Expanding Horizons: Global Learning in Afterschool and Out-of-School Time

AsiaSociety.org/Afterschool

Expanding Horizons:Global Learning in Afterschool

and Out-of-School TimeAlexis Menten, Asia Society

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mailto:[email protected]


A Broad and Diverse Field...

• Variety of learning time – Afterschool, before school, and summer activities

• Variety of learning settings – Schools, museums, libraries, parks, health agencies, faith-based and other community-based organizations

• Variety of goals – Safety, positive youth development, and academic achievement and support

(Little, P., Wimer, C., and Weiss, H. Afterschool programs in the 21st century: Their potential and what it takes to achieve it. Harvard Family Research Project, 2008)


A Growing Field...

• 6.5 million K-12 children participate in afterschool programs each year

• An additional 15 million would participate if a program were available

(Afterschool Alliance, 2004)


Estimated Federal Funding for OST(Chart compiled by The Finance Project)


Developmental Benefits

• Meta-analysis of over 70 afterschool programs found that across studies, afterschool programs improve youth personal and social skills, including self-esteem and self-confidence

(Durlak, R. and Weissberg, R. The impact of after-school programs that promote personal and social skills. Chicago, CASEL, 2007)


Academic Benefits

• A 2-year longitudinal study of almost 3,000 elementary and middle school youth found that students who participated in high-quality afterschool programs demonstrated significant gains in standardized test scores, as well as improvement in work habits and task persistence

(Vandell, D., Reisner, E., and Pierce, K. Outcomes linked to high quality afterschool programs University of California at Irvine and Policy Studies Associates, 2007)


It’s Not Just About Time

• Duration

• Dosage


Characteristics of High-Quality Learning Environments

• Rigor – Intentional focus on learning outcomes

• Relevance – Asset-based and youth-driven approach

• Relationships – Peers, schools, communities


Afterschool and Global Learning

By taking advantage of all hours of the learning day and year;

Creating safe and supportive environments;Using dynamic approaches that engage and

educate; and Connecting youth to their communities and their

futures…

The afterschool field is in a unique position to help youth achieve global competence.


Expanding Horizons After School

•Take Advantage of the Afterschool Environment•Understanding Culture through Communities•Involve Youth and Families•Transform Learning•Mobilize Staff •Assemble Expertise and Partners


Expanding Horizons Video“In these changing times, it’s so important that we harness the power of afterschool and summer programs to bring

the world to our children—and provide them with the skills

they need to succeed.”– Soledad O’Brien,

CNN Anchor and Special Correspondent and

Board Member, The After-School

Corporation (TASC)


Afterschool Programs Can Provide…

• Global content

• Global skills

• Global connections

• Global futures


Going Global in Afterschool

• At Brighten Up, an arts and education program in Westwego, Louisiana, children ages 5-12 take “Virtual Vacations” by focusing on different countries around the world.

• Global Kids, an afterschool program in New York City, develops high school leaders who educate their peers about global issues by organizing conferences, creating media projects, leading workshops in classrooms, and developing public awareness campaigns..

• World Savvy’s Global Media and Arts Program in SF, NY, and Minneapolis, middle and high school youth ages 10-18 use their experiences in their own communities to examine global themes such as peace and conflict, and immigration and identity.


Global Curriculum Resources for Afterschool

• Global GraffitiWall from Foundations Inc. Center for Afterschool Education

• All Around the World from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning

• Afterschool KidzLit Global in development from Developmental Studies Center


Transform Global Learning Across All Content Areas and Activities

• English Literacy: More Than a Basic Skill• World Language Literacy: Fluency for a Global Age• Technology and Media Literacy: Skills for a Digital World• Geographic Literacy: Finding the Way• Scientific Literacy: Global Questions, Global Collaborations• Mathematic Literacy: Finding Patterns in the World• Economic and Career Literacy: A Path to the Future• Civic Literacy: Service Learning and Taking Action• Artistic Literacy: The Power of Creativity and Expression• Sports and Games: Play in a Cross-Cultural Context

Expanding Horizons: Global Learning in Afterschool and Out-of-School Time

Education

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