Digital Learning Day

A quick note in advance of tomorrow’s first ever Digital Learning Day, an important nationwide celebration of innovative teaching and learning that makes thoughtful use of digital media and technology.

All day tomorrow, February 1st, a majority of states, hundreds of school districts, thousands of teachers, and nearly 2 million students will encourage the innovative use of technology by trying something new, showcasing success, kicking off project-based learning, and focusing on the ways that digital tools can help improve student outcomes.

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind comes to We Give Books

On Tuesday this week, Penguin’s Dial press published an inspiring new children’s book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba.

Already this beautifully illustrated story has been read more than 7,000 times at wegivebooks.org.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind shares with young readers William’s remarkable story and desire to learn—a desire that empowered him to harness the power of the wind to produce electricity and bring lifesaving water to his drought-ravaged village in Malawi.

One Book Two Book: A Celebration of Children’s Literature

This weekend marks the launch of a unique event taking place in Iowa City: The One Book Two Book Children's Literature Festival. The festival, which coincides with Iowa City's being designated a UNESCO City of Literature, brings together educators, librarians, authors, publishers, bookstores, parents, and children to recognize the important role of literature in the development of children’s literacy, imagination, and love of reading.

New We Give Books Video

One week into the new year, and we’ve posted a new We Give Books video that highlights many of the effort’s key accomplishments from 2011.

We launched We Give Books hoping it would prove an innovative way to invite others to learn more about great literacy organizations making a difference around the world. Our first goal was to bring together a digital library of great children’s books, and invite parents, teachers, and other adults to help put books in the hands of children who don't have them, simply by reading online.

One of the great joys of our work last year was discovering the degree to which the idea of sharing books and promoting literacy spread from something that one person might do with one child to something a teacher might do with her class, and then to something that brought together whole communities.

Please check out the video here, and—while you’re at it—please feel free to forward the link to others who might want to know about this always free, always available Pearson Foundation program.

Project Exploration Co-Founder Gabrielle Lyon – Chicagoan of the Year!

Here's some great news to start the year: Friend of the Pearson Foundation and Project Exploration Founder and Senior Explorer Gabrielle Lyon has been selected as a 2011 "Chicagoan of the Year" by Chicago magazine, joining a group of six Chicagoans that the magazine celebrates as "intrepid heroes who make our city - and our world - a better place."

Start the Year by Making a Connection for Literacy

The new year’s begun, but before we get too far: One additional thought about the power of making connections.

2011 marked the first full year of We Give Books, the digital literacy initiative presented by Penguin Books and the Pearson Foundation. At current count, we’re closing in on 600,000 books shared as a result of this campaign. In the process we’ve helping a growing number of great non-profit organizations deliver books to young people they serve in communities around the world.

Once More: Thanks for some amazing moments

As I suggested yesterday, many of the Pearson Foundation’s best moments in 2011 came about when we were fortunate enough to help deliver the work of an individual or organization with others who otherwise might not have benefited from this connection.

This happens all the time, in a lot of small but important ways. Some of the bigger connections this year all had to do with identifying, exploring, and sharing best practices—of broad, national educational systems, and of individual, innovative educators working to develop smart approaches inside and outside the classroom.