EDC Online Reports: Issue #12

THE EDC ONLINE REPORT
September 22, 2005 - Issue # 12

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Education Development Center, Inc.
Improving Education and Health Worldwide

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In this issue:

UNITED STATES
1. EDC Provides Mental Health Resources for Hurricane Katrina Relief
2. Preparing Latino Youth for Postsecondary Education
3. New Web Site from EDC Helps Teens Explore Careers
4. Kids, Video Games, and the Classroom
5. EDC Studies Early Childhood Science and Literacy Education
6. Promoting Health and Safety on College Campuses: A New EDC Resource

INTERNATIONAL
7. Delivering Education via Radio in India
8. EDC Works at the Local Level to Improve Education in Indonesia

FEATURED EDC RESOURCES
9. EDC in the News: A Selection of Media Coverage
10. Featured Web Tour: Mathematics Curricula for Students
11. Featured Publication: The Effective Principal: Instructional Leadership for High-Quality Learning

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1. EDC Provides Mental Health Resources for Hurricane Katrina Relief

Two national centers based at EDC—the National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center—have created collections of online resources focused on mental health issues raised by Hurricane Katrina. The materials are designed for parents, schools, and health and safety professionals.

2. Preparing Latino Youth for Postsecondary Education

The PALMS (Postsecondary Access for Latino Middle Grades Students) Project, based at EDC, seeks to narrow the “achievement gap” between low-income Latino students and their middle-class Anglo counterparts. The project features a Web site that provides information and resources on college access programs and initiatives for middle school staff, community-based organizations, and university-based outreach staff, as well as “college knowledge” for parents.

3. New Web Site from EDC Helps Teens Explore Careers

The FunWorks Web site helps young people find the link between personal interests and career possibilities. The site encourages them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and strives to engage currently underrepresented populations in STEM education and careers—girls, minorities, and students with disabilities. “We wanted our site to present career content in a way that is meaningful to this age group,” says project director Sarita Nair. “So we started with what kids are interested in today, not with where we want them to be as adults.”

4. Kids, Video Games, and the Classroom

In a recent webcast held by EDC’s Center for Media and Community (CMC), panelists discussed the potential use of video-gaming technology in educational settings. Following an overview of research and student learning styles, the group zeroed in on the promise of video game technology for unmotivated students. “This topic reflects CMC’s principal focus: how to use new technologies and media to enrich communities and to nurture lifelong education,” said CMC’s Cedar Pruitt, who moderated the webcast.

5. EDC Studies Early Childhood Science and Literacy Education

Improving the quality of teaching and professional development for early childhood educators is the focus of two new grants awarded to EDC’s Center for Children & Families (CC&F) by the Institute of Education Sciences, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education. The multi-year projects focus on two areas of research, science education and literacy, and will use rigorous research methods that examine the impact of professional development on both teachers' practices and on children's learning. As Project Director Nancy Clark-Chiarelli notes, “vocabulary development—featured in the language and literacy area—is also strengthened by an understanding of science concepts and vice versa.”

6. Promoting Health and Safety on College Campuses: A New EDC Resource

The new EDC Web site, CampusHealthandSafety.org, helps students stay healthy and safe, both on campus and in their surrounding community. The site offers an exploration of a comprehensive public health-based approach to address alcohol and other drug use, violence prevention, and mental health. This “environmental management” approach goes beyond focusing on the individual to include strategies that change the campus and community environment where students make decisions.

7. Delivering Education via Radio in India

The Indian state government of Chhattisgarh has expanded an EDC-developed interactive radio instruction initiative (IRI) to reach approximately one million children. The Technology Tools for Teaching and Training (T4) program works to produce and deliver quality education, notably for girls and other vulnerable populations. T4 builds upon the existing state English curriculum, which emphasizes listening and speaking skills. Students practice skills when they sing songs, play local games, or conduct chain exercises during the 30-minute broadcasts. In addition to regularly scheduled student programs, an additional series offers program support for teachers that examines how the IRI methods are affecting the teaching and learning environment.

8. EDC Works at the Local Level to Improve Education in Indonesia

EDC is collaborating with the Indonesian government to decentralize education and assist local leaders as they assume management and operation of their schools. The project, Decentralized Basic Education Program Objective 2 (DBE 2), aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Indonesia’s public and private sector primary schools by focusing on providing professional development to educators.

9. EDC in the News: A Selection of Media Coverage

“Child Deaths in Parked Cars,” from Road & Travel Magazine, July 2005.
EDC releases a study on child deaths in parked cars. Anara Guard and Susan Scavo Gallagher are quoted.

“Teachers Flocking to Online Sources to Advance and Acquire Knowledge,” from Education Week, July 27, 2005.
Barbara Treacy of EDC’s Center for Online Professional Education is quoted in an article about online learning for educators.

“Dark Side of Dating,” from New York Daily News, August 10, 2005.
EDC develops curriculum on teen dating violence. Christine Blaber is quoted.

“Is Technology in Schools the Future or Just a Fad?,” from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 20, 2005.
Margaret Honey of EDC’s Center for Children and Technology is quoted in a discussion of technology in the classroom.

10. Featured Web Tour: Mathematics Curricula for Students

EDC creates mathematics curriculum materials for all grade levels that emphasizes problem solving, communicating about mathematics, making connections among mathematical ideas, and engaging all students in challenging mathematics.

11. Featured Publication: The Effective Principal: Instructional Leadership for High-Quality Learning

In this publication from Teacher Colleges Press, EDC authors examine how school leadership is affected by knowledge and beliefs about learning, teaching, and subject matter.

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