OVERVIEW
Parents, teachers, school districts, day care providers, librarians, pediatricians, speech and language therapists, policy makers, and others who work with children are concerned about current trends in our society that work against children’s better interests. Rather than considering the “whole child” and the complex interplay between intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development, our society is more concerned with memorization than true achievement, and with children knowing “facts” rather than becoming lifelong learners. Yet what has made America great is our ability to rapidly adapt to changes in the marketplace as well as to create novel solutions to old problems.
Business leaders across the country tell us that to compete in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st Century children will need a different kind of training and education. They will need to master what we call the 6Cs TM of collaboration (EQ, teamwork), communication ( speaking and listening), content (reading, math, arts and science), critical thinking (problem solving, analysis), creative innovation, and confidence (risk taking). Simply mending the worn knees and replacing the cuffs on our school system will not propel the future American workforce to success in a global economy. It is time to start a national dialogue that asks how we re-imagine schools to meet the demands of the 21st Century world. Findings from years of scientific research in child development and learning science has much to offer in this new conversation. Our outreach efforts through Learning Landscapes and our overhaul of the Godfrey-Lee Public School system using the 6Cs TM demonstrate our continued commitment to education for a global world.CONSULTING
Research:
- With academic institutions such as the Language Research Center at Georgia State University and with students doing research around the world
- Consulting on National Agenda Issues with the government as
- a participant in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development
- Consultant for the NIH Toolbox on language and literacy
- Consultant for State of California Preschool Curricula in language and literacy
Non-Profit:
- Fred Roger’s Center
- On the advisory board for the Alliance for Childhood
- Research Advisory Board for America’s Promise
- Advisory Board for CIVITAS
- Consulted with a number of Children’s Museums across America
Business:
- The Toy Industry
- Fisher-Price
- HIT Entertainment
- K’Nex
- Highlights
- Crayola
- Megabloks
- Media
- Disney Junior
- Sesame Workshop
- Cartoon Network
- Blue’s Clues
- Other
- MindChamps
