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."

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."

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."

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."

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 "Teachers Guide to International Collaboration on the Internet." (www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tech/international), 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."

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."

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."

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."

Guide to Creating Teen-Adult Conversations in Your Community

"For those who would like to join us in creating public conversations between teens and adults on issues that matter to both, we have created a free 40-page guide filled with sample panel discussions, interactive exercises, handouts, tips, resources, and readings. We are also making available ten small grants of up to $500 to schools or communities that would like to host one or more teen-adult public forums—along with deep discounts on multiple copies of What We Can't Tell You. To learn more about these opportunities, please contact info@whatkidscando.org."

The Legacy of Rosa Parks

"Teaching Tolerance is offering free classroom activities to commemorate the courageous life of Rosa Parks and other women before her who fought for freedom. The site provides age-appropriate lessons for early, middle, and upper grades; exclusive Web-based classroom activities; and information on ordering a free educational kit that includes the 40-minute Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks documentary and a viewers' guide with classroom activities."

Digital Imaging & Visual Learning Grants

"Olympus America, Inc. & Tool Factory, Inc. sponsor a classroom grants program designed to strengthen education through digital imaging and the power of visual learning. Maximum Award: $3,500. Eligibility: K12 and special education schools in the US, its territories, and Canada."
Deadline: December 30, 2006.

YouthLearn welcomes 3rd cohort of ITEST projects

YouthLearn continues its involvement in the ITEST Learning Resource Center, as we welcome and orient the third cohort of projects to be funded by NSF's ITEST Initiative. Projects focus on engaging youth in STEM activities and careers, through youth-based activities or teacher professional development which builds teacher skills in leading cutting edge STEM activities to support learning.

Over the past two years, YouthLearn has organized TA offerings on topics such as: "Active Learning in the Information Age", "Marketing your Program: Tips and Tricks", and "Accessibility: Enhancing your program". Staff members have also supported the ITEST team's efforts in technology infrastructure, marketing, and publications, and by serving as TA liaisons to projects.

New weather game from Cable in the Classroom

"Cable in the Classroom has just launched a free online weather simulation/game entitled "WINDWARD: Outsmart the Weather in a Race around the World" at www.ciconline.org/windward."

"WINDWARD was created in cooperation with Discovery Education, The Weather Channel and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to target middle school science students, as well as for adults and children to play together, at school, at home, or in other learning environments."

2006 EDS Technology Grant Program

Get money for computers, digital cameras, technology training,
and more for your K-12 classroom with the Electronic Data
Systems grant; successful applicants must be able to demonstrate
how they will innovatively use this equipment for class projects
and activities.

Pew Internet Report on Teens Creating and Consuming Online

"57% of Teen Internet Users Create, Remix or Share Content Online"

"Half of Online Teens Download Music, One in Three Download Video; One in Five Have a Blog; One in Five Remix Others' Digital Material into Their Own Creations"

"American teenagers today are utilizing the interactive capabilities of the internet as they create and share their own media creations. Fully half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators. They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos online or remixed online content into their own new creations."

Athena Media launches 'Get With IT'

"A parents' guide to new media: understanding and sharing the new media technologies with your children"

Service-Learning Funding Opportunities for Afterschool

"The Corporation for National and Community Service announced its 2006 Learn and Serve America grant competition to support high quality service-learning projects that engage students in community service projects linked to academic studies.

Approximately $40 million in grant funds will be available, subject to congressional appropriation, to support service-learning projects in a variety of settings. The grant funds will be divided between school-based, community-based, higher education, and tribal and U.S. territory programs." Technical assistance calls for prospective applicants are scheduled starting this week. See the website for more information.

Report and Technology State Fact Sheets from The Children's Partnership

"Are the young people in your state technologically ready?

To find out whether young people in your state are prepared, The Children’s Partnership has developed state fact sheets for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, which provide key data such as the rate of workers employed in high-tech firms and the percentage of homes that have computer, Internet, and broadband access.

The fact sheets complement a report recently released by The Children’s Partnership entitled, Measuring Digital Opportunity for America’s Children: Where We Stand and Where We Go From Here."

Celebrate 5th Annual National Inclusive Schools Week

"Great things happen in inclusive schools...

Inclusive schools are better prepared to bridge the achievement gap for students of diverse abilities and backgrounds, because they integrate special education supports into the curriculum and affirm students’ rich cultures. The 5th Annual National Inclusive Schools Week™ will be celebrated in schools, classrooms, and communities December 5-9, 2005, with a special focus on the achievement gap and strategies for improving educational outcomes for all students."