Marc Lesser, Mouse Education Director, Joins Digital Badges for Learning Panel, Moderated by MacArthur Foundation with Mozilla, National Science Teachers Association, and US Department of Education

NEW YORK, June 25, 2012 – Mouse, a national nonprofit organization that empowers and inspires underserved youth, is pleased to announce that Mouse students from across the country will present their digital media and technology projects at ISTE. During the Student Showcase, Mouse students will present projects that help their schools and communities collaborate, co-create and purposely use digital technologies.

“We are thrilled to have our Mouse students demonstrate their technology expertise at ISTE,” said Carole Wacey, Executive Director, Mouse. “They are the next generation of creators and innovators, and are passionate about using digital media and technology to make a positive impact on their world.”

Students presenting in the Showcase are members of the Mouse Squad program, a network of more than 4,000 youth digital media and technology experts across the country. Mouse Squad students provide technical support and leadership in their schools, while also developing skills essential for their success in college and careers.

Students will also be presenting projects through their involvement in Mouse Corps, a design and technology program, in which students work with professional mentors to develop projects that address social needs. This year, Mouse Corps students will be showcasing projects they designed to assist the visually impaired, including apps for navigation, travel, fashion and dining.

Mouse is pleased to be convening the panel discussion Badges for Learning: Dialogue and Demonstration Exploring Online Achievement Systems. Marc Lesser, Mouse Education Director, is coordinating this discussion, which will explore the exciting potential of digital badges to recognize skills and achievements learned in and outside of the classroom. Marc will present the use of badges in youth development environments through Mouse programs, and the award-winning Mouse Wins! system that rewards student achievements, including skills building, project work and participation in the national Mouse Squad network.

Marc will be joined on this panel by other thought leaders in education and technology, including Albert Byers, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA); An-Me Chung, MacArthur Foundation; Richard Culatta, US Department of Education; and Carla Casilli, Mozilla Learning.

About Mouse
Mouse empowers underserved youth to learn, lead and create with technology, preparing them with skills essential for their academic and career success. Founded in New York City in 1997, Mouse is a dynamic nonprofit organization having a positive and lasting impact on students in more than 350 locations in the United States, including in New York, California, Chicago and Texas, as well as a global presence in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Mouse, visit http://www.mouse.org.

About ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the premier membership association for educators and education leaders engaged in advancing excellence in learning and teaching through the innovative and effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. Home to ISTE’s annual conference and exposition, the ISTE leadership conference and the widely adopted NETS, ISTE represents more than 100,000 professionals worldwide.

Contact:
Susan Schwartz
Communications Director, Mouse 
susan@mouse.org