A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE
Campaign for 21st Century Education

A Curriculum for 21st Century Education

Our education programs are grounded in 21st century literacy skills. These skills are essential for a generation of students growing up in a world in which visual media and storytelling is the way we increasingly participate in the community, and engage in democracy and the global economy.

Nearly 50,000 students in grades 3-12 have experienced our creative approach to education. Over 50% of these students come from underserved communities, including the South Bronx, Mt. Vernon and Yonkers. Our programs have been piloted nationally with students from New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. What’s more, we have developed an international partnership with a school for homeless youth in Caracas, Venezuela.

Storytelling is at the center of all of our education programs. Whether passed around a campfire or over the telephone, stories are how we have communicated ideas for thousands of years. As we move into the 21st century, stories will remain as important as ever, but the language in which they're told is evolving.

As more teachers become involved in our creative approach to education, calls for our groundbreaking initiatives continue to grow. This insatiable demand, along with our firm belief in the power of film, has propelled the launch of the Campaign for 21st Century Education. A major component of the campaign is the Media and Education Center, a new building that is coming to life just down the street from the Jacob Burns Film Center.

The Media and Education Center will foster intellectual curiosity and creative exploration through programs grounded in an array of 21st century visual media. Using the language of image and sound, students of all ages will learn to tell their stories and become effective communicators, critical thinkers, problem solvers, global citizens, and inspired creators and innovators.

Experiences available through the Media and Education Center will include:

• Courses in film production such as cinematography, editing, and sound design
  
• Classes featuring 2D animation, claymation, and computer animation
• Filmmakers in residence at elementary, middle and high schools
  
• Film screenings and series focused on the art and language of film
  
• Lectures conducted by international filmmakers in residence
  
• Documentary courses on public service announcements, films for social change, and environmental films
  
• Screenings of rough cuts hosted by the films’ creators (writer, director, producer, etc.)
  
• Master classes exploring the art of screenwriting
  
• Workshops on acting for the camera
  
• Professional development for educators