Channel
13 extended a helping hand to afternoon school programs around
New York City. The message, emphasizing Thirteen’s initiative
to help and support, was delivered during the After School Exchange
workshop organized by the channel recently.
The workshop,
a platform for exchange of ideas, information and resources, was
only one component of Thirteen’s ongoing effort to support educational
organizations.
“I’ve seen
that more and more afterschool programs are emerging around NYC
and around the nation. We want to show that we have resources
available to them,” said Brigitte Magar Matsuoka, Director of
Online Education. “Our main question is ‘Where can we help you?’”
The workshop
took place for two consecutive days and was attended by approximately
60 afterschool educators. Thirteen’s staff members hosted a variety
of presentations addressing issues related to afterschool programs,
including the lack of parent involvement, adult literacy and volunteerism.
The presenters also familiarized the audience with Thirteen’s
resources, including online programming, tool kits and guides.
Macenje,
“Che Che” Mazoka hosted a presentation indicative of the style
followed by others. Mazoka introduced Cyberchase, an animated
adventure series set to air on January of 2002, that seeks to
intellectually challenge children by encouraging them to use math
in their daily lives. Thirteen has produced a teacher’s guide
and a tool kit describing how to facilitate Cyberchase-like
workshops and activities in the classrooms.
The message
behind Mazoka’s presentation? The same as that of its counterparts.
Take the concept embedded in the TV series and find innovating
ways to apply it to an afterschool program through the assistance
of tool kits and guides provided by Thirteen.
Several
of the presentations informed educators that their students can
participate in contests and activities hosted by several of Thirteen’s
programs. In addition, the presentations encouraged the use of
technology, including visual material and the internet, and suggested
ways to incorporate such materials in the curriculum.
The educators
had the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas and techniques.
Several educators expressed that they particularly enjoyed the
interactive segments of the workshop.
“The best
thing is to exchange ideas. It is always good to see how everyone
else is dealing with a situation,” said Wendy Arroyo, who represented
The Brotherhood and Sisterhood Soul. “Getting someone to come
out [and participate in this type of a workshop] and going back
to their organization and reiterating that information is very
helpful.”
According
to Matsuoka, approximately 60 of the 88 organizations invited
send their representatives to the workshop. Participating organizations
included various divisions of the Boys & Girls Club, various
branches of the New York City Public Libraries, the YMCA, the
Riverdale Neighborhood House and Claremont Neighborhood Center.
“I wanted
them [the organizations] to use our resources. I want them to
see that we are here to support them and provide them with resources
and sources when and if they need them,” said Matsuoka.
And, some
of the educators certainly did.
“[The workshop
gave me] the opportunity to form a better awareness of what we
need to do and [informed] me of the many different resources available
to us. I did not know Channel Thirteen had these resources,” said
Odamis Fernandez, a representative of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood
Soul.
Dr. Kim
Arias from the Institute for Student Achievement agreed.
“I think
[the workshop] was very helpful. It pointed me in the right direction
for several important resources,” she said.