New America
In Depth

Early Learning in the Digital Age

For Researchers and Funders

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For Researchers and Funders

Researchers play a critical role in the evaluation of programs across the country that are using technology in early learning initiatives. The small proportion of programs that submitted evidence of impact for our survey highlights a growing need for researchers to assess the impact that these programs are having. Funding is also needed to support the programs and their subsequent evaluation. This work is not only vital in order to improve existing programs and document successful ones, but also to be able to scale up those effective programs for more impact.

One type of award that is available to support this work is Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships in Education Research through the Institute of Education Sciences. Another funding source to support work in the STEM disciplines is Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (Division of Research on Learning) through the National Science Foundation.

As our survey found, the majority of programs rely on support through philanthropy or the federal government. Programs use their money to support staff, purchase technology conduct outreach, and distribute resources directly to families. A few programs told us that they use funding to train staff on how to evaluate their program, and some of the larger programs said they were investing funds in expansion by conducting pilots in other locations.

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For Media Mentors
In Depth

Early Learning in the Digital Age

About this Project

New America's Education Policy program and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop have partnered to produce an interactive toolkit for leaders interested in promoting early learning and supporting families in the Digital Age. This work was made possible through generous funding from the Joyce Foundation. Seed funding came from the Alliance for Early Success and the Pritzker Children’s Initiative.

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Authors

Shayna Cook was a policy analyst with the Education Policy program at New America. She was a member of the Learning Technologies project. Cook researched and reported on innovation in family engagement, new technologies, and digital equity issues concerning children from birth through third grade.

Lisa Guernsey is director of the Learning Sciences Exchange (LSX) and a senior director and strategic advisor in the Education Policy program at New America.

Michael H. Levine is an internationally recognized policy, program and research expert who has led early childhood and K-12 educational transformation at public and private companies, foundations, and government agencies. He has deep experiences researching the educational, developmental, and socioeconomic implications of emerging media to inform policy and legislation, fuel innovation, promote educational equity, and influence educational program decisions. He is the author of 40+ publications and policy briefs, co-author of Tap, Click, Read: Growing Readers in a World of Screens, keynote speaker, and board member for non-profit and double bottom-line social venture organizations. He was named one of US’ most influential leaders in family policy by Working Mother magazine.

Laura Zimmermann is the founder and president of Tech Play Collaborative and a research fellow at the Bay Area Discovery Museum.

Sadaf Sajwani is the Director of Partnerships & Planning at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.

Elisabeth McClure is currently a research specialist at the Lego Foundation Centre for Creativity, Play, and Learning. She is a former fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.

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