- CCOL is one of the largest interactive learning projects in the country.
- More than 210,000 kids participated in summer learning opportunities provided by more than 100 organizations (like ASM, Fuse Studio, the libraries, community orgs).
- Programs: range from art and architecture to creating clothing, poetry, movies and music, sports programs, team building, workshops on science and biology; using gaming to learn forensics and coding.
- CCOL serves as a pilot program for a citywide digital badge system that acknowledges student achievements.
- Badges are a new online way to recognize and show the learning kids do outside of the traditional classroom.
- Awarded more than 100,000 badges to summer participants for both on-site and online activities.
- Re-launching this winter break as Chicago City of Learning, we see the whole city as a campus.
- Winter Break Adventure Passport ties together hundreds of programs offered by participating organizations, includes activities at libraries and parks, jewelry design workshops, theater, art, museums and neighborhood tours.
(PRESS RELEASE)
WHAT: Destination: Chicago, a festival of doing and making for all ages
WHEN: Saturday, January 18 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
WHERE: DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Lower Concourse
WHO: Chicago City of Learning and partner organizations; Chicago youth ages 4-24
CHICAGO- Destination: Chicago, a festival of doing and making for all ages, will cap off the Winter Adventure Passport initiative, which challenged youth to learn new things over winter break. Similar to the Chicago Summer of Learning Summer Showcase, this maker party will bring students together to engage in hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) activities and celebrate the work of their peers. Participating organizations that offer year-round and summer programs will be present, providing families and students with a sampling of the exciting opportunities and activities available to them for spring and summer.
Learners who have completed any three City of Learning activities on the passport will be eligible to win prizes, from event tickets to iPad Minis. Destination: Chicago activities are open to all youth, regardless of winter break participation. All can take part in a variety of hands-on activities at the 11:00-4:00 p.m. Maker Party. Activities include:
Building interactive cardboard sculptures using circuits and code while learning to use Scratch and Makey Make;
Making unique toys for cats and dogs;
Designing and cutting stickers on a vinyl cutter;
Building a balloon-powered kart to prove Newton's third law.
More than 100 Chicago City of Learning partner organizations offer opportunities to Chicago's young people, from City and County departments and sister agencies, institutions such as Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Public Libraries, Chicago Park District, Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, After School Matters, Chicago Housing Authority, City Colleges of Chicago, and Cook County Forest Preserve. Colleges and universities participate too, including DePaul University, as well as community-based organizations, cultural institutions and museums, such as the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the Museum of Science and Industry and the National Veterans Museum.
The Chicago Summer of Learning program adapted an open badging system for youth as a better way for learners to communicate their new skills and competencies back to schools and future employers. Open badges are a new type of credential gaining popularity across the nation, which serve as online representations of knowledge and skills earned in a wide array of learning environments, traditional and non-traditional.
For more information, please visit www.explorechi.org/destination-chicago.html .