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News

The Classroom of Popular Culture
[What video games can teach us about making students want to learn]
by James Paul Gee - "Why is it that many children can't sit still long enough
to finish their homework and yet will spend hours playing games on the
computer? Video games are spectacularly successful at engaging young
learners. It's not because they are easy. Good video games are long,
complex, and difficult. They have to be; if they were dumbed down, no one
would want to play. But if children couldn't figure out how to play them -
and have fun doing so - game designers would soon go out of business."
URL: http://www.edletter.org/current/gee.shtml
Referred by: Harvard Education Letter

Debate over 'computer-literate children'
"For the past 25 years, digital technology has been heralded as a means of
radically transforming education. Yet despite expenditure on the part of
Government and intensive promotion by industry, the technological
revolution in schools has failed to materialise--claims an education expert."
URL: http://vtc.ngfl.gov.uk/docserver.php?docid=11937
Referred by: The MAGIC Network

UN debut for $100 laptop for poor
By Jo Twist, BBC News technology reporter in Tunis - "A prototype of a
cheap and robust laptop for pupils has been welcomed as an 'expression
of global solidarity' by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The green machine
was showcased for the first time by MIT's Nicholas Negroponte at the
UN net summit in Tunis."
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4445060.stm

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Funding

Funding for Hands-on Environmental Projects
"The Captain Planet Foundation funds hands-on environmental projects
to encourage youth around the world to work individually and collectively
to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities.
Maximum Award: $2500. Eligibility: Schools and non-profits. Deadline:
December 31, 2005."
URL: http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/aboutUs.html#policies_grant_guidelines
Referred by: PEN Weekly NewsBlast

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Resources

Teen Radio Reporter Handbook
"Want to help someone become a radio producer? Here's a source that
instructs the reader in great interview approaches, provides good technical
tips, lists of other Web resources, and contains a library of wonderful stories."
URL: http://www.radiodiaries.org/handbook.pdf
Referred by: Young People's Media Network

Revised Teachers' Guide to International Collaboration on the Internet
"One of the key tools available to educators who would like to internationalize
their classrooms is the newly revised 'Teacher's Guide to International
Collaboration on the Internet,' which is now available on the Department
of Education's website. The Teachers' Guide was written and revised by a
team assembled by iEARN-USA."
URL: http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tech/international
Referred by: WWWEDU Group

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Research

The Growing Popularity of and Investment in After-School Programs
Heightens the Need for Better Information and Closer Study
"Check out this four-page summary of the latest research on the role, value
and impact of AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS."
URL: http://www.ecs.org/00CN2783
Referred by: Education Commission of the States (ECS) e-Connection

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Activities

TechLinks for CTCs: Science, Math, Health & Literacy Activities for
Community Technology Centers
"This publication contains 34 inquiry-based science, math, health and literacy
activities for students in grades K-12. Each activity lists the appropriate
grade level, estimated time, materials needed, education standards, safety
concerns, adaptations for children with disabilities, the educational objective,
questions to ask students as they do the activity, information on why it
happens, links to web sites, software suggestions, recommended reading
materials, and career connections. Topics include electricity, magnetism,
air pressure, density, understanding numbers, measurement, thinking skills,
and much more."
URL: http://www.deltasee.org/trainers/trainers_CTCactivities.htm

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
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