Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums

As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, a workforce possessing 21st century skills becomes more clearly vital to ensuring U.S. competitiveness in a global economy. To ensure that the workers of tomorrow are learning the skills they need today, the Obama Administration is dedicated to making improvement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education a national priority. President Obama has launched the “Educate to Innovate” campaign, a nationwide effort to bring American students to the forefront in science and math achievement. The President has acknowledged that, while federal leadership is necessary, a real change in education and the development of the skills needed for the future require the participation of many elements of society, through private sector and philanthropic support as well as public-private partnerships. To that end, on September 16, 2010, IMLS and the MacArthur Foundation announced a national partnership to create a network of up to 30 youth Learning Labs in libraries and museums across the country. Inspired by an innovative teen space at the Chicago Public Library called YOUmedia (http://youmediachicago.org/) and the innovations already taking place in science and technology centers, these labs will help young people become makers and creators of content, rather than just consumers of it. This network of Learning Labs will use best practice principles, based on research and evidence in the field of youth digital learning, to engage youth in 21st century skills and effective STEM education. The Labs will be spaces for experimentation for young people to engage with digital and traditional media to promote creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on, interest-based learning.

Link to Full Announcement

http://www.imls.gov/pdf/LabsRFP.pdf

App creation challenge

[From Be Spacific] News release: "...the FCC announced a challenge to researchers and software developers to engage in research and create apps that help consumers foster, measure, and protect Internet openness. The Open Internet Challenge is part of the FCC’s efforts to empower end users to help preserve Internet openness. Details of the challenge are posted at openinternet.gov/challenge. “This challenge is about using the open Internet to protect the open Internet,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “Our goal is to foster user-developed applications that shine light on any practice that might be inconsistent with the free and open Internet. Empowering consumers with information about their own connections will promote a vibrant, innovative, world-leading broadband ecosystem.” The Open Internet Challenge seeks to encourage the development of innovative and functional applications that provide users with information about the extent to which their fixed or mobile broadband Internet services are consistent with the open Internet. These software tools could, for example, detect whether a broadband provider is interfering with DNS responses, application packet headers, or content."

Second Chance Tech Career grants

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of incarcerated adults and juveniles who are released from prison, jail, and juvenile residential facilities and returning to communities. There are currently over 2.3 million individuals serving time in our federal and state prisons, and millions of people cycling through local jails every year. There are approximately 94,000 youth in residential confinement within the juvenile justice system on any given day. Ninety-five percent of all offenders incarcerated today will eventually be released and will return to communities. The Second Chance Act will help ensure that the transition individuals make from prison, jail, or juvenile residential facilities to the community is successful and promotes public safety. Section 115 of the Second Chance Act authorizes the U.S. Attorney General to make federal awards to states, units of local government, territories, and federally recognized Indian tribes to provide technology career training to persons confined in state prisons, local jails, and juvenile residential facilities. For more information on BJA implementation of the Second Chance Act initiatives and Frequently Asked Questions about this solicitation, visit BJA’s Second Chance Act web page at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/SecondChance.html.

Link to Full Announcement

Full Announcement

Grant supports nonprofit tech

[From Philanthropy News Digest] The Nonprofit Technology Network in Portland, Oregon, has announced a two-year, $1.1 million grant from the Google Inc. Charitable Giving Fund of Tides Foundation to promote the benefits of technology to nonprofit leaders.

The grant will support NTEN's efforts to educate technology leaders about the evolving role of technology in nonprofit work and to produce research and training on cloud technologies — Web-based applications that manage constituent conversations and information — visualization, and collaboration. The funds will also be used to develop and distribute NTEN:Change, a free quarterly journal for nonprofit leaders.

"This is not just an investment in NTEN, it's an investment in our entire sector," said NTEN executive director Holly Ross. "With this support, we can provide new ways to help our community connect with each other and learn about the most important technology strategies, tools, and trends. What's more exciting is that we can now reach beyond our core audiences and help a broader part of the sector transform technology into social change."

“NTEN Receives $1.1Million Grant From Google to Aid Nonprofit Technology Adoption.” NTEN Press Release 12/20/10.