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News

Digital divide separates students
"WASHINGTON (AP) -- Many more white children use the Internet than do
Hispanic and black students, a reminder that going online is hardly a way of
life for everyone. Two of every three white students -- 67 percent -- use the
Internet, but less than half of blacks and Hispanics do, according to federal
data released Tuesday. For Hispanics the figure is 44 percent; for blacks, it's
47 percent.... The new data come from the National Center for Education
Statistics, an arm of the Education Department."
URL: http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/09/05/digital.divide.ap/index.html

'School of the Future' opens doors
First-of-its-kind school seeks to meet the needs of 21st-century learners
By Corey Murray, Senior Editor, eSchool News
"A paperless environment; flexible classroom furniture that easily can be
arranged to support collaborative, project-based learning; high-tech tools to
support hands-on instruction; and a sustainable architecture designed to save
thousands of dollars in energy costs--all of these innovations mark Philadelphia's
new School of the Future, which opened its doors to students for the first time
Sept. 7. Built in conjunction with Microsoft Corp., the school is more than just
a showcase for new technology; project leaders hope it will serve as a
replicable model for other districts to follow as they look to design learning
environments that can engage, motivate, and address the unique needs of
every student."
URL: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6579
Referred by: eSchool News

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Funding

Youth Leaders for Literacy to Awards Grants for Student-Led Projects
"Youth Leaders for Literacy is an initiative of the National Education Association
and Youth Service America to help youth direct their enthusiasm and creativity
into reading-related service projects. Grant applications should propose youth
leadership in developing and implementing a literacy project that begins on
NEA's Read Across America Day, March 2, 2007, and culminates on YSA's
National Youth Service Days, April 20-22. The National Education Association
will award twenty grants of $500 each to support student-led initiatives."
Deadline: November 24, 2006
URL: http://www.nea.org/readacross/volunteer/
Referred by: Foundation Center

NEA Foundation Accepting Applications for Student Achievement Grants
The National Education Association Foundation's Student Achievement Grants
"provide $5,000 to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging
in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-
based subject matter. The work should also improve students' habits of inquiry,
self-directed learning, and critical reflection. Proposals for work resulting in
low-income and minority student success with honors, advanced placement, or
other challenging curricula are particularly encouraged. The grant amount is
$5,000." Deadline: October 15, 2006
URL: http://www.neafoundation.org/programs/StudentAchievement_Guidelines.htm
Referred by: Foundation Center

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Resources

Cooperative Learning - An Essential Skill
In "Common Ground," Susan Munro, Mary Utne O'Brien, John W. Payton, and
Roger P. Weissberg write: "What were once called 'soft' skills in the workplace
are now essential, key to the success of the business enterprise and the
individual worker: working on teams, taking responsibility for one's piece of a
larger project, planning for the future, and completing the plan -- these are
the gears that will drive their personal and professional lives. All involve
cooperative learning." In this article--a nice, concise summary for YouthLearn
community members who invest in collaborative learning experiences--the
authors cite research into effective cooperative learning, identifying essential
elements and benefits.
URL: http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=Art_1616&issue=sep_06
Referred by: Edutopia News

Guide to Social Change Led By and With Young People
"The Freechild Project announces the availability of a new publication focusing
on youth action. The 'Guide to Social Change Led By and With Young People'
provides a brief introduction to the issues and actions addressed by children
and youth around the world as they lead community action. The Guide also
includes an introduction to Freechild's unique Cycle of Youth Engagement, as
well as a resource directory."
URL: http://www.commonaction.org/SocialChangeGuide.pdf
Referred by: The Freechild Project List

New Resources for Middle School Educators
"The New Jersey Consortium for Middle Schools at Kean University is pleased
to announce the launch of a special website devoted to topical links for middle
level educators. The result of meticulous research into web resources that will
be of particular value to educators at the middle level, the site contains over
400 selections arranged into 19 categories," including: Arts, Homework Help,
Information Literacy, Middle School Teachers Blogs, Projects and Project-Based
Learning, etc. The site is "free and open to anyone interested in the resource.
This work is supported by a grant under the Teacher Quality program of the
U.S. Department of Education."
URL: http://131.125.2.61/~njcms/educationalhotlinks/index.php#projects
Referred by: Digital Divide Network

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Activities

We welcome your feedback!

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YouthLearn
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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.

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