The George Lucas Educational Foundation Releases Spring 2000 Newsletter on ‘Bridging The Digital Divide’
The George
Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF) has announced the release of its
most recent Edutopia newsletter with the theme of “Bridging The
Digital Divide.” The 20-page issue highlights successful efforts to
increase access to educational technology, especially in schools and
community technology centers. The issue also addresses other important
aspects of the “Divide,” including content and literacy. Edutopia:
Bridging The Digital Divide is available online in both English and
Spanish at www.glef.org/edutopia.
“As our nation searches for solutions to the Digital Divide, the
need for successful models is critical,” said Milton Chen, Executive
Director of The George Lucas Educational Foundation. “The good news is
that educators, students, parents, businesses, and nonprofit
organizations are forging creative partnerships to bring the benefits
of technology to their communities. With this issue of Edutopia, we
share some of these stories.”
The initiatives highlighted in Edutopia include:
— Street-Level Youth Media, a Chicago non-profit which helps
inner-city youth tell their own stories with Digital Age tools.
— PowerUP, a network of non-profits, corporations, and the federal
government, which brings technology centers to underserved
communities.
— The Baltimore Urban League, whose initiatives are intended to
narrow the technology gap for residents of all ages.
The issue also spotlights the efforts of educators to connect
their students with compelling online content. For example, a teacher
in a rural Virginia classroom uses NASA’s online resources to engage
her 4th-grade students in ‘real-world’ science and dialogue with
scientists. An extensive list of related reports, Web sites, videos,
and organizations is also provided.
40,000 copies of the newsletter are being distributed in print.
The Foundation acknowledges these six partner organizations, which
provided content and distribution support: American Library
Association, Benton Foundation, The Children’s Partnership, NASA,
National Urban League, and PowerUp.
Individual copies of the print version of Edutopia: The Digital
Divide can be obtained for free by calling 415/507-0399. The George
Lucas Educational Foundation’s exploration of the Digital Divide will
continue online through May, with additional features and resources
posted to its Web site (www.glef.org).
The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF) creates media that
promote a vision of learning where students are challenged and
engaged, have access to interactive technologies, and are supported by
inspired teachers and involved parents and communities. Established in
1991 by filmmaker George Lucas and based in San Rafael, CA, GLEF is a
non-profit operating foundation. Contact: The George Lucas Educational Foundation Mark Sargent, 415/444-8941
msargent@glef.org
