#cities of learning

[blogdccollaborative]

Introducing District of Learning

Part 3 of DC Collaborative’s #MissionMetrics Series

The DC Collaborative looks forward to working with new out-of-school, community-based partners, such as the District of Learning, and furthering the collective impact of our arts and humanities education community of practice!

District of Learning is Helping to Strengthen Arts Education in DC 

Article submitted by Jeralyn Cave, Collaborative Communications Group August 5, 2015

Student involvement in arts programming has been linked to reduced dropout rates, increased standardized test scores and higher academic performance. Students need greater access to high-quality arts education opportunities, in and beyond the classroom.

District of Learning is helping them gain this access and create pathways to their future through the use of learning data embedded within digital badges.

District of Learning is a new ecosystem that connects students, families, and educators with learning opportunities across all eight wards of the city. Much like the DC Collaborative, District of Learning is built on the premise that no one institution on its own can prepare young people for their future – that it takes citizens, community organization, schools, places of worship, and cultural institutions to support young people. District of Learning recognizes anytime-anywhere learning and leverages the power of digital badges to facilitate a citywide ecosystem of learning.  District of Learning is part of the national Cities of Learning movement that includes efforts in Chicago, Dallas, and Pittsburgh.

Digital Badges

Like a badge earned in scouting, digital badges recognize a student’s mastery of a skill or knowledge area. It contains evidence of the criteria met to earn the badge and the standards to which a learning opportunity is aligned. For organizations, a digital badge codifies the skills their opportunities provide and highlights the value of their programming to students, their families, and other key education and community stakeholders.

Data

Digital badges also help students become better self-advocates by articulating the experiences and skills that are important to badge consumers like internships and employers. Embedded within each badge is data about the learning opportunity. Data points include a description of the program, information on the issuing organization, the milestones achieved by student, and links to videos, text, or photo evidence that display the work completed by students. The embedded data gives badge consumers a much richer snapshot of a student’s knowledge, skills, and abilities and can help students pursue pathways in areas like the arts in a more intentional way that aligns with their interests. An additional benefit is that students can house their badges on an online platform and share with friends, family, and teachers via social media.

Community Partnerships

Since Fall 2014, more than 40 community-based organizations have engaged in building DC’s new learning ecosystem. Arts organizations like Critical Exposure, ArtLab+ at the Hirshhorn Museum, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts are also involved.  Partners are developing badges related to arts education programming throughout the city.

Many community-based organizations are also badging art-based components of programming they offer throughout the school year. Martha’s Table badged their SMARTArt program in the Spring of 2015. The SMARTArt program is an afterschool and summer program that teaches students how to develop and implement an awareness campaign using public speaking, visual arts, and social media. Martha’s Table and other youth-serving organizations recognize the arts as an effective tool in teaching both technical and 21st century skills.

What’s Next?

District of Learning continues to build the local learning ecosystem and engage partners in the arts, higher education, and business communities. The beauty of DC is our rich and unique cultural landscape that can be leveraged for student learning and that can spark interest, passion, and engagement in the arts.

Want to learn more about the District of Learning or explore becoming a partner? Contact [email protected] or visit our website districtoflearning.org.

About the Author

Jeralyn Cave, Associate at Collaborative Communications, works with District of Learning to engage community based organizations, industry, and higher education partners locally. Prior to work at Collaborative Communications, Jeralyn served as a Community Outreach Specialist with the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. Contact her at [email protected]. 

Quick Links

District of Learning

Cities of Learning

SMARTArt

Collaborative Communications

[openbadges]

LA’s first ‘Summer of Learning’ a success!

The first Los Angeles Summer of Learning (LASOL) is being hailed as a success by officials involved with the program, which engaged around 50,000 students this summer, as well as 52 community organizations that offered 130+ digital badges for learning and skills.

Though smaller than last year's pilot program in Chicago, LASOL was in many ways "more sophisticated and coherent," according to Charles Kerchener, a research professor in the School Educational Studies at Claremont Graduate University. "Los Angeles' program was much more integrated with the school system than was its counterpart in Chicago," Kerchener wrote for a piece on edweek.org. "LAUSD was the primary organizer of the project. In Chicago, the city and the non-profits drove the program."

Organizers from the Los Angeles Unified School District's Beyond the Bell program also took on the difficult task of connecting students' summer learning achievements with their school records. Their staff and administrators worked with badge-issuing community organizations to ensure the criteria and evidence for the badge activities were good measures of the skills and knowledge acquired. The staff also offered badging training to these organizations, teaching them how to design and create robust badges, as well as how to assess student output and navigate the LASOL web site.

As well as the 130+ badges offered by Los Angeles organizations, the site also gave youth access to a number of online badge activities designed by the team at Digital Youth Network, based out of DePaul University. Though the badges certainly offer an exciting way for youth to get involved with summer activities and show off their learning at school, most participants signed up because of existing connections with one of the community organizations, according to Craig Clough, who wrote about the LASOL on laschoolreport..com. Jennifer Abssy from Inner City Arts said badges made it possible for "kids [to] be validated for the time they spent with our organization."

[openbadges]

#openbadgesMOOC Session 11 - Cities of Learning

Badges: New Currency for Professional Credentials

Session 11: Cities of Learning

Session Recording: http://bit.ly/OBmoocCOL

The Cities of Learning (CoL) is a nationwide movement to leverage community and government resources, turning a whole city into a campus for year-round learning, offering free or low-cost opportunities for youth to learn online or participate in programming at parks, libraries, museums and other institutions. Whether through robotics, fashion design, coding competitions or workplace internships, Cities of Learning provide an array of engaging opportunities for young people to explore new interests, develop their talents, and create unique pathways toward college or a career.

Megan Cole, Director of Marketing + Operations at the Badge Alliance, has been coordinating efforts across the six 2014 Cities of Learning, and brought representatives from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas to this week’s MOOC session to share their thoughts. Carla Casilli, Director of Design + Practice, led Monday’s session of the #openbadgesMOOC, New Currency for Professional Credentials.

A nationwide movement for connected learning

Chicago launched the Cities of Learning movement in 2013 with the successful summer pilot program, Chicago Summer of Learning. Over 100 organizations offered activities to Chicago's youth on and offline, issuing over 100,000 badges through the course of the summer. This year, Chicago has expanded its summer learning into a year-round initiative, the chicago City of Learning (CCOL), and five other cities will be implementing citywide badged learning programs - Columbus, Dallas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. Still more are making plans to join in 2015 (read more).

The Cities of Learning are designed around the principles of Connected Learning, an approach that builds on the basics, leveraging technology to make learning relevant to the demands and opportunities of the digital age. Connected Learning increases engagement by linking in-school academics to a learner’s out-of-school interests, by fostering supportive networks of peers and mentors, and by creating opportunities for youth to make and produce things in the real world.

Local funding and logistical support for each City of Learning are provided by broad and often unprecedented coalitions, bringing together cross-sector partners such as the mayor’s office, the school district, nonprofits, institutional funders and out-of-school educational providers. The national efforts are supported by the MacArthur Foundation, Badge Alliance, and DePaul University.

Learn more: citiesoflearning.org

Chicago

Nichole Pinkard and Sybil Madison-Boyd of the Digital Youth Network (DYN) shared some of the lessons learned in Chicago from last year's pilot.

The Chicago Mayor's office first started exploring a summer learning initiative to avoid the learning loss described as 'brain drain' or 'summer slump' that many schools see in September after students have spent the summer months out of school. In Chicago, the Mayor's office drove the program, bringing together over 100 community organizations and institutions to engage youth in fun activities that kept them actively involved in learning environments that exist outside their classrooms.

Chicago is now on its second year of citywide learning and its reach has expanded to 200,000+ youth. More than 1,000 youth programs in the STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) are being offered by the 120+ organizations participating in CCOL, including on-the-job learning opportunities.

Digital badges earned by youth in Chicago become "tools for connected learning," according to Sybil. The badges allow youth and their mentors / teachers to track progress and illustrate a learning pathway, as well as play a role in identity-building and skills-sharing, empowering youth to pursue further education and career opportunities within their city - and beyond.

Learn more: explorechi.org

Dallas

Erin Offord, Director of Community Relations at Big Thought, joined us to talk about the work coming out of the Dallas City of Learning.

The Dallas offerings, which aim to reach 10,000 youth this year, include a number of online and in-person activities in earth science, design, sport, coding, and more from over 50 partner organizations.

The team behind the Dallas initiative is focusing their programming on equal access, ensuring their big city can act as a navigable campus for youth to engage in learning activities wherever they are.

They've been receiving positive feedback for the digital learning components of the program, and offered training for their partner organizations to introduce them to digital badges and make sure they were ready to develop and issue badges for the activities they're offering. The conversations that began in those training sessions have shaped some of the national conversation as well, pushing for a youth-centric approach that is innovative and engaging for the kids participating in these programs.

Erin sees great potential for expansion in the Dallas partner organizations when it comes to the digital elements - even those unfamiliar with badges left the training ready to badge the city's activities.

Learn more: dallascityoflearning.org

Los Angeles

Luis Mora, an administrator at Beyond the Bell, joined us to share some of the work going into the LA Summer of Learning.

The LA programming aims to offer 50,000 youth opportunities and access to activities in robotics, fashion, astronomy, and more.

Like the other Cities of Learning, Luis and the folks at Beyond the Bell are looking at Los Angeles as a campus for learning - but unlike other cities, LA is placing special emphasis on workforce readiness. Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy are challenging youth between the ages of 16 and 24 the opportunity to become workforce ready this summer, and the LA Summer of Learning is helping youth access opportunities that develop workforce skills and prepare them for life beyond graduation.

By earning five workforce readiness badges - in Basic Job Skills, Résumé Building, Financial Literacy, Interview Skills, and Job Application - youth can unlock the Workforce Ready Challenge Badge, as well as entry to the LA Chamber of Commerce’s "Work Ready Certification Badge" and the opportunity to unlock jobs.

Learn more: summeroflearning.la

[openbadges]

Summer Learning Day is June 20, 2014

Today is is a national advocacy day for raising awareness about the importance of summer learning for youth.

"Summer Learning Day is supported by elected officials and policymakers, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, universities, museums, libraries, and summer camps across the country. Whether you’re a community, summer program, school, or parent, there are many ways to celebrate Summer Learning Day!"

Check out to the Summer Learning Day Map to find an event near you!

The Cities of Learning 2014 are doing their part to keep youth engaged and excited about learning, making and doing not just through the summer, but all year long!

Chicago City of Learning (CCOL) grew out of the City’s 2013 Chicago Summer of Learning in which more than 100 youth-serving organizations joined together to make their programs visible. Youth participants earned digital badges that provide permanent recognition of the achievements made by youth through their activities. http://chicagocityoflearning.org/

Dallas is becoming a citywide learning laboratory this year, opening pathways to the future for young people of all ages. Dallas City of Learning allows youth to explore earth and science, design, sports, performance, coding, and many more programs and events. http://dallascityoflearning.org/

Los Angeles Summer of Learning (LASOL) is opening doors across the city and online so all youth have access to the rich learning opportunities they need to thrive with fun badged programs from across the city. Through badges, young people can link one learning opportunity to the next – a class at a museum, for example, followed by a challenge online. They create their own learning pathways, and open up new opportunities for themselves. http://summeroflearning.la/

Pittsburgh is turning the city into a living learning campus to enable young people to explore their interests, develop new skills and connect their learning to real-world opportunities. More than 30 programs - including summer camps, workshops, community events and drop-in activities - will offer badges focused on digital learning, maker learning, STEAM learning and youth media making. http://remakelearning.org/blog/2014/06/20/why-were-making-our-city-a-summer-camp/

Columbus, OH and Washington, D.C. will be launching their citywide badged learning programs in the fall, making sure the momentum and excitement from the summer keeps going all year long!

[openbadges]

Cities of Learning included in first-ever White House Maker Faire

Today, President Obama will host the first ever White House Maker Faire and will meet with students, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens who are using new tools and techniques to launch businesses, learn vital skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and lead a grassroots renaissance in American manufacturing. 

As part of his year of action and this week’s focus on efforts that will expand opportunity by spurring manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship, the President will also announce new steps the Administration and its partners are taking to increase the ability of more Americans, young and old, to have access to these tools and techniques and to bring their ideas to life.

Included among the efforts being launched and celebrated at the Maker Faire include the Cities of Learning initiative:

MacArthur and partners are expanding Cities of Learning, and supporting Making badges. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, along the Digital Youth Network and Badge Alliance, is announcing the expansion of the Cities of Learning effort to encourage interest-driven learning in Maker spaces and other community places, as well as online. Through Cities of Learning, youth can earn digital open badges to document their Making skills and other out-of-the-classroom learning. The badges are stored online and can be easily shared with schools, colleges, and employers to showcase achievements. The Cities of Learning movement which started in Chicago last year is growing fast, with three new Cities kicking off this month, two others launching this fall, and more lining up for 2015. This year's programs in Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., will include opportunities for hundreds of thousands of students to earn Maker badges, along with other badges for competencies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and the Arts. With national support from MacArthur, each city is a grassroots effort, often spearheaded by the Mayor’s Office and supported by local public-private partnerships. For example, the Chicago City of Learning effort includes 3D jewelry printing, e-textile fashion design, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s visit to a teen Maker showcase. Digital technology is transforming how today’s youth learn and what skills they need to thrive in the new economy and Cities of Learning are embracing the challenge, by ensuring youth from all backgrounds and circumstances have opportunities to tinker, collaborate, Make and create, becoming the digital pioneers, creative thinkers, and innovators of tomorrow.

(Photo source: Makezine.com)

Read more from the White House Maker Faire Fact Sheet.

[openbadges]

The Los Angeles Summer of Learning site is live!

Go check it out at summeroflearning.la

[openbadges]

A Tale of Connected Cities: Join this group blogging event on May 12

"How could cities better connect all their residents to economic opportunities?"

This question is being asked around the US as urban leaders work to restore our cities as engines of educational and economic opportunity by exploring new and bold approaches in business, government, non-profits, philanthropy, the arts, and more.

Today, Meeting of the Minds and Living Cities invite civic-minded leaders across sectors to respond to this question by participating in a group blogging event on May 12, 2014.

Participants are free to respond to this prompt any way they choose, but if you're stuck on where to start, the organizers have provided a set of questions to help surface ideas:

What might it look like for a city to connect all its residents to economic opportunity?

What more could different players across sectors do – individually and together – towards this end?

How could emerging, 21st-century trends like the rise of Big Data, social media, mass-customization and the sharing economy “change the game?”

How are cities and urban innovators already working to connect people to opportunity? (Hint: Cities of Learning! Scroll down for more information.)

Responses that include a link to http://cityminded.org/urban-opportunity/ will be collected and listed at CityMinded.org on the event day - use the hashtag #urbanopportunity to make sure your responses are seen!

An accompanying webinar on May 14, 2014 will feature event participants and be followed by an interactive online discussion - mark your calendars and join us on Wednesday for that webinar.

Cities of Learning: Connecting youth to open learning opportunities.

The Cities of Learning initiative is part of a larger educational movement called Connected Learning - you may have heard some of the buzz about this month's launch of the Connected Learning Alliance:

"The Connected Learning Alliance (CLA) envisions a world where all young people have equitable access to learning opportunities that are social, participatory, driven by personal needs and interests, and oriented toward educational, civic and economic opportunity."

Like the Cities of Learning, Connected Learning recognizes that learning doesn’t just take place inside classroom walls. In fact, the most valuable learning occurs when a student can connect in-school academics with out-of-school interests; can find inspiring peers and mentors to help them develop a hobby or skill; and can create, make and produce real things in the real world.

LA launches Summer of Learning on May 12th

The Los Angeles Summer of Learning (#LASOL2014) is part of a nationwide movement to leverage community and government resources to ensure learning doesn’t stop when school lets out.

The City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District are partnering with Beyond The Bell, The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and scores of Los Angeles’s top non-profits to connect the city's students aged three to nineteen to meaningful learning opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (S.T.E.A.M.).

LASOL 2014 is built upon last year's pilot program in Chicago, which launched the Cities of Learning initiative in 2013 with a successful summer program that has now been extended year round.

Los Angeles joins Columbus, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. in launching citywide learning programs in 2014, and even more cities are lining up for 2015.

Each City of Learning will be issuing digital badges which will be networked across participating institutions. Learners can hopscotch from one organization to another, “leveling up” to follow their interests. In this way, badges can help young people map out self-directed learning pathways to broaden and deepen their interests and skills. These badges are built using an open-standard technology platform powered by the Digital Youth Network, Mozilla and the Badge Alliance. This technology allows the Cities of Learning to securely issue badges and safely display them online.

No matter their interests or talents — their background or resources — young people in Los Angeles will now have access to exciting opportunities to discover and deepen practical, creative and intellectual skills.

Connecting residents to educational and economic opportunities

The Cities of Learning initiative is just one example of how cities can work with innovative leaders to help youth connect to out-of-school learning spaces such as museums, libraries, park services, and maker spaces; exploring new interests and passions; connecting out-of-school experiences to in-classroom learning; and gaining real-world job skills that will open doors to economic opportunities in the future.

Today's group blogging event from Meeting of the Minds and Living Cities is an opportunity for participants to engage a global audience of corporate, philanthropic, government, and nonprofit citizens in an important discussion regarding the future of cities.

We hope you will join us today - and don't forget to tweet using the hashtag #urbanopportunity!