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The Oracle Education Foundation Helps Educators Worldwide Prepare Students for Success In a Global Economy

Posted on: Monday, 5 November 2007, 09:00 CST

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Oracle Education Foundation (OEF) has launched its first 21st Century Learning Institute to help educators worldwide successfully integrate project learning and 21st Century learning skills into the classroom.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020718/ORCLLOGO)

The 21st Century Learning Institute will be held from November 5-8 in the San Francisco Bay Area, and will bring together 80 educators from 14 countries and 13 U.S. states. Throughout the four-day program, teachers will learn to design and implement online learning projects that help students develop 21st century skills. The course will use Oracle Education Foundation's global technology programs, Think.com and ThinkQuest, to showcase exceptional project-learning examples and help teachers produce projects as a part of their training experience.

"The 21st Century Learning Institute is designed to help educators around the globe successfully implement project learning into everyday curriculum, so that students walk out the school door with the skills needed for life and work in the 21st Century," said Clare Dolan, Vice President, Oracle Education Initiatives. "These students will not only possess a firm knowledge of "basic' skills like reading and math, they will also acquire the 'soft' skills needed to succeed in a global economy - 21st Century learning skills like critical thinking, creativity, cross-cultural understanding, and teamwork."

OEF has been a strong proponent and leader in the 21st Century skill development movement. From its innovative technology programs, Think.com and ThinkQuest, to its grant making philosophy, professional development programs and education partnerships, OEF's mission is to help students gain vital skills needed for future academic and career success. The 21st Century Learning Institute will provide teachers with a unique opportunity to carry this vision directly into the classroom environment. It will also help address growing demand for a project approach to learning as more educational institutions, governments and ministries recognize how 21st Century learning skills are critical to students' success in a knowledge-based economy.

"Many primary and secondary teachers are challenged with how to implement project-based technology learning while still linking to curriculum and standards. The 21st Century Learning Institute provides a structured approach to preparing and implementing learning projects in ways that engage students in learning and develop their 21st century skills," Dolan continued.

Rigorous Training, Real-World Results

Teachers attending the event are required to complete three phases of training before successfully concluding the 60-hour professional development program, including four weeks of online, virtual training; four days of in- class training with project learning experts; and the successful implementation of a planned project in the participant's school/mentoring.

"Students today face a world of jobs that require higher levels of reading, communication, math and problem solving than ever before," said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine. "Quality professional development such as the Oracle Education Foundation is offering will help teachers address the gap between how and what students are currently learning in the classroom and the skills they need to complete in the flat world of the 21st century. Without such professional development to gain knowledge and skills, teachers across the globe will be hampered in their abilities to prepare children to live and work in a global economy."

21st Century Learning Institute attendees represent the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, India, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, U.K. and the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Additionally, the attending U.S. teachers hail from 13 states including Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming. Upon the successful completion of this event, The Oracle Education Foundation plans to replicate the 21st Century Institute across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information on the 21st Century Learning Institute, visit: http://www.oraclefoundation.com/.

About the Oracle Education Foundation

The Oracle Education Foundation sponsors ThinkQuest and Think.com, free online technology programs for the primary and secondary education community. It also makes grants to select schools and nonprofits to promote global online collaborative learning.

For more information, visit http://www.oraclefoundation.org/. About Oracle

Oracle is the world's largest enterprise software company. For more information about Oracle, please visit our Web site at http://www.oracle.com/.

Trademarks

Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020718/ORCLLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Oracle

CONTACT: Kimberly Pineda of Oracle, +1-650-506-8831,kimberly.pineda@oracle.com

Web site: http://www.oracle.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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