eCYBERMISION: A STEM Contest Targeting Community Needs–Team Registration Deadline Approaching
eCYBERMISSION is a free, web-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics competition for students in grades six through nine where teams can compete for state, regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their community. It is sponsored by the U.S. Army.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN THROUGH DEC. 16, 2011.
STEM and service-learning groups…this looks like a match for you.
To Ensure Civic Engagement When Working With Youth, Don’t Mention These Words Until…
Last week I posted a blog about a few breakthroughs for civic education…this week…the picture is less rosy.
After reading a few articles over the last couple of days (I’m not linking to them), I’m a bit frustrated with a couple of refrains in civic education I hear, so while this post needs some work, I want to get it off my chest–here is the essence and I’ll overhaul it later.
Here is a breakthrough I’d really like to see… (more…)
Civic Engagement through Service Learning: Developing Effective Communicators and Communities
Do you want youth to develop their ability to communicate in person and in writing?
Do you want to live in a participatory democracy in which the participants can and do communicate effectively in person and in writing?
Of course you do. Developing effective communicators has always been high on the list of standards that educators have for their students and that civil societies have for themselves. That need is not unique to the 21st Century, but the importance is higher than it has ever been.
This is the fourth of seven blog posts in a series all about the seven ways service learning helps students to demonstrate 21st Century Skills. If you are just joining and want to catch up…the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
Okay, quick trip down memory lane…
Making News and Making a Difference in Civic Education
A couple of recent items–a piece of legislation and a new study regarding civic education:
- one to follow as it dances through the halls of Congress;
- one to read and discuss with everyone you know who interacts with youth, young adults, middle-aged adults or older adults–yeah, I mean discuss it with everyone–the findings are surprising. (more…)
Top Reasons Service-Learning Promotes Being Creative and Entrepreneurial: 21st Century Skills In Action
Primarily, it’s because the answers are not in the back of the book.
There. That is why service learning develops the 21st Century Skills of being creative and entrepreneurial. (click for the list of seven 21st Century Skills students develop and demonstrate through service learning.) Giving students the freedom to dream of new solutions encourages them to be creative and entrepreneurial.
For example, when a class of middle school students started to investigate the amount of waste generated in their cafeteria by sorting and weighing the contents of the trash bags—don’t worry, everyone wore gloves—they had no idea, and neither did their teacher, that by the next school year their efforts would eliminate foam lunch trays and replace them with compostable trays. They didn’t know that compostable trays were even available. Check the link and see the path they paved to make it happen.
So there. One example of service learning promoting creativity and entrepreneurship…
But there is something nagging at you…you’re thinking that there is more, right?
I agree. (more…)
Youth Can Extend Themselves at Extended School Day Programs: Community Engagement With Service Learning
“It’s not your father’s Oldsmobile” and “Orange juice, it’s not just for breakfast anymore.” You recognize those taglines from a couple of old ad campaigns, right? Just good old Madison Avenue suggesting that we should think about some old friends in a new way. That is just a little bit like what this post is doing, only I’m not a Madison Avenue ad exec, so I don’t have a snappy tagline. Plus, I know that this is not an entirely new way to think of “an old friend.” But if you come up with a snappy tagline, please, share it. I’ll give you all kinds of credit for it.
Just for breakfast?
More and more extend school day program (before school/after school/during school vacation programs) teachers are using service learning.
Why?
For the same reasons that other school teachers use it—the benefits are many.
The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with MetLife Foundation, released an issue brief this month that discusses civic engagement and service learning in afterschool programs. The title of the brief is Providing Opportunities for Service Learning for Middle School Students. Even though the title isn’t all that catchy, it is a good one to download and read, especially if you have been looking for ideas and support for service learning outside of the school day. (more…)
21st Century Skills and Service Learning: Data Collection and Analysis Creating Critical Thinkers and Effective Citizens
Wanted: caring citizens who think critically, analyze information and make well-informed choices.
Last week I posted a list of seven ways service learning provides opportunities for students to demonstrate 21st Century Skills and gave examples of one of the skills being met through a real project.
Here again is the list:
1) Solve complex, multidisciplinary problems;
2) Think critically, analyze information and make well-informed choices;
3) Be creative and entrepreneurial;
4) Communicate effectively in person and in writing;
5) Collaborate and foster teamwork;
6) Participate in civic life and democratic decision-making; and
7) Cultivate an ongoing commitment to learning.
Let’s look at another project and see how students are developing these skills. (more…)
Catching Up on the Civic Mission of School with the Guardian of Democracy: Inspiration for Civic Education and Engagement
Guardian of Democracy. Doesn’t that sound as if it could be a movie? Who would you place in the lead roles of such a film? Who would direct it? Well, never mind. It is not a movie. It is a report on civic education and civic engagement. Fade cut to the next scene…
Admit it. You have watched your favorite movie at least five times, haven’t you? So don’t start thinking that I am in left field for suggesting that you go back a reread one of your favorite reports on civic education from the last decade…I know, it is not the same as watching the Wizard of Oz in its original format. But I don’t think that we are in Kansas anymore (apologies to those of you in Kansas). (more…)
Seven Ways Service Learning Helps Students to Master 21st Century Skills while Helping Communities to Meet 21st Century Challenges
You have heard it before…service learning is a powerful strategy for helping students to meet 21st Century Skills while transforming communities. Well, it’s true. But how does service learning do that? Over the next few weeks through this blog we are going to explore that a bit. I hope that you will use the comment space to share your own thoughts and examples.
The title above says “Seven Ways Service Learning Helps Students etc…” So that’s it…there are seven. Well, there maybe more, maybe less. In KIDS as Planners: A Guide to Strengthening Students, Schools, and Communities through Service-Learning we identify seven. So let’s start with the idea that there are seven and go on from there. (more…)
Youth as Citizen Scientists: STEM and Civic Engagement
I continue to be energized by the broad base of educators using STEM topics to engage youth in learning about their world, their community and themselves.
At KIDS, we are working with teachers to apply the best practices in civic engagement through our model of service learning with the best practices in science instruction. The initiative started as a grant funded by Learn and Serve America called Youth as Citizen Scientists. Use the link to read more about it. I’m giving you the abbreviated version here.
In 2009-10, a “Design Team” of experienced middle level STEM service-learning practitioners collaborated with KIDS and the Maine Math and Science Alliance to use Curriculum Topic Studies to integrate innovative, research-based instructional strategies into their students service-learning projects. One focus was to explore how middle level students collect, analyze and apply data to authentic problems in their schools and communities. This focus really helped students with data!
In 2010-11 “Expansion Sites” were added, allowing more teachers and more students to build on the knowledge and experience of the “Design Team.” Check out the projects!
This year teachers are disseminating what they have learned by presenting at conferences and through a soon to be published STEM and service-learning supplement (STEM S-L Guide) to KIDS as Planners: a Guide to Strengthening Students, Schools and Communities through Service-Learning. More about the STEM S-L Guide in the coming weeks.
Love to hear about your STEM related efforts…
Recognition Ceremony Wrapping Up in the Hall of Flags
Throughout the Showcase, students shared their excitement about their own projects and others. “I’m having a blast,” said eighth-grader Courtney Brewer, who presented “Boothbay by Bike.” She was very interested in the presentation she saw about healthier school lunches. “As someone who eats school lunch every day,” she supports better choices for school lunch.
John Graham, Deputy Chief of Staff of U.S. Representative Michael Michaud’s office, and many state representatives and senators came to support the students.
The four second-round presentations were:
- “Motion Sensors Save Cents!”—Windham Middle School
- “Eating Away From the Outside In”—Cape Elizabeth Middle School
- “Be Two Kinds of Green”—Cape Elizabeth Middle School
- “Words Shouldn’t Hurt, Right?”—Lyman Moore Middle School
Fran Rudoff, executive director of KIDS Consortium, opened the recognition ceremony congratulating the participants on their work and encouraging them to continue to be involved in public policy. She introduced Emily Cain, minority leader in the State House of Representatives.
Representative Cain praised the students for learning public policy now. “You are so lucky—I mean really. really lucky—to have participated in this program.” Through Project Citizen, these students are ahead of the curve, because they now know that “public policy is a living, breathing thing” that gets things done.
“I look forward to hearing from many of you on important issues facing our state in the next year,” said Rep. Cain.
The 2010 Exemplary Portfolio winners, from Lyman Moore Middle School talked about what completing their project, “Greening Our Schools,” meant to them. They focused on the long-term results they see at their own school.
“We didn’t come to Augusta last year to win. We came to jump start our plan,” said Delaney Stokes as she described the work many students at Lyman Moore are doing this year to continue their journey toward environmental sustainability.
Marvin Rosenblum, founder of KIDS Consortium, told the assembled students: “You matter to the world.” He also stressed that this day is a great opportunity to share ideas and celebrate work. That work continues at schools and in communities, and in the legislature and on school boards. The assembled crowd of more than 150 people applauded loudly.
And the winners are…
- “Be Two Kinds of Green”—Cape Elizabeth Middle School: Exemplary Portfolio
- “Motion Sensors Save Cents!”—Windham Middle School: Exemplary Oral Presentation
- “Words Shouldn’t Hurt, Right?”—Lyman Moore Middle School: Exemplary Oral Presentation
It’s been a fast-moving and exciting day for all of the participants. We thank the Speaker of the House Robert Nutting and President of the Senate Kevin Raye for allowing us to use the House and Senate Chambers for the oral hearings. We also thank Sean Roderick, Assistant Clerk of the House; Norman Arbour, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms; and all the rest of the staff who helped with the sessions.
We’re really proud of all the students who participated today! Thanks to the teachers, judges, Representative Cain, and all of those who came out today to support the students. It wouldn’t have happened without you.
First Round of Oral Hearings Complete
Eighth graders from Cape Elizabeth Middle School present their project, "Don't Worry Bee Happy"
The first round of oral hearings is complete. The students are sharing their excitement and interest in the issues discussed. All of the projects were well-researched, and many action plans are in process and continuing as students work to get their proposed public policy implemented at the school, local, or state level.
“Why did you choose this topic?” Judges asked about students’ interest in and connections to the problems they studied, what surprised students in their research, and what their plans are going forward.
The “Healthy or Not?” presentation by Lyman Moore Middle School students included a series of graphs showing very visually the increase in the percentage of overweight and obesity in the United States over the past 10 years. The team proposes better nutritional labeling and improved nutritional value in school lunches. They and other presenters stressed the importance of the problem they want to see addressed.
Students ask tour guide Dan Fournier questions during the State House tour.
All of the presentations demonstrated the hard work that went into researching the problems, alternative solutions, and selected public policy and action plan.
Dan Fournier is giving a very informative tour of the State House right now. His knowledge of the history of the State House is impressive, and the stories he shares bring that history to life.
Four teams are presenting in the final round, and we’ll wrap up this afternoon with the awards.
Welcome to the 2011 Project Citizen Maine Showcase
Student teams are just starting to arrive at the State House
in Augusta on this rainy Friday for the eighth annual Project Citizen Maine Showcase. The program will begin at 9:30 am.
KIDS Consortium staff have prepared the rooms where oral hearing will be held. The judges are meeting. Each of the 16 teams of students will present their public policy proposal to judges, who will ask questions and provide feedback. While the oral hearings are going on, another group of judges will review the binders each student team has prepared. Four finalists in the oral hearings will present in the second round, and an Exemplary Oral Hearing and Exemplary Portfolio will be selected.
The state legislature is still in session, and the senators and representatives have been invited to the Hall of Flags for the public displays of the project portfolios and the awards ceremony this afternoon.
Students Learn Public Policy by Creating It in We the People: Project Citizen
Middle school students from across Maine will share their public policy projects at the 2011 We the People: Project Citizen Maine Showcase on Friday, May 20, at the State House in Augusta.
Hundreds of middle school students from the Boothbay area, the Calais area, Cape Elizabeth, Portland, and Windham have worked on public policy projects on a wide range of current topics, including childhood obesity, climate change, concussion injuries in school sports, and fishing bycatch.
We the People: Project Citizen is a federally funded civic education program for middle grade students. The program promotes competent and responsible participation in local and state government and enables young people to monitor and influence public policy.
Each participating class has worked for several weeks, first examining a local public policy issue by studying the impact of the problem on the community, working with local governmental and nongovernmental agencies in their research. Each team of students then evaluated alternative solutions to the problem, proposed an agreed-upon public policy solution, and, finally, created a political action plan to enlist local or state authorities in adopting their proposed policy. Following a local showcase, participating schools selected up to four projects to send to the State Showcase.
Friday morning, 16 teams of students will participate in oral hearings to share their ideas and solutions with one another and with adult policy-makers. From 12:30-1:30 pm, there will be a public viewing of student projects in the Hall of Flags at the State House in Augusta, with students present discuss their portfolios from 12:45-1:00 pm. At 1:00 pm, Representative Emily Cain, Maine House District 19, will honor the participants and one exemplary portfolio, which will be sent to the National Showcase.
Project Citizen is administered nationally by the Center for Civic Education in cooperation with the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization dedicated to serving the lawmakers and staffs of the nation’s states, commonwealths and territories. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education by an act of Congress. KIDS Consortium coordinates the program in Maine.
We’ll share details on this blog.
Service-Learning Summer Institutes: Choose Your Location
KIDS Consortium’s flagship professional development opportunity for K-12 educators is the four-day Service-Learning Summer Institute.
Last year, we held four incredibly successful four-day Summer Institutes. For the first time ever, a KIDS Consortium Summer Institute was held in Florida. This year, we’re adding another “first”: Minnesota.
Yes, whether you teach in Florida, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, or Maine—or near any one of those—there’s a KIDS Consortium Summer Institute near you.
The KIDS Consortium Summer Institute was the very best course I’ve taken in many years! I am totally prepared to lead a service-learning project in my classroom or school and I also have many tools that I can use every day.
—Middle School Educator, Maine
What’s special about this program?
The Institute was by far the best teacher conference I have ever been to. Transformative. KIDS facilitators are fantastic. Well worth the trip from Georgia!
—Kimberley Dessureault, Inner Harbour for Children and Families, Douglasville, Georgia
Check out the locations of KIDS Consortium’s Summer Institutes for 2011:
| Winter Haven, Florida: June 21-24 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts:
June 27-30 |
North Berwick, Maine: July 19-22 |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota: July 26-29 |
New York City, New York: August 16-19 |
Albany, New York (private program): July 12-15 |
Three graduate credits are also available at a very affordable rate, from Salem State College/Northeast Consortium.
Everything you need to learn more, register, and apply for a scholarship is here: http://www.kidsconsortium.org/institute_for_educators.php
We look forward to seeing you this summer!
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