Cooney Fellows Program

Cooney Center Fellows assist with high priority research, program development and dissemination activities relating to the potential and limitations of digital media applications to accelerate children's learning and healthy development. Fellows include both young investigators, who have recently completed graduate study, and more senior leaders in research and industry. Fellows are supported by a modest fund derived from the Center's core support and are based both "in residence" and in their current leadership positions at other institutions.

The 2007-08 Center Fellows are Dr. Rima Shore of Bank Street College, Carly Shuler, a recent graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Education and an educational toy expert, and David Lowenstein, who is working on policy issues for the Center through the National Urban Fellows program.

In 2008, the Center will announce relationships with university and industry partners and a competitive process that will guide participation in the Cooney Center Fellows program.

Action Research Agenda

Cooney Fellows and staff are developing an action research agenda intended to define key areas of concern to be carried out via project funding and a flexible research fund. Our priorities focus on work that will benefit children entering school, struggling readers and heavy media users. Three types of inquiries will be carried out (those listed are illustrative and will be modified over time):

Basic Learning Research

• What are the underlying learning theories involving digital media?
• How does media multitasking affect literacy learning?
• Does Internet-based "short form" reading affect key literacy skills?
• How can digital platforms such as games, cell phones and Internet-based social networking sites be deployed to teach children literacy skills?

Field Surveys and Scans

• Utilization Studies: Which media are children using and how are they learning in a digital media environment?
• Stakeholder Attitudes: What do parents, teachers and caregivers think about the impact of digital media on learning?
• Market Analyses: What are the emerging industry trends and best practices?

Applied Policy Research

• Which educational technology investments could address the "4th grade reading slump," especially for low income and language minority students?
• What are quality standards of evidence to guide investments in digital media for literacy learning?
• Can intergenerational uses of digital media be better leveraged?