Our Mission
"Technology is everywhere children turn. However, finding the positive potential of new media to accelerate children's learning is not yet part of our national conversation. If we can harness media as a powerful teaching tool, we can help children grow-up as literate, responsible global citizens. Now is the time to turn the new media that children have a natural attraction to into learning tools that will build their knowledge and broaden their perspectives."
The mission of The Joan Ganz Cooney Center is to catalyze and support research, innovation and investment in digital media technologies to advance children's learning.
Nurturing foundational and "21st century" literacies
The inaugural focus of the Center—given the national need—will be on determining how technology can help elementary-aged children develop the fundamental building blocks of literacy. These include the vital reading, writing, speaking and listening capabilities that all children must develop during the primary grades. A special emphasis of the Center will be on struggling readers who risk educational failure if they do not catch up to their peers by grade four.
Another important focus of the Center is to leverage the potential of interactive media to promote "21st century" literacies that students will need to compete and cooperate in our connected world—competencies such as critical thinking and problem solving, second language competency, inter-cultural understanding and media literacy.
A multi-disciplinary approach
The Cooney Center is engaging change makers in the fields of research, industry, investment and advocacy to achieve our goals, as further detailed below. To learn more about our current activities, please visit our initiatives page.
The Cooney Center will:
Support action research and knowledge exchange
- Build interdisciplinary knowledge by funding applied research on innovative uses of digital media to advance literacy skills in schools, extended learning settings and at home.
- Identify and support young investigators and leading scholars who are engaged in understanding the impact of digital media on children's learning and healthy development.
Build models to promote innovation
- Champion best practices to stimulate investment in promising and proven digital media technologies for children.
- Incent media companies and independent producers to build prototype and pilot programs that are based on research.
Catalyze partnerships
- Connect child development experts and educators with digital media and technology leaders.
- Make new models or "proofs of concept" available to public and private investment for further development.
- Create new distribution networks to reach underserved children and families.
Disseminate to promote needed reforms
- Disseminate critical findings to engage the public, inform the national debate and stimulate private and public investment in effective models and reforms.
Read Our Challenge Paper
The Center's inaugural report, by Dr. Rima Shore of Bank Street College of Education, combines current research and fascinating interviews with over 50 literacy, educational media, industry and policy leaders. The report explores what children in elementary school need today and how digital media are an essential part of our nation's response.
Stay Connected
Sign up to receive updates about the Center’s activities as well as our monthly newsletter.
