Not all learning takes place within the walls of a school, or even a classroom. The larger community—the people, the culture, the physical environment, and even the virtual environment within which we each live—are powerful teachers as well. When schools are integrally connected with their communities, the strengths of both are bolstered. EDC projects strengthen the ties between schools and parents; they build relationships between corporations and community services. Our projects extend learning opportunities after school and off-campus, reach out to adults with literacy projects, and make information and communications technology available to underserved communities. Read on to learn more about our work in these areas:
View
all EDC projects related to building communities
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"We work with diverse partners all over the world to build communities of practice that can share remarkable ideas and respond to rapid changes produced by a global knowledge society." —Vivian Guilfoy, Senior Vice President and Director of EDC's Education, Employment, and Community Programs
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Community Technology |
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EDC is a leader in bringing computer and information technology—and the skills to use them—to groups of people who have traditionally lacked access. We provide support and guidance to a network of community technology centers in underserved areas, where people of all ages use technology for research, work, jobhunting, entertainment, or community building. Expanding access to technology means more than wiring libraries and schools or giving people computers. It means helping people design and shape various technological tools to meet their own needs and pursue their own interests. We help communities and schools around the world make good use of the tool that best fits their situation—whether that's a global e-mail discussion list, an online curriculum, a videoconference, or an interactive radio lesson. View
all EDC projects related to community technology
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Global Projects |
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Community building is the cornerstone of our global work. In developing countries, we work across formal and informal systems to build collaborations at the neighborhood, regional, and national levels. Many of our international curriculum products—including our Interactive Radio Instruction programs—address the learning needs of parents and caregivers, as well as teachers and students. We also use distance learning and communications technologies to bring community leaders and policymakers together from different countries for global learning and exchange. View
all EDC projects related to global projects
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A Closer Look |
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Informal Education |
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Dynamic afterschool programs for middle school students. Adult literacy programs for parents in New York City or coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea. Interactive exhibits at a library, teen center, museum, or national park. The potential for learning exists in every corner of every community. EDC works to realize that potential in its work with institutions and community groups. Along with our partners, we develop creative, engaging programs that guide people in building basic educational skills or developing deep content knowledge. "Until recently, afterschool programs had a culture of babysitting—kids played board games or did arts and crafts," explains Bernie Zubrowski, a longtime EDC researcher and museum consultant. Zubrowski and others are pioneers in developing afterschool programs that challenge young people with academic content, while freeing them from the anxieties of grades and teacher expectations that may hinder them in classrooms. View
all EDC projects related to informal education
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A Closer Look |
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Equity and Diversity |
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Effective community building requires a constant commitment to promote full inclusion, opportunity, and access for all members of society. EDC projects specialize in identifying untapped resources and assets within communities—including populations often excluded from policy formation and decision-making. We believe the best and most lasting solutions arise from the collaborative work of individuals from different backgrounds and with differing perspectives. View all EDC projects related to equity and diversity in community building
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A Closer Look |
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School-Community Partnerships |
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A number of EDC projects work in partnership with both schools and communities, knitting together collective, multidisciplinary approaches to improving students' health and education. The success of a school improvement effort often hinges on communication and relationships between educators and community members. EDC projects view every school as a community resource, and every community as a resource for the schools. View all EDC projects related to school-community partnerships
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"The understanding is growing that all kinds of programs—in museums, community centers, on TV—can complement what goes on in school." —Bernie Zubrowski, Senior Scientist in EDC's Center for Science Education |
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Online Communities |
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The Internet provides a powerful tool for building professional communities that are able to transcend the obstacles of time and distance. EDC has spent more than a decade researching and creating different approaches to online community building, including global forums, online professional journals, and tightly organized seminars. View all EDC projects related to online communities
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A Closer Look |
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Adult Education |
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EDC projects address learners of all ages. In addition to a wide range of professional development and training programs for workers in various fields, EDC develops community-based adult education programs designed to build specific skills, enhance employment opportunities, or support family literacy. For example, the Adult Literacy Media Alliance (ALMA) helps build basic reading, writing, and math skills through television-based teaching materials and cultivates community support for the learners. View all EDC projects related to adult education
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A Closer Look |
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Public Health |
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Good health begins in families, neighborhoods, and communities. Read about our community-based prevention approach in the Promoting Health section. View all EDC projects related to public health
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"If I have an agenda, it’s to make sure public health is better understood by policymakers...public health is invisible until the system breaks down." —Sue Gallagher, Senior Scientist in EDC's Health and Human Development Programs
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