Children learn best when they are inherently motivated to pursue new knowledge and skills; ownership and opportunity for initiative provide that inherent motivation. Most of what has been created for the children's universe--whether in cinema, theater, books, cartoons, or school curriculum content--has been created and produced by adults. But By…

The Small Island Developing State of Jamaica, in the Caribbean region, is facing significant environmental, economic, and social challenges. Violence has become a serious challenge for Jamaica and several other countries in the region; the level of violence against and among children is particularly disturbing. Perhaps even more troubling is the…

Recognizing the valuable role nature plays in human development as well as humans' responsibility toward the earth is critically important when considering how to transform education for the betterment of the individual and society. In this article, the author views nature as a force or phenomenon of the metaphysical world. As such, she suggests…

Literacy is a pivotal aspect of education and critical for economic development as well as individual and community well-being. Innovative programming that taps into culturally relevant local resources can increase literacy and strengthen social-emotional skills. This article describes the work of LitWorld, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that…

Active involvement of multiple stakeholders is vital to ensuring effective implementation of education innovation. The ground-breaking collaboration described in this article addressed barriers to education through effective cross-sector collaboration among civil society, business, and government stakeholders.

Children's earliest years are times of significant development and learning, yet the professionals who provide care for young children often do not receive the economic or professional support they need and deserve. Given the unique situations of child care professionals, especially those running their own family child care businesses, we must…

As globalization speeds forward, there is immense pressure on school systems to keep up with the changing world. School leaders and teachers must continuously reevaluate their students' needs and consider the forces that will shape their futures. Learn how a dynamic, multi-campus high school in Mexico reimagined its approach to global competence…

The HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa has been devastating. Over 200,000 Kenyan children under the age of 14 are infected with HIV and an estimated 1.1 million Kenyan children are orphaned due to AIDS. Nyumbani Children's Home works in communities made vulnerable by this disease and the accompanying poverty to reduce transmission rates and…

By transforming education to focus on nurturing creativity, teachers can better ensure that their students are receiving the best preparation for a future of rapid change. This article describes how Alla Tkachuk founded MASK (Mobile Art School in Kenya, www.mobileartschoolinkenya.org) to champion art for creativity in Africa. Starting as a small…

The need for innovation to ensure children around the world have access to quality education is clear. That need goes beyond innovation to curriculum and teaching practices, however. Creative Associates are addressing the need to innovate in order to simply ensure that books are reaching their intended recipients.

As we work to educate our children in effective ways, supporting their efforts to make a positive difference reaps benefits for both students and society.

Sometimes taking innovative approach to learning means changing the venue. Traditional schooling takes place within walls, but an outdoor environment offers significant benefit in terms of learning through experience.

This article discusses the Irene L. Chavez Excel Academy, a remarkable high school for at-risk seniors in San Antonio, Texas. This specialized Northside Independent School for approximately 300 students is housed in a unique circular building on the attractive Holmes High School campus. The academic program, tailored for at-risk seniors, provides…

Many social systems, especially education, have an opportunity to significantly improve individual performance and well-being outcomes by attending to and including brain fitness as part of their approach. Brain fitness, like physical fitness, requires exercise. Brain-based "workout" activities improve cognitive development, and their…

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is ambitious and tests national governments' capacity to address human development challenges, such as access to quality education. Collaborative initiatives that leverage the capacity of diverse stakeholders will be essential to meet the education and learning needs of the world's children,…