[YL] YouthLearn Newsletter, Issue 150

Wed Feb 25 10:51:37 EST 2009

YouthLearn
Newsletter, Issue 150 - February 25, 2009

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 <http://news.youthlearn.org/> 

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YouthLearn Updates 

Afterschool Academies Guidebook for Action
For the last four years, YouthLearn has been working with educational leaders from around the country to develop a new professional development model for afterschool practitioners. The training was piloted in cities around the country and now, The Afterschool Academies Guidebook for Action is available for download! The Guidebook is designed for leaders and organizations who want to build from the Academies model to create their own professional development that makes a difference: professional development for afterschool education and educators. The Academies model addresses core principles and practices, as well as strategies to 'take it home', whether in the form of staff development, techniques, program design, organizational processes, or other improvements. The Afterschool Academies Guidebook for Action was developed in collaboration with the Center for Afterschool Education, Foundations Inc., Community Network for Youth Development, Citizen Schools, Gary and Eve Moody, and the YouthLearn Initiative at EDC, under a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Download the guide at the Center for Afterschool Education website (it's free - though registration is required). 
URL: http://www.afterschooled.org/about_us/register.php <http://www.afterschooled.org/about_us/register.php> 

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News 

National Center for Summer Learning on the Recovery and Reinvestment Act
"On Tuesday, February 17, 2009 President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law. The $787 billion bill includes an unprecedented amount of funding for education, with significant opportunities for summer learning programs. While none of the funds are explicitly targeted to summer learning programs, nearly all can potentially be used for summer programs. And while much of the funds will be used to prevent state budget cuts and prevent layoffs, additional funds are identified specifically to encourage reform and innovation in education and will likely be the primary federal vehicle for education policy until No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is reauthorized.... The Center is leading efforts to provide tools for summer learning advocates, including talking points to make the case for summer with key stakeholders, and important information on how to access these funds for summer programs."
URL: http://www.summerlearning.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=233&Itemid=738 <http://www.summerlearning.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=233&Itemid=738> 
Referred by: Promising Practices in Afterschool

Social websites harm children's brains warns top neuroscientist
"Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, an eminent scientist has warned. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people more self-centred. The claims from neuroscientist Susan Greenfield will make disturbing reading for the millions whose social lives depend on logging on to their favourite websites each day. But they will strike a chord with parents and teachers who complain that many youngsters lack the ability to communicate or concentrate away from their screens. More than 150 million use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, share photographs and videos and post regular updates of their movements and thoughts. A further six million have signed up to Twitter, the 'micro-blogging' service that lets users circulate text messages about themselves. But while the sites are popular - and extremely profitable - a growing number of psychologists and neuroscientists believe they may be doing more harm than good."
URL: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html# <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html#> 

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Funding 

Invent Your World Challenge for Young People
"Through the Invent Your World Challenge, Ashoka GenV and the Lemelson Foundation will help fifty young inventors use their creations to address a local or global challenge and create positive change. Young people are invited to submit their ideas for a new technology or the adaptation of an existing technology that will help make life easier, the planet greener, or the world better. Youth whose ideas are selected for support will receive an action plan so that they can apply for funding... The challenge is open to all individuals between the ages of 12 and 20 in North America and Europe, and 12 and 24 everywhere else... The last day to submit a project idea is March 15, 2009."
URL: http://www.genv.net/en-us/invent <http://www.genv.net/en-us/invent> 
Referred by: Foundation Center

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Resources 

Online opportunities for meaningful professional development: learning with Wikis & blogs
"In an essay in ASCD's Educational Leadership, Bill Ferriter writes that the Internet has the potential to revolutionize professional development for teachers, which has been susceptible to business-driven reform fads that have little effect on student achievement. 'Thousands of accomplished educators are now writing blogs about teaching and learning,' he points out. 'In every content area and grade level and in schools of varying sizes and from different geographic locations, educators are actively reflecting on instruction, challenging assumptions, questioning policies, offering advice, designing solutions, and learning together.' This accumulated wisdom, which is driven by personal interests and connected to classroom realities, is available for free... Ferriter provides suggested links and tips for getting started as a consumer of and participant in this forum."
URL: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/feb09/vol66/num05/Learning_with_Blogs_and_Wikis.aspx <http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/feb09/vol66/num05/Learning_with_Blogs_and_Wikis.aspx> 
Referred by: PEN Weekly NewsBlast

Making college a Latino rite of passage
"Latino high school students have put a twist on a traditional rite of passage, the quinceaera, according to The Arizona Star. The ceremony, which Latina girls celebrate upon turning 15, has been transformed at two Tucson high schools into 'Quince para mis Quince,' or 'Fifteen for my Fifteenth,' school-sanctioned clubs that include boys and enlist students to undertake 15 activities that will help them prepare for college. The goal, according to Elizabeth Arnot-Hopffer, is to 'create a college-going culture' in the high school. Participating high school freshmen are often the first in their families to even consider college, and don't have the family experience and resources to help them navigate the complicated application and financial aid process. The clubs also involve parents and help the students to stay on track."
URL: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/education/278372.php <http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/education/278372.php> 
Referred by: PEN Weekly NewsBlast

We welcome your feedback!

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YouthLearn
http://www.youthlearn.org <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 <http://news.youthlearn.org/> , including summaries
from various sources that YouthLearn staff periodically review.

Past newsletters are archived at http://www.youthlearn.org/resources/newsletter/index.html <http://www.youthlearn.org/resources/newsletter/index.html> . 

YouthLearn is a project of the nonprofit Education Development Center, Inc. <http://www.edc.org/> 
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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