Mae Foundation and
authored by Dr. Beth Miller of the National Institute of Out of School Time.
Based on her analysis of various studies, she finds that afterschool programs
can significantly influence academic achievement and increase student
engagement. In addition, the benefits of afterschool programs are shown to
extend beyond the youth participants to families and communities.

http://www.nmefdn.org/CriticalHours.htm

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Grants and Awards

Jenesis Group Grants for Youth Programs
A private family foundation, The Jenesis Group is offering grants to non-
profit and grassroots organizations that focus on youth development,
education, and social entrepreneurship. The Foundation especially seeks
preventative programs that empower disadvantaged youth and encourage
them to become productive citizens. Letters of inquiry are accepted on a
rolling basis.

http://www.jenesis.org/app/index.htm

Hasbro Children's Foundation Direct-Service Funding
The Hasbro Children's Foundation supports innovative health, education, and
social services programs that share the Foundation's key values: caring,
opportunity, and joy. Local, national, and replication/expansion grants are
available, ranging from $500 to $35,000+ over one to three years.
Deadline: rolling. [Foundation Center]

http://www.hasbro.org/hcf/

Open Meadows Grants for Projects
Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded by the Open Meadows Foundation to
fund new or ongoing projects "designed and implemented by women and
girls," projects that promote the empowerment of women and girls, and
other social change projects. Special funding is available for programs that
involve indigenous women or young women activists. Deadlines: August 15,
February 15.

http://www.openmeadows.org/

Women Helping Others Foundation Grants
The WHO Foundation is dedicated to funding grassroots initiatives that
address the needs of women and children in the United States and Puerto
Rico, with an emphasis on health, education, and social services. Most grant
awards will range from $2,500 to $15,000. Apply by September 16. [CTC]

http://whofoundation.org

Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy Grant Competition
This national grant program solicits applications from eligible organizations
for programs that must include literacy instruction for children and for
parents as well as intergenerational activities. A total of $650,000 in grants
up to $65,000 will be awarded annually, with the overall goal to support
programs that "build families of readers." Deadline is September 5.
[Foundation Center]

http://www.barbarabushfoundation.com/nga.html

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Info

Research Study on Youth Development and Youth Outcomes
A new report, Finding Out What Matters for Youth: Testing Key Links in a
Community Action for Youth Development Framework
, seeks to answer the
question "How good is good enough?" with reference to youth supports and
outcomes. Evidence shows that youth who have support and opportunities
early in adolescence are twice as likely to have positive developmental
outcomes in later adolescence. Given the findings, researchers discuss the
implications of the study for future research and practice. [PPAS]

http://www.ydsi.org/YDSI/

Review of Policies Toward Disconnected Youth
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) has recently published Leave
No Youth Behind: Opportunities for Congress to Reach Disconnected Youth.

This report appraises six government-sponsored programs being considered
for reauthorization and provides recommendations for meeting the needs of
at-risk or disadvantaged youth. [Connect for Kids]

http://www.clasp.org/Pubs/Pubs_Health

Civic Engagement in the Schoolhouse
The Civic Mission of Schools, a collective report by 50 scholars and
practitioners, argues for school-based civic education. This report was
presented by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and CIRCLE (The Center
for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement) earlier this
year. Features include promising approaches to civic education as well as
recommendations for implementing programs.

http://www.civicmissionofschools.org

Educational Technology News from The Concord Consortium
The Concord Consortium is a nonprofit educational research and
development organization focused on educational technology projects and
products. The latest issue of their newsletter spotlights the use of
interactive technologies to enhance professional development for teachers
and looks at modeling technology in science learning.

http://www.concord.org/newsletter/2003-spring/

CTC Consortium Website
Smart Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort of the Newport News Public
Schools, has launched a website filled with resources of interest to
community technology centers, schools, and communities. Features of the
site include special sections for kids, parents, and educators as well as links
to educational games, curriculum, and evaluation materials.

http://smart.nn.k12.va.us/

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Ideas

Go on Air
Discover how radio can be used as a foundation for creative learning in
language arts, production, documentation and more. "Radio Diaries"
provides guidelines, tips and even a downloadable "Teen Reporter"
handbook for radio documentary production. New York Times Learning
Network's Radio Free School incorporates media and global studies with
language arts in a lesson where students learn how to write segments for
their own radio program.

http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article508.html#radiodiaries

Meet the Authors
Thanks to Nick Glass, creator of TeachingBooks, educators can fulfill their
students' dreams by connecting them with the authors of their favorite
books. Through the Authors Up-Close program, filmed interviews of
children's favorite authors are available in addition to over 3,200 teacher
guides, National Public Radio interviews, links to authors' personal sites, and
other Web resources with more information on children's and young adult
authors. [PEN]

http://www.teachingbooks.net


Highlights from the YouthLearn Website

*Creating a Classroom Community
Find pointers on inspiring collaboration and getting kids to feel that they are
part of a community.
http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/teaching/climate.asp

*Computer Hardware, Accessories, and Peripherals
Whether you're starting from scratch or just adding some new pieces of
equipment, this crash course in devices for your lab can help you think
through your needs.
http://www.youthlearn.org/techno/hardware.asp

We welcome your feedback!

_______________

YouthLearn
http://www.youthlearn.org

This newsletter is produced by the YouthLearn Initiative at EDC especially for
members of the YouthLearn discussion group.

YouthLearn is a project of the nonprofit
Education Development Center, Inc.
Designed for youth-development professionals, teachers, educators, and other
caring adults, YouthLearn provides resources and tools for developing effective
learning programs enhanced with technology, particularly in out-of-school settings.

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Copyright 2002 Education Development Center, Inc. All rights reserved.
YouthLearn was created by the
Morino Institute.