Learning Games Network Awarded Catalyst Initiative Social Innovation Program from HP to Foster Global Collaboration Among Educational Institutions

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Learning Games Network announced today it has received a grant to participate in HP's Catalyst Initiative, a global social innovation program designed to develop more effective approaches to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education worldwide.

Over the course of two years, the Learning Games Network will collaborate with Kentucky's project-based learning initiative, Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP), to deliver Design Corps—a program that guides and supports teachers and students to design and construct learning games. Through this program, both teachers and students will receive instruction and coaching on effective approaches and strategies for creating digital games for learning. The University of Kentucky's P20 lab will lead the study of the effectiveness of this program and new pedagogies adopted under this model. Design Corps will be embedded in the existing STLP infrastructure, which has been in operation since 1994 and serves over 3,000 students each year.

"The HP Catalyst Grant has enabled us to establish a new partnership with Kentucky's Student Technology Leadership Program, providing a wonderful opportunity for the Learning Games Network to expand the reach of our Design Corps activities," said Alex Chisholm, Executive Director.  "We're looking forward to working with teachers and students through our project-based learning game design curriculum and activities and to educating, inspiring, and empowering a new generation of young game designers."

As part of the program, HP is donating $6 million to 35 educational institutions, including the Learning Games Network, across five consortia that will use the award to explore innovations in STEM+ learning and teaching. This builds on the Obama Administration's "Educate to Innovate" coalition designed to improve national outcomes in STEM subject matters.

Program Details

• The HP Catalyst Initiative creates five global consortia in 2010, each focusing on a specific innovation theme for transforming STEM education. The five themes span: approaches to teacher preparation, online education, using technology to measure learning outcomes, and engaging students in global, collaborative learning experiences.
• Member organizations were selected through an open and competitive global call for proposals. Eligibility was based on two principal criteria:  status as an accredited educational institution (that is, schools, colleges, universities, as well as nonprofit or nongovernmental educational organizations) and country of location.

For more, go to: www.learninggamesnetwork.org/catalyst_initiative

CONTACT: Jen Groff, +1-617-494-4946, [email protected]

SOURCE Learning Games Network