The Best Sites For Cooperative Learning Ideas

Larry Ferlazzo

The Learning in Afterschool & Summer project promotes 5 learning principles. We stress the importance of learning that is collaborative and learning that is active, which means incorporating project-based and problem-based learning. 

Larry Ferlazzo, a high school teacher in Sacramento, CA, offers a valuable list of favorite websites for cooperative and project-based learning. Click here to access this very valuable compilation.

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Larry Ferlazzo teaches Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced English Language Learners (as well as native English speakers) at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California. He has been a high school teacher for nine years after spending nineteen years working as a community organizer.

In addition to writing his blog and maintaining his website, he also has another blog entitled Engaging Parents In School. In addition, he writes regularly for the In Practice blog. “In Practice” is written by a group of teachers from around the world who teach in low-income communities. 

Real Afterschool Programs that Reflect the LIAS Principles

By Sam Piha

Sam Piha

We were recently contacted by an afterschool leader who exclaimed "I love the LIAS learning principles, but can you give me some real life program examples that would make them more real?" We responded by asking program leaders to submit examples of program components that they felt nicely represented the LIAS principles. We have now assembled them in a published paper entitled, Afterschool Programs That Reflect the Learning in Afterschool & Summer Learning Principles. We are also planning, in partnership with Change Agent Productions, to develop a video of program practices that are well-aligned with these same learning principles.

Teen CERT (Community Emergency Response Team),
a component of Club Timberwolf at Julian Jr. High School

We welcome your comments on this paper. We are currently looking for examples that come from summer programs. If you wish to submit a component from your summer youth program, you can do so using a Survey Monkey form. 

ALSO: We want to call your attention to some important new resources - 

• A new report from the National Summer Learning Association entitled Best Practices in Summer Learning Programs for Middle and High School Youth.

• A webinar entitled Expanding Science Learning Opportunities During Out-of-School Time, which is being presented on June 20, 2012 from 10:30am - 12:00pm PST. Click here for more information.

• Two great blog posts on Edutopia regarding students and engagement. The posts are entitled, Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement and How Project-Based Learning Builds 21st-Century Skills. 

• A new website entitled A Time to Succeed, which serves as a source of information for those interested in expanded learning efforts.

• A recent article on The Washington Post, written by Jodi Grant, Afterschool Alliance, entitled What New Research on Extended School Day Says.