Time for Change (In My Own Little Corner of the World)

On this historic day, with inaugural festivities still ringing in my ears, I happen to have a minute to announce a change of my own: I've decided to take a position with the New America Foundation. As of this month, I'm working as a senior policy analyst for its Early Education Initiative. It is a great opportunity for me to extend my writing about child development and the science of learning, while also delving into how pre-K programs work best. My mission is to raise awareness of what sound research can tell us about young learners -- and what they need most in classrooms, on playgrounds, and at home.

I will be writing regularly at Early Ed Watch, New America's blog on early education. But I'll continue to write for general-interest publications about innovations, conundrums and fascinating trends in early childhood research. Sometimes they will intersect with technology and media issues that I have focused on in this blog, in recent presentations and in my book. More often, they will cover a broader spectrum of questions about how children grow and how to give them the richest, most fertile ground for sowing their curiosity, creative spirits and compassion for the world around them.

Don't be surprised if you see this blog go into long periods of hibernation. But please check out Early Ed Watch and pop over to my Web site for recent articles.

Happy Change Day,
Lisa

"Making a Science of Education"

If you are interested in how technology is changing the way students learn -- and whether we have the research to prove it -- go get your hands on the January 2nd issue of Science.

A video introducing the special issue, which is dedicated to education and technology, spotlights many of the big questions and problems with simply assuming that technology will, or won't, help young people to advance in their understanding of the world.

“We need to build a honest knowledge base of what doesn’t work, what does work and why,” says Bruce Alberts, editor-in-chief of Science, “the way we have in science itself. I call it making a science out of education.”

A couple of articles that caught my eye include stories on rethinking the NSF's digital library and software that helps students hone their writing skills. I'm not a member of AAAS, however, so it will cost me $15 per article to read them... So I'm waiting to get to a library to be able to read the full issue. Hopefully many of you out there have a library or workplace that subscribes.