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YouthLearn Updates

Using computers effectively in afterschool - recap of a YL list exchange
As you gear up for summertime tech & learning activities, we're offering a
summary of the discussion and resources shared on the YouthLearn list last
year. Matt Crichton posed a series of challenges facing his afterschool program
which seemed very familiar to others, and more than 17 YL members responded
with ideas, solutions and philosophies about his scenario. Challenges and
questions included: Kids are not motivated to use computers, and it is hard
to keep their attention focused on the activity at hand; The time schedule
does not provide a structured time to come to the computer lab; The
equipment is old, and only 3 of the desktop work stations are functioning;
Girls do not get involved with technology; What are learning activities that
can be used to get the kids started using computers?
URL: http://youthlearn.org/ymca_computers.html

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Funding

AT&T Foundation Launches 2006 AT&T Excelerator Grant Program
"AT&T Excelerator is a major philanthropic initiative that helps nonprofits
fully integrate technology into their ongoing operations and community
outreach. AT&T Excelerator grants also help nonprofit organizations put
technology tools into the hands of the underserved populations they work
with... In 2006, the AT&T Excelerator grant program will be open to
nonprofit organizations located in the following states: Arkansas, California,
Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin." Deadline: July 5, 2006
URL: http://www.sbc.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=7745
Referred by: Foundation Center

TechSoup Stock Donations and Discounts
"Many of the donation programs at TechSoup Stock allow organizations to
receive a fixed quantity of technology donations between July 1 and June 30
of our fiscal year. You may place your donation requests any time before
June 30, 2006 and become eligible once more to receive a donation on July 1,
2006. As June 30 approaches, we'd like to encourage you to maximize the
benefits of our donation programs."
URL: http://www.techsoup.org/stock/
Referred by: TechSoup By-the-Cup

Google In-Kind Ad Grants
"Google provides a huge in-kind advertising opportunity through its Google
Grants by driving web traffic to the sites of featured nonprofits. Consider
applying if your agency focuses on science and technology, education,
global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, or the arts."
URL: http://www.google.com/grants/
Referred by: Talking Point

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Resources

Growing Community Schools: The Role of Cross-Boundary Leadership
This paper, published by the Coalition for Community Schools, "highlights
11 communities around the country whose community school initiatives are
moving toward the 'tipping point'... The report focuses on how innovative
cross-boundary leaders from education, local government, public, private and
community-based agencies, business and other sectors are organizing
themselves and their communities to create and sustain community schools.
Leaders in these communities recognize that helping all young people succeed
means providing them with as much support and as many pathways to
success as possible."
URL: http://www.communityschools.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=60

How to Have a Conversation about Equity & Excellence
"In terms of excellence, we know what it looks like. We can all point to
examples. However, excellence in education is extended to only a privileged
few. But if you want to have excellence at scale, you must include the
notion of equity. You cannot have excellence at scale without equity at
scale. This is where the conversation becomes difficult... This issue of
Voices in Urban Education examines some new ways to talk about equity
and excellence and considers some of the steps involved in realizing our
stated goal of attaining those elusive aspirations." For this piece, the
publication editor interviewed Linda Powell Pruitt and Kenneth Jones.
URL: http://www.annenberginstitute.org/VUE/spring06/Pruitt.html
Referred by: PEN Weekly NewsBlast

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Activities

We welcome your feedback!

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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.

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