Blended Learning | News

CFY To Study Whole School Blended Learning at 4 NY and LA Schools

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 11/05/12

CFY, a nonprofit organization that uses digital learning in an effort to improve educational outcomes for low-income students, has received a $1 million grant to study and develop its whole school blended learning model, the Digital Learning Program.

Using funds provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York, CFY will implement the Digital Learning program at four schools in New York and Los Angeles for further development and to "study its effect on math achievement," according to information released by the organization.

Designed to address student learning in all environments, the Digital Learning Program incorporates online learning and tools with an "initiative that works hands-on with all three of the constituents that impact student achievement: teachers, parents, and students," according to a news release about the grant.

CFY's online component is based on its free learning platform, powermylearning.com, which is designed to help students, parents, and teachers find and use online learning resources such as games, videos, simulations, and activities to improve learning.

The study will take place over two years and will include:

• Coaching to help teachers differentiate instruction with through digital learning;
• School leadership support;
• Workshops, focused on how to improve home learning environments, for parents and children to attend together; and
• Family technology support, which includes a free Internet ready computer and anytime bilingual help desk assistance.

"CFY's success in enabling out-of-school learning will be used to inform school design that enables next generation learning," said Leah Hamilton, program director of urban education at Carnegie Corporation of New York. "Their record of using digital learning to improve educational outcomes makes CFY an ideal organization to develop and study blended personalized approaches that result in anytime, anywhere learning and better academic outcomes for all students."

Launched in 1999 as Computers for Youth, CFY works with public schools in an effort to improve learning through technology. To be eligible, schools must serve students in grades 6-8, at least 75 percent of whom must be eligible for free or reduced lunch. To learn more about becoming a CFY partner school, visit cfy.org.