For more information, please visit: http://www.penncord.org/events/rock-the-vote-professional-development-opportunity/

The educators who develop the top lesson plans will be invited to attend a luncheon at the Governor’s Residence hosted by the First Lady of Pennsylvania on November 16, 2010.  At that time, the top three lesson plans from across the Commonwealth will be announced.  The grand prize winner will receive a monetary award and a trip to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia with his/her class.   The top lesson plans will be posted on PDE’s SAS website, and winning teachers will have an opportunity to join SAS’s Professional Learning Community established specifically for civics educators.

Form more information visit: http://www.penncord.org/events/citizenship-curriculum-contest/

For more information, please visit: http://www.penncord.org/events/pcss-annual-conference/

Follow the secret delegate on twitter @ www.twitter.com/SecretDelegate and find out all of the behind the scenes gossip from one of our founding fathers. Can you guess who?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pennsylvania-Coalition-for-Representative-Democracy-PennCORD/137275394106?ref=ts

Teachers who complete this course are eligible to receive a free classroom set of We the People student textbooks.  In addition teachers in the state of Pennsylvania may earn 15 Act 48 professional development hours.

http://www.penncord.org/publication_files/we-the-people-online-course.doc

Maintaining a tradition that is now four years old, this summer’s PennCORD interns were charged with the task of promoting civic engagement among Philadelphia area youth.  Instead of working within the confines of the classroom, the interns tackled a different assignment.  Inkiera Johnson (Constitution High School), Erica Mendez (CAPA), Kareem Terry (Overbrook) and Zoey Toy (J.R. Masterman) have been working hard throughout the summer to plan and market PennCORD’s first ever Civic Opportunities Fair for Students.  

The goal of the Civic Opportunities Fair is simple: to connect Philadelphia-area businesses and organizations that are in need of interns or volunteers with high school students who are looking to positively impact and effect change in their communities.  PennCORD’s Civic Opportunities Fair will have the look and feel of a job fair, matching interested students with prospective employers, both of whom will greatly benefit from their mutual commitment to service.

In order to make October’s event possible, Inkiera, Kareem, Erica and Zoey have spent the first four weeks of their summer internship collecting contact information for over one-hundred and fifty local businesses and organizations.  During this process, each intern researched only those businesses or organizations whose mission aligned with the Civic Opportunities Fair’s goal of worthwhile civic engagement and community development. 

During their internship, Inkiera, Kareem, Erica and Zoey had the opportunity to work with the National Constitution Center staff.  Each intern grew throughout the summer by taking advantage of weekly professional development seminars, hosted by museum professionals who shared their inside knowledge and experience relevant to the interns’ project.  The interns learned a range of skills, from the basics of marketing to public speaking, and concluded with a resume building workshop.

The PennCORD interns’ support network extended beyond the Constitution Center staff to a group of students from Overbrook High School’s championship-winning mock trial team. Brandon Pouncey and Emem Ikpe, both recent graduates (class of 2009), were joined by rising senior Rameeka Manning to serve as an Outreach Team.  These three students proved invaluable in marketing the event especially in the latter weeks of the summer.

Though the summer interns and the Outreach Team are heading back to their respective schools this month, they will continue their work as ambassadors to their peers.  They have been asked to promote PennCORD’s Civic Opportunities Fair in both their schools and neighborhoods. 

Needless to say, this year’s interns have succeeded at a monumental task.  Our interns are looking forward to one last day of work, hosting the fall Civic Opportunities Fair for Students.  To learn more about the event, click here.

The Center for Law and Society at Community College of Philadelphia welcomed nearly 100 young people and staff from EducationWorks for the citywide Project Citizen Showcase that culminated EducationWorks' summer service learning program on Wednesday, August 12th. 

Keith Bailey, EducationWorks Youthworks Coordinator, opened the program by thanking the participants for their work on Project Citizen, a portfolio-based civic education curriculum designed to help young people make a difference in their communities through civic action.  Students identify a problem of public concern, research the problem, brainstorm solutions, determine a solution worthy of being implemented and then develop an action plan to implement their selected solution.

Although the majority of the portfolio presentations at CCP focused on aspects of the literacy problem the young people had been dealing with all summer as they worked with elementary age summer campers, there was a range of project topics on display including aids education, anti-gun violence programs, and recycling efforts.  David Trevaskis, President of the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies and the Pro Bono Coordinator of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, noted that "these young people were inspiring in their creativity and hope as they tackled wide ranging problems in our community."  Joining Trevaskis in evaluating the showcase portfolios and asking questions of the participants were legislative aides Denise and Sabrina Holloway from Representative Dwight Evans' office and attorney and retired principal Alan Liebowitz who teaches for CCP.

Project Citizen is a Keystone Education Program of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy, the civics initiative of Pennsylvania First Lady and Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Midge Rendell.  PC is coordinated in Pennsylvania through the freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge.

We walked past some of the most important buildings in the country. I was in awe viewing the great pillars that support the majestic structure of the lawful building, The Supreme Court. The prominence of the senate buildings left us in astonishment as the busy men and women hurried around us. The atmosphere itself, the people, the buildings, the history of Capitol Hill completely dwarfed me. At that moment I knew this trip would be an experience I would not soon forget. 

I was a student leader and my group lobbied for a ban on assault weapons in the United States. Three weeks in advance we researched statistics and facts on assault weapons that would help us convince congressmen and congresswomen to support a ban on them. We researched how assault weapons increase the crime rate, make gain violence more deadly, and how police officers are being outgunned by criminals.  We learned that politicians such as President Obama and Governor Rendell are also for a ban on assault weapons.

Each member of the group was responsible for one of the four topics I mentioned. We each had to write a page of facts that support our cause, to use as an outline while we spoke with the congress person’s aide. My group met with Rep. Allyson Schwartz’s aide, and an hour and a half later we met with Sen. Arlen Specter’s aide. During our meetings with the aides we presented our information and explained why their boss should support the bill to ban assault weapons. In response the aides explained their congressperson’s opinion on the issue and gave us pointers on how to be better lobbyists. At the conclusion of the meetings we engaged in a question and answer session. The aides answered all of our questions and gave us advice. Lastly, we dropped off letters to our representatives informing them of the issues and thanking the congressmen and women who already sponsored the bill.

The trip was a complete success. We had all of our research and letters together for the meetings. I learned that legislative aides do a lot of work and are a vital part of Capitol Hill, and I also learned that I can lobby anytime I want. I just have to contact my congressmen and congresswomen and let them know my perspective on an issue. I completed all of my goals for the trip: I was prepared; I got my point across to the aides; and I had my voice heard.

I created social change by going to Capitol Hill with an issue I feel strongly about. Together with my classmates in the other groups, we did everything a person can do in this country to make a difference in the government. I did not just do it for the experience. I know that if I played any part in passing the ban on assault weapons then I will have saved at least one life, and that is the greatest social change we all should try to achieve.  

Victor M. Pomales Jr., senior Freire Charter School   

Going to the Capitol on Friday, April 17, I expected to be sitting in rooms all day long, skimming through bills. I thought that I would not be able to be in the rooms where all the action was.

Once I got there, we were split into groups. YGA, or Youth General Assembly, was for middle school age kids like me. The high school students were put into Senate, House, or other committees.

In YGA, we first went over parliamentary procedure. I learned how to address the chair and state points. I was surprised to find out that we would be debating bills that YGA delegates had written. I had prepared a bill for that weekend but did not get a chance to debate it, due to the bill calendar. I loved debating the bills, raising points, and eventually voting on them. All the bills had to do with problems in our community right now, and that interested me. It was fascinating that all the delegates had problems in their different areas of interest.

My favorite part about debating in YGA was amending bills. I liked the process they had to go through to become amendments. First, someone had to write out an amendment for the bill. Then, that person would ask to approach the rostrum and show it to the chair. The chair would then read it aloud and we would debate about the amendment - how it could positively affect the bill or negatively affect it. Finally, we would have a final vote on the amendment and, if it passed, it was then part of the bill.

Altogether, my experience at the Capitol that weekend was overwhelming. I didn’t expect to be given so many opportunities, like shadowing presiding officers and observing how the Senate works. I have always had an interest in government and law, but that weekend expanded my knowledge of how laws are made. I will definitely return next year so I can continue to learn more about how government works.

by Kevin Little, Donlynne Layne, Kenneth Britcher, Sean Burke, Advisors, Middletown Area Middle School

The statewide YMCA Youth and Government program is a year-round process that gets results in leadership, personal growth, service to others and social development among its participants. As advisors, it is not about teaching students or club members civics and government but about learning. Students apply the knowledge and principles of civics to social issues and problems they identify and select those they wish to resolve by writing legislative bills. Bill writing is the central focus of the organization that is structured around research and debate.

Deadline:  May 10

Develop leadership and job readiness skills

Work as a team with other students

Work outdoors on conservation projects

Learn about environmental issues

Gain experience in outdoor recreation and camping

PennCORD is looking for rising juniors and seniors to serve as interns at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia this summer.  The six week paid internship offers the opportunity to work in one of the city's most dynamic museums on a project planning and executing an exposition for area students who are looking for ways to become involved in their communities.  If you are a student leader with strong communication and organizational skills who wants to add a professional experience to your resume, click here for the application. 

First and second graders were harsh jurors in the trial of Goldilocks, held Friday, March 13 at Swarthmore Rutledge School, in Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, Delaware County. Third and fourth graders were split but leaned towards convicting Goldilocks, while fifth graders favored acquittal.

Parents, local leaders and the Pennsylvania Bar Association presented this mock trial program to enhance students' understanding of the judicial system by presenting the elements of a criminal trial.

Pictured here are (top row left to right) David Caputo (prosecutor), SRS Principal Gary Davis, David Trevaskis (bailiff and bar assn. representative), Judge Phil Restrepo (judge), Mayor Eck Gerner (Papa Bear), Officer Ed Kline (officer/forest ranger), John Savoth (defense attorney), (bottom) Sabrina Caputo, Anthony Foglio, Julia Gyourko, Matthew Restrepo, Maeve Hiehle, Nicholas Restrepo, Sophia Foglio, Evan Savoth, and Lori Foglio (Goldilocks).

SECOND ANNUAL ADAMS CENTER SUMMER RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS

JUNE 23-25, 2009

Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA

The Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society at Susquehanna University, in collaboration with the Education Department of the university, is pleased to offer a three-day summer institute for selected Pennsylvania social studies teachers. The purpose of this institute is to provide attending teachers with an enhanced understanding of the American Justice System, and to assist them with the development of a unit of study on the judicial branch of government for implementation during the 2009-2010 school year. The units of study will be developed by teacher “teams” in accordance with state and national academic standards.

The institute will be led by Allan D. Sobel, Director of the Adams Center for Law and Society and former President of the American Judicature Society; Wayne F. Heim, Director of the Teacher Intern Program at Susquehanna University and former public school teacher and administrator; and Nancy Peterson, Iowa public high school government teacher and experienced curriculum consultant. The institute will be divided into five sessions. There will be two sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday (8:00-12:00 and 1:00-5:00), and one session on Thursday (8:00-12:00). Day one will be devoted to providing a foundation of key justice system issues and to establishing a common understanding of the powers and important cases of the justice system. Day Two will be devoted to establishing guidelines for unit development and assisting teachers with the writing of their units of study. Day three will be devoted to final drafts of units of study and group presentations of completed projects.  

Through a generous grant from the Foundation for the Advancement of an Independent Judiciary and the Rule of Law, each participant will receive a stipend in the amount of $200, meals, snacks, overnight accommodations in university dorms (individual rooms), Act 48 credit, and, if requested, on-site support from the Adams Center when the units of study are implemented. This will be the second annual summer institute offered by the Center.  

Units of study developed by last year’s participants and by Ms. Peterson, and an application to attend the 2009 institute are available at http://www.susqu.edu/lawandsociety/education.htm.   The units of study, to be developed by the teacher teams, will be interactive, address students’ different learning styles, and accommodate all ability levels. Each unit of study will have identified objectives and aligned assessments. The specific points to be covered may include any of the important lessons to be learned about the justice system, including, but not limited to:

• The role of courts in deciding contentious legal issues.
• The twin concepts of judicial independence and accountability, which require judges to base decisions on the rule of law and the facts before the court, not on personal preferences or in response to public or political pressure.
• The importance of due process (following prescribed rules and safeguarding individual rights) and the rule of law (applying the law equally regardless of social, political, or financial status).

After the units of study have been evaluated and modified as necessary, they will be posted on our website and otherwise be made available so teachers around the state, country, (and world) may access them, use them, and provide feedback.  

If you would like to be considered for participation in this exciting, informative institute, please complete and return the application form no later than Friday, May 8, to Ms. Michelle Arcuri, Adams Center for Law and Society at Susquehanna University, 604 University Avenue, Selinsgrove, PA 17870. You may also return the application form by email to Ms. Arcuri at arcuri@susqu.edu or by facsimile transmission at 570-372-2867. All applicants will be notified as soon as possible, and no later than May 15, as to whether they have been selected to participate. 

On January 26, PennCORD Regional Coordinator Rich Redmerski provided in-service training to Pittsburgh Public School teachers on the use of the outstanding national curriculum Project Citizen, one of PennCORD’s Keystone Programs. This week, the district will finalize stipend proposals for spring semester funding through PennCORD, an effort coordinated by school administrators Anita Ravi and Michael Dreger.

The partnership between the Pittsburgh Public Schools and PennCORD continues to thrive as this new round of stipends and in-service training move forward. In 2007 the twelve high schools in the district sought to enhance their 9^th grade civic education initiative, “Be the Change,” through the PennCORD partnership. During the first year of the partnership, stipends ranging from $600 to $3,000 were awarded in an effort to increase positive student engagement in their neighborhood communities and schools.  

Service learning projects were carried out with food banks, ethnic festivals, and recreation boards. Carrick High School students used an interdisciplinary approach involving the schools industrial arts, graphic arts and social studies departments to renovate a recreation facility. The project also included plans to maintain the site in future years.   

A number of schools focused on purchasing historical videos and books featuring the Pittsburgh area that they used for research involving the “Be the Change” curriculum. Some of those schools purchased video equipment, which will be used in future years to produce walking tour productions of their neighborhoods and also as tools for oral history projects.  

Westinghouse students focused their attention on beautification of a number of land parcels that surround the school. Later in the school year, a community social and education celebration was held on the cleared and planted sites.  These same students also conducted a poster contest with the theme “Reducing Community Violence.” Speakers were invited to the school to reinforce that message.  

This blog links students throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with student correspondents from Springfield School District (Delaware County) who are in Washington D.C. from January 17th to the 23rd with the Close Up Foundation. These student journalists will provide a firsthand account of the inaugural events as they unfold; and will conduct nightly interviews with students from across the country as well as interviews from the Capitol on Inauguration Day.

Pennsylvania’s vision for civic education was shared with 75 curriculum coordinators, school administrators, teachers, non-profit executives and attorneys on January 13 at the National Constitution Center. PennCORD and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) hosted a regional civics summit for Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Bucks and Montgomery counties at the second in a 3 part series of such summits across the Commonwealth. The first was held in Harrisburg in April. The next will be held in Pittsburgh.

Participants took full advantage of the rare gathering of distinguished education professionals and the full-day involvement of Education Secretary Zahorchak and First Lady Marjorie Rendell to share ideas on how to boost communication between PDE and the schools. PDE presented its architecture for boosting student achievement through alignment of six components known as the Standards Aligned Systems (SAS).   

In order to demonstrate the ease of aligning existing curricula and programs to SAS, a National Constitution Center classroom resource “Is the Constitution Color-Blind?” was modeled, using the civics curriculum framework as the structure for the lesson.  

Curriculum developers from school districts and non profits alike were encouraged to apply the framework to their materials and programs in order to align them to the Commonwealth’s vision for improved civic teaching.

http://www.abanet.org/publiced/noys/09/home.shtml

To apply, you will need to complete an application form, and ask your school principal to send a letter of support. Application at:

http://www.abanet.org/publiced/noys/09/theapplication.shtml

About the Summit

The National Online Youth Summit (NOYS) is a national program that encourages youth to learn about and critically evaluate a timely, law-related topic. The Summit curriculum, objectives, and goals are adaptable and allow teachers to create an exemplary project-based learning experience tailored to their students and relevant learning standards.

Over the last ten years, more than 4,000 students have participated in the Summit. Past topics have included environmental law, immigration, capital punishment, and youth internet access. Visit 2008 NOYS to learn more about last year's Summit.

The 2009 Summit

During the course of the 2009 Summit, high school students will study, research, and analyze the Second Amendment, and then engage in civil discourse online with students around the country. Students will explore the debate surrounding the Second Amendment through study of: historical context; national and state gun laws; role of pro-gun rights and pro-gun control advocacy groups; and guns in American popular culture.

NOYS Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Summit?

The Summit is designed to help high school students learn about a timely, law-related topic, and develop informed opinions about the issue. Students complete a series of activities designed by the ABA to build their knowledge and sharpen skills, such as critical thinking, research, civil discussion, writing, analysis, synthesis, self-direction, and cooperation.

Students will be asked to share thoughts and to take part in online discussions with other students across the country. The discussion is asynchronous— meaning that students do not need to be online at the same time.

Is the curriculum provided?

Yes. Activities are designed and provided by the ABA. Ongoing instructional support from ABA staff is provided throughout the project. Additional resources will also be made available. Teachers will be asked to create one individualized activity for students, based on parameters provided by the ABA.

When does the Summit take place?

The Summit takes place during the second-half of the school year, between January and May. Approximately 10-14 activities will take place over a 14 week period.

What do I need to do to prepare for the summit?

You will need to participate in an online orientation via a "teachers only" message board and complete required orientation activities. You will also need to integrate the program curriculum into your students' course of study.

How do students communicate with other schools? Will I need to install any software?

Students and teachers will communicate with each other and other schools through the use of FuseTalk, an Internet-based software. FuseTalk is an online message board where participants can post messages related to the topic at hand.

The first time you log-in to FuseTalk, you will be prompted to install an application. This application is used for composing posts and will need to be installed on each computer that is used during the summit. The installation is quick and automatic, but you may have problems if your school computers are behind firewalls. You will want to check with your school's technology expert to make sure you can download the application.

Are there any other technical requirements I should know about?

FuseTalk will work with any of the following browsers installed on your computers:

Internet Explorer (IE) version 4 and higher• Netscape version 4 and higher • Opera version 5.12 and higher • Safari • Firefox version 1.0 and higher (Note: There are known display issues with this browser) To participate in the Summit, you will need to provide school computers with Internet access for student use. You will also need to have a valid e-mail address, use e-mail on a regular basis, and agree to subscribe to a Summit listserve.

Is technical support provided?

ABA will help you to learn the software, but cannot help you to manage your technology. You may need to seek support from technical staff at your school.

Will just anybody be able to access my students' posts?

No! Our FuseTalk board is private and can only be accessed by using a password. Only students and teachers involved in the summit will be able to see your students' posts.

Will my students be able to write whatever they want on the message board?

No. We encourage you to ask your students to draft their posts offline, so that you can review the message before students post it online. You will also be responsible for managing your students' use of the Web, and engaging them in discussions on the message board. ABA staff is also active in monitoring web conferences.

Does the program meet national standards? What about state standards?

Yes. The Summit curriculum is adaptable, and can be aligned with many national and state standards.

Do students need permission from their parents to participate in the summit?

We encourage you to seek parental permission for students to participate in the online aspect of the Summit.

Do I have to pay to apply?

No! All we ask is that teachers hand in final reports, evaluations, and post tests.

How long has this program been around?

The first National Online Youth Summit was held in 1999. Since then, ten summits have taken place, and more than 4,000 students have participated.

Over the last ten years, students have told us that they enjoy the experience of online discussion with other high school kids in different parts of the country. Our pre- and post- tests show that students improve their knowledge of the topic during the course of the Summit.

For more information, please contact:

Rina Shah

American Bar Association

Division for Public Education

321 N. Clark Street, 20.2

Chicago, IL 60654-7598

shahr@staff.abanet.org

The Top 20 videos from the PennCORD video contest Voting: the Power of Your Voice will be available OnDemand starting Friday, December 12, 2008 and will be up through January 12, 2009. You can find the videos in the PennCORD folder located under the "Get Local" section.

Grand Prize Winning Video

Runner Up Video

First Lady Congratulates Allegheny, Luzerne County Students for Top Video Entries Depicting Importance of Voting

HARRISBURG – First Lady of Pennsylvania Judge Marjorie O. Rendell today congratulated five Fox Chapel Area High School students from Allegheny County for their video that won the grand prize in an online contest designed to highlight the importance of civic engagement through voting.  

The video, “Voter vs. Non-Voter,” is a spoof of the Apple vs. PC commercials. It depicts two high school-aged students discussing the important issues facing the nation and the convenient access to answers on voting questions through the Department of State’s VotesPA.com Web site.  

The winning entry was produced and submitted by Thanh Doan, Alexander Radkoff and Charles Wei of Ohara Township; Akansh Murthy of Aspinwall Township; and Anders Bergren of Fox Chapel Township. All students are seniors.  

“These students are to be commended for their creativity in taking a concept that is widely recognized and using it to convey the opportunity before young voters to help shape the future of this country at a time when there are so many pressing issues,” said Judge Rendell.  

The first lady also recognized Michael Wolfe as the runner-up in the contest. Wolfe, of Shickshinny, is a senior at Northwest Area High School in Luzerne County. His video, “An Honest Opinion,” is a silent 40-second spot that depicts how one person’s opinion cannot have an impact unless it is voiced by going to the polls.  

The Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy, or PennCORD, launched the Voting: The Power of Your Voice contest in September. The statewide contest challenged Pennsylvania students in grade six or above to create a 30-to-60-second video that demonstrates how voting gives power to citizens’ voices and why it is important for them to exercise that power. The competition was presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania departments of State and Education.    

All videos submitted urged viewers to visit www.VotesPA.com to learn more about voting in the 2008 general election on Tuesday.  

VotesPA.com is a Pennsylvania Department of State online tool that has information for different types of voters, including first-time voters, college students, older Pennsylvanians, citizens with disabilities, members of the military, and voters who have recently moved or changed their name.  

The Web site’s Election Day assistant can help voters find their polling place and tell them what to bring. Those with questions about electronic voting machines can learn more about their county’s system by watching a video demo. First-time voters or voters who are voting in a precinct for the first time can view a list of acceptable types of identification they need to present at the polling place.   

The Web site also provides facts about absentee, alternative and provisional ballots.  

PennCORD is a unique union of educational, advocacy and governmental organizations committed to improving civic learning for students in grades K-12 that was created in 2004 in response to The Civic Mission of Schools report and is currently supported by the Annenberg Foundation.  PennCORD’s goal is for every Pennsylvania school to prepare its students to understand and participate in their communities, society and government. The initiative supports schools across the commonwealth in their efforts to fulfill their civic mission by offering resources and opportunities to participate in statewide and local programs. For more information, visit www.penncord.org.  

PennCORD, led by the first lady, was founded by the National Constitution Center, Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Governor’s Office of the First Lady.  

“I want to congratulate all of the students who participated in this competition,” said Judge Rendell. “The response and number of entries we received tell us that young, eligible voters are aware of the issues we face and are excited about participating in the upcoming election.”  

The top videos, as well as each entry received, are available at www.ourstage.com.

The grand-prize winner and the runner-up will receive a cash prize for themselves and their school. The grand-prize winner will have the opportunity to appear on the Comcast Newsmakers program with Judge Rendell and will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Harrisburg or Philadelphia. Additionally, the top 20 videos will be available for viewing on Comcast OnDemand, available to all Comcast digital cable customers.  

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
11:00 AM ET
2:00 PM ET

As part  of Global  Entrepreneurship Week, FPRI will present two 45-minute  webcast on  Innovation and  Entrepreneurship.

Secondary schools/classes  may sign up to view the webcasts live online and participate in the Q&A periods.

The founders  of Yahoo!, Google, and FaceBook are famous and very wealthy. They are our modern heroes. In part, each owes his success to the work and success of many other innovators and  entrepreneurs  in  an  unbroken  line  stretching  back hundreds of  years. As Isaac Newton famously repeated, "If I have seen  a little  further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

On whose shoulders do Jerry Yang and David Filo (Yahoo!), Sergey Brin  and Larry  Page (Google), and Mark  Zuckerberg (Facebook) stand? What innovations  form the foundations of these companies’  products, and  how can we understand how history can  give each of us a better chance to create great products and achieve great success?

Lawrence  Husick, co-director of FPRI's Wachman Center Program on the History of Innovation will present a fast-paced webcast that traces these modern systems' roots from an early form of telegraph, through Napoleon's France, to Samuel  Morse, Alexander Graham Bell,  “Ma” Bell, Bell Labs, and  then finally to BitNet, ARPANet, the Internet and World Wide Web.

To register for either or both webcasts go to:

www.fpri.org/education/innovationwebcast/

For additional   information, contact   Aln  Luxenberg  at lux@fpri.org or telephone (215) 732-3774 x105.

Voting: The Power of Your Voice video contest will continue to accept submissions until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, Friday, October 24.

If you experienced difficulty submitting your video yesterday due to the technological glitches at ourstage.com, you can enter your contest into competition today. Please remember to ENTER YOUR VIDEO INTO THE PENNCORD CHANNEL. If your video is currently uploaded to OurStage, but not entered into the PennCORD channel, it will not be part of the competition.

In a particularly original assignment, McRae asked his students to watch the presidential primary debates and analyze them by way of podcast recordings. In a style that will remind listeners of NPR broadcasts, students reported on the candidates' views and performances.

Not only did students turn these podcasts in to their proud teacher, they shared them with the entire school community, on the Springfield website. Parents and principal alike responded to the students' work with comments on the class discussion board, another product of the Classrooms for the Future grant.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education states on its website: "Classrooms for the Future will create learning environments that students will find engaging and that will pique their interests - a critical component to boosting student achievement." After visiting the school and seeing firsthand the level of proficiency students have both with the technology and the content material, I am pleased to say that this goal has been met at Springfield High School.

May 11-18, 2008

PennSERVE is proud to announce that Pennsylvania is putting National AmeriCorps Week on the map thanks to all of the great service projects, rallies, and recognition events planned by AmeriCorps programs and AmeriCorps VISTA projects in Pennsylvania . On Tuesday morning May 13th at 8:00 A .M. there will be simultaneous rallies held in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

In addition, check out the PennSERVE website at www.pennserve.state.pa.us for a list of planned activities, including service projects in which you are welcome to participate.