expanded learning

Massachusetts 2020

Type: 
Non-Profit Organizations
Overview 

Massachusetts 2020’s mission is to expand educational and economic opportunities for children and families across Massachusetts. Massachusetts 2020 is a demonstrated leader in combining public policy, research and programming to expand and improve learning opportunities for children across the state.

Our Relationship 

Massachusetts 2020 turned to Collaborative to plan and execute their annual Summit in celebration of expanded learning time (ELT) in Massachusetts, to recognize leaders in the field and to provide professional development to staff and administrators in ELT schools.

Collaborative helped Massachusetts 2020 plan and facilitate their Expanded Learning Time Summit, which brings together Expanded Learning Time schools and potential schools to celebrate the work accomplished by the state. Collaborative oversaw the Summit’s logistical needs and scheduling, disseminated invitations and a post-summit evaluation, managed the online and on-site registration processes, and managed the design process and agenda and materials development. This meeting demonstrates Collaborative’s continued experience with developing and hosting meetings for educational endeavors across the country.

Our Impact 
A New Day for Schools: The Expanded Learning Time Summit
Our Services 
Network Development

A Leader in Afterschool for More Than a Decade

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We look back on more than a decade of publications, tools and online products with trailblazing clients.
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A Leader in Afterschool

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For more than a decade, Collaborative Communications Group has served non-profits, philanthropies, government and many other partners in the afterschool field to produce award-winning publications and resources. To learn about projects ranging from professional development to national initiatives, check out this look back on years of leadership with trailblazing partners.

Resources on Afterschool PDF Download 'Resources on Afterschool'

Digital Learning Lab at the Statewide Afterschool Networks 2012 Meeting

The Challenge 

The annual meeting of the Statewide Afterschool Networks in early February 2012 coincided with the first national Digital Learning Day. In order to take advantage of this exciting event and to raise awareness of digital learning opportunities in afterschool and summer learning, Collaborative suggested the development of a ‘Digital Learning Lab’ where participants could learn about policy, practice and research related to digital learning, and connect with experts in the field.

Our Approach 

Collaborative designed a highly interactive and fun learning experience where participants could both hear from a series of organizations working to advance digital learning, and then could go deeper through either informal ‘Lab’ conversations or mini-presentations. Collaborative led the development of the Digital Learning Lab by:

  • Designed an interactive learning ‘Lab’ which consisted of a series of rapid-fire presentations by experts, followed by a deep dive by one organization, and an open, informal networking and learning experience where participants talked directly with the experts and tested their tools or products where applicable.
  • Invited and managed the group of expert presenters which included representatives from BAYCAT, CFY, Gooru, The After-School Corporation (TASC), Think Together and Wireless Generation.
  • Facilitated the rapid-fire presentations on key research, practice and policy issues related to digital learning, which provided participants with information on California digital learning programs and tools, current policy initiatives and assessment efforts.
  • Evaluated the session to gather information from participants on how to continue the conversation and advance the dialogue on digital learning in out-of-school time.
Our Impact 

As a result of our efforts, nearly 100 participants learned about leading research, policy and practice in digital learning. Additionally, because of the design of the Lab, presenters were also able to connect with one another, forming new connections and gaining new ideas about their work.

This highly interactive learning experience provided connections to the latest trends in digital learning in afterschool and connected the ongoing conference to a larger national dialogue about digital learning.  

Date Added: Apr 17, 2012
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#afterschool2012: Statewide Afterschool Networks Explore How Expanded Learning Opportunities Help Prepare Global Citizens

TAGS:

Education is at the forefront of a national and international debate about how we should better prepare our children and youth to become engaged global citizens.

In January 2012, more than 300 leaders from across the country will gather in San Francisco to explore how expanded learning opportunities can help prepare youth for college, careers and life in a global society. This annual meeting convenes state teams from the C.S. Mott Foundation-funded networks to focus on leading-edge ideas and policies in education and expanded learning.

National and international experts—including Kai-Ming Cheng of the University of Hong Kong—will discuss themes such as global learning, STEM and higher education. Teams will work together during engaging sessions and interactive experiences on plans to bring new ideas back to their states.

Statewide afterschool networks connect key decision-makers and resources in 39 states to develop and sustain high quality afterschool programs. The work of the networks is to provide robust bridges between leaders of schools, communities and families to better support students. School-based / school-linked afterschool programs help educators and others rethink the school day and school year, so that three vital resources—public education, community and time—fully support student learning, youth development and life-long learning opportunities.

Collaborative has coordinated the SAN network’s convenings, web presence, and technical assistance since 2002. The network is framed around three key goals:

  • Create a sustainable structure of statewide, regional and local partnerships, particularly school-community partnerships, focused on supporting policy development at all levels.
  • Support the development and growth of statewide policies that will secure the resources needed to sustain new and existing afterschool programs.
  • Support statewide systems to ensure programs are of high quality.
Date Added: Jan 28, 2012

The National AfterSchool Association Hosted 2009 Convention

The Challenge 

The National AfterSchool Association (NAA) wanted to bring together afterschool professionals from across the nation to share best practices and to learn about new resources in the field.

Our Approach 

Having assisted with workshop coordination at the 2008 Convention, Collaborative had the experience, insight and creativity to successfully support the NAA's 2009 convention. Collaborative coordinated the workshop planning and preparation, as well as the Web site development, convention registration, exhibition sites, specials events, plenary sessions, networking events, site visits and participant activities.

Our Impact 

Speaker management included scheduling both the keynote speakers and workshop sessions.  This year's convention featured the following keynote speakers:

  • Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation, and human resources
  • General Colin Powell, former Secretary of State
  • Jeff Corwin, host of Animal Planet's The Jeff Corwin Experience

Collaborative facilitated the request for proposal process for workshop presenters.  With our strategic knowledge of the afterschool field, we reviewed proposals and selected content. The workshops were carefully planned to ensure an exciting and diverse suite of offerings. 

Collaborative also assisted NAA in the planning and execution of site visits and networking events. Site coordination occurred for the following:

  • Forums with a special speakers and panel discussions
  • Informal networking events and receptions
  • Facilitated discussions on timely afterschool topics
  • Invitation-only focus groups and research-based discussions
  • Membership meetings

Convention registration was a coordinated effort among NAA, Meetings Management Group (MMG), and Collaborative.  NAA supplied the content, MMG provided experienced management of convention planning, and Collaborative coordinated the efforts, fielded questions, and designed and maintained the convention Web site.

Date Added: Mar 13, 2010
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Policy Review: Documenting Legislative Successes of Statewide Afterschool Networks

The Challenge 

Each year, teams from each of the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks (SAN) are invited to join together to share ideas, resources and strategies for achieving the collective goals of the networks on governance, funding and quality of afterschool programs.  The national network meeting fosters cross-network learning with a range of opportunities for small group discussions on targeted topics.

The Mott Foundation-funded networks focus on collaborative learning and knowledge sharing. A need was recognized around helping state networks become leaders in impacting policy development, and becoming a go-to resource for policymakers. Learning to navigate the legislative landscape is challenging and often times, daunting. The meeting provides an opportune time for reflections on the legislative successes and challenges of the statewide afterschool networks.

Our Approach 

As part of Collaborative's longstanding role in supporting Mott's work with building SAN's knowledge base, in 2004 we began creating policy reviews that share knowledge and best practices. These reports debut each year at the national network meeting.

In 2008, Collaborative saw a need to go deeper into some of the success stories. With an advisory committee comprised of members of Afterschool Technical Assisstance Collaborative, we:

  • Managed the identification of the seven networks that we would interview and profile
  • Sought out the network leads to capture their stories and share lessons for other networks
  • Surveyed the remaining 31 networks on their legislative accomplishments from 2007-2008, and drafted statements for Developed and wrote a policy review that included the seven case studies and the other legislative successes
  • Engaged in feedback sessions with the Advisory Committee
  • Designed an accessible, easy-to-read policy review for widespread use and disseminated it at the January 2009 national network meeting in Tampa, FL.
Our Impact 

The National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks continue to grow and expand their technical expertise and ability to become advocates for afterschool in the policy arena. This resource supports the networks in becoming effective leaders who policymakers will look to when making education and out-of-school time policy. This policy review is one way for networks to continue to stay informed on best practices of fellow states.

Find more information on the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks.

Date Added: Mar 13, 2010
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Documenting Legislative Successes of Statewide Afterschool Networks

TAGS:

Collaborative assisted the National Network of Statewide Afterschool Networks grow and expand their ability to become advocates for afterschool in the policy arena. This network is funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Date Added: Mar 13, 2010

National AfterSchool Association Hosts 2009 Convention

TAGS:

Collaborative assisted the National AfterSchool Association with the planning and coordination of registration, workshops, site visits, networking and participants activities at the 2009 NAA Convention in New Orleans. More...

Date Added: Mar 13, 2010

Turning Research into an Online Application for The Wallace Foundation

TAGS:

Collaborative helped create an interactive cost calculator, which guides users to resources and offers budget and program information for out-of-school time programs. More...

This online application was also featured in The Communications Network.

Date Added: Mar 13, 2010
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