YouthLearn
Newsletter, Issue 68 - July 5, 2005

The YouthLearn Newsletter compiles the latest entries to the
YouthLearn News Blog. This innovative service to the YouthLearn
community highlights youth, education, and technology news, tools,
and resources. We hope this assists you in your important work.
Please feel free to share this resource with friends and colleagues,
and visit the News Blog often! http://news.youthlearn.org

_______________
News

More Computer Classes Urged for Kids
"Even in a nation where most every school has Internet access and
computer use often starts by nursery school, teachers of technology
see a warning message flashing. For students in elementary and
secondary schools, states have few developed standards or required
courses in computer science... Somehow, teachers contend, states
must embrace the idea of training sophisticated computer users at
a younger age."
URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/computer_science

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FILL GAPS
"After-school programs have become a central part of many school
communities and programs throughout the country. They provide
working parents with a safe place for their children to stay in those
critical after-school hours, and they provide low-income students
with access to programs and services their families may not
otherwise be able to afford. Increasingly, however, after-school
programs are being stretched in two directions -- providing students
with enrichment activities (music, dance, or art, for example) while
expanding their academic support in an effort to close the
achievement gap."
URL: http://www.edutopia.org/edutopianews.html#4
Referred by: GLEF Edutopia News e-newsletter

_______________
Funding

Mini-Grant Program for Service-Learning
"Constitutional Rights Foundation's Robinson Mini-Grant Program for
service learning projects designed to address serious community
issues." Maximum Award: $500. Eligibility: K-12. Deadline: October 14.
URL: http://www.crf-usa.org/network/crf_robin.html
Referred by: PEN Weekly NewsBlast

_______________
Resources

Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets, The Asset Lists
Whether you're familiar with these resources or not, they're good to
keep in mind if you're involved in youth and/or child development
programs. And, the Search Institute published a couple new lists last
year: The 40 Developmental Assets for adolescents. The two newest
asset lists: 40 Developmental Assets for early childhood (ages 0-5);
40 Developmental Assets for middle childhood (grades 4-6). The
original lists of age-specific assets: 40 Developmental Assets for
infants; 40 Developmental Assets for toddlers; 40 Developmental
Assets for preschoolers; 40 Developmental Assets for elementary-age
children. Elementos fundamentales del desarrollo: The 40 assets for
adolescents in Spanish.
URL: http://www.search-institute.org/downloads/#40assets
Referred by: Healthy Communities - Healthy Youth discussion list

_______________
Research

P21: Rethink testing for future success
"Today's high-stakes tests are inadequate tools for measuring the
kinds of skills students will need for success in the global, technology-
driven workplace, according to a group of key business and education
leaders. The group, called the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, has
issued a new report calling on national and state policy makers to
ratchet up efforts to design and implement new assessments that
can effectively measure these skills.... "
URL: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5735
Referred by: eSchool News

_______________
Activities

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE GET A HEAD START ON CAREERS
"Three hundred middle school students from around the country
worked on a new website created to link their interests and hobbies
to future careers. The new site is offering online resources that
cater to ages 11-15, seeking information about careers in science,
technology, engineering, and math. Designed and developed with
recommendations from teams of middle-schoolers, Funworks is not
only for young people, but also for guidance counselors, teachers,
media specialists & parents. Because existing career-related websites
are often dense, full of statistics, and created for adults, Funworks
stands out with its vibrant colors, graphics and photos, interactive
games, quizzes, and more. Funworks was created by the Gender,
Diversities, and Technology Institute at Education Development Center."
URL: http://www.thefunworks.org
Referred by: PEN Weekly NewsBlast



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. Every two weeks, the newsletter is
compiled from the entries in the YouthLearn News Blog, including summaries
from various sources that YouthLearn staff periodically review.

Past newsletters are archived at http://www.youthlearn.org/resources/newsletter/index.html.

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.

To subscribe or unsubscribe:
Go to http://www.youthlearn.org/join/subscribe.html

To send a message to the YouthLearn discussion group:
Send an email to youthlearn@mailman.edc.org

To write to us:
To receive future issues of this newsletter in plain text format or to write us
with other comments or questions, send an email to info@youthlearn.org.


Copyright 2005 Education Development Center, Inc. All rights reserved.
YouthLearn was created by the Morino Institute.