YouthLearn
Newsletter, Issue 95 - August 29, 2006

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

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YouthLearn Updates

YouthLearn Hosts Session at the 2006 CTCNet conference
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. Drawing from promising practices on
technology integration witnessed in the field today, this session was intended to
share ideas for building and sustaining technology-integrated afterschool
programs and creating activities that use media and technology tools to support
youth learning, creativity, and fun. Co-presenting with YouthLearn Director Tony
Streit were Dr. Marilyn Heath (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory),
Michael Funk (Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center), and Nettrice Gaskins
(Massachusetts College of Art).
URL: http://www.ctcnet.org/conf/2006/at_conference/program_detail.asp?SessionID=135

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Funding

Young Volunteers Invited to Apply for Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
"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...
Schools and officially designated organizations [Girl Scout councils, county 4-H
organizations, American Red Cross Chapters, YMCAs, etc.] may select one
middle level and one high school Local Honoree for every 1,000 students (or portion
thereof). Student applications are due back to schools or organizations by October
31, 2006."
URL: http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=539&DID=48173
Referred by: Foundation Center

UPS Foundation Education Grants
"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."
URL: http://www.community.ups.com/philanthropy/grant.html
Referred by: PEN Weekly NewsBlast

Staples Foundation for Learning Grants
"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... The organization must: Have a nonprofit
tax-exempt classification under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code...-
Deadline is September 15, 2006"
URL: http://www.staplesfoundation.org/foundapplication.html

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Resources

Young Digital Creators Educator's Kit
DigiArts is one of "UNESCO's major initiatives aiming at the development of
interdisciplinary activities in research, creativity and communication in the field
of media arts... Enabling young people to using ICT creatively to address global
challenges of development, cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogue is the
aim of UNESCO's Young Digital Creators Educator's Kit that is now published
and available online."
URL: http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/digiarts/ydc/kit

CITIZENShift
CITIZENShift is a website that features film, photos, text and audio all with a
focus on social issues and activism. Check out the CITIZENShift's latest feature,
Youth Empowerment Through Media. This dossier features media by youth
exploring issues that are important to them.
URL: http://citizen.nfb.ca/onf/info?did=1941

Sites to See: Technology Integration Resources
"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."
URL: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/sites/sites006.shtml
Referred by: Education World Weekly Newsletter

IFC's Film School Curriculum
"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."
URL: http://www3.ifctv.com/filmschool
Referred by: Media-L listserv

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Activities

Mapping: A YouthLearn Recipe for Brainstorming
Have you tried mapping out your ideas to jumpstart curriculum and project
planning for the fall? YouthLearn's guide to using graphic organizers (see also
our info about webbing) can get you started. 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. The reason is
practical as well as philosophical. If you allow group members to suggest their
own ideas and make their own decisions (within the parameters of your
educational goals, of course), they will be much more engaged, positive and
enthusiastic than if you make all the decisions yourself...
URL: http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/teaching/mapping.asp



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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