Resource Database

Published in Computers & Education, this article provides research findings for afterschool practitioners who are interested in providing game-design activities in their programs. The authors evaluated the impact of an initiative called the Game-Design Learning program on students’ problem-solving skills. In this quasi-experimental study, the authors found that, compared to students in a control group who did not attend the program, the children who attended the Game-Design Learning program showed a significant increase in their problem-solving skills.

First in the Family is a website that provides practical advice and lessons learned by high school seniors and high school graduates who have made it to college. The website includes videos and planning checklists for students who are preparing to apply to and attend college, as well as resources for advisors and parents. The website is project of What Can Kids Do, a nonprofit committee that supports college access and success for low-income students.

Produced by the Illinois Pathways Initiative, Illinois Career Clusters, Pathways, and Programs of Study Guide aims to help educators and other stakeholders improve college- and career-oriented pathway programs that guide students to adult education and employment. The publication includes background information on the Illinois Pathways Initiative and the National Career Cluster Initiative, information about growing opportunities in STEM careers in Illinois and the United States, and extensive resources.

The Central Valley Afterschool Foundation has published its inaugural issue of the Journal of Expanded-Learning Opportunities. Although the organization is based in the Central Valley of California, this new peer-reviewed journal discusses expanded-learning research and programs throughout the nation. The Spring 2014 issue explores researcher and practitioner dialogue, intentional communities, and family engagement.

This latest publication from the Expanded Learning and Afterschool Project provides resources for city agencies, school districts, intermediaries, and other organizations interested in implementing or strengthening city-wide expanded learning opportunities; as well as state agencies and Statewide Afterschool Networks designing multi-city initiatives. The toolkit groups resources in the following categories: Building Strong Systems, Engaging Today’s Students, and Expanded Learning Models.

Positive relationships with school-day personnel, families, community members, and between and among program staff and students help afterschool programs thrive. The latest issue of SEDL Insights explores how afterschool practitioners can build strong relationships that benefit all stakeholders.

High-quality afterschool programs reach only a small percentage of children and teens today. In this video from the Wallace Foundation, national experts discuss what cities can do to close this gap and boost quality and participation in dynamic out-of-school-time programs.

Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away in a year, says the National Runaway Safeline. One of the ways the organization is addressing this problem is through Let’s Talk, an evidence-based, interactive runaway prevention curriculum. The curriculum is designed to help youth develop life skills, increase knowledge about runaway resources and prevention, learn about alternatives to running away, and access and seek help from trusted community members. Educators can use the curriculum in its entirety or as individual 45-minute modules.

According to California-based Summer Matters, an increasingly powerful body of research points to the impact of non-cognitive factors-or social-emotional learning-on students’ ability to benefit from the education they receive. This report explores how summer learning programs can help students develop non-cognitive skills that will help them succeed in a school environment. The publication describes program structures and also draws from program evaluations, survey data, and in-person observations that all provide evidence of the differences these experiences can make for children and youth.

The Federal Registry for Educational Excellence site helps educators find digital teaching and learning resources created and maintained by the federal government and public and private organizations. Educators can browse materials by subject or by standards, including Common Core State Standards.