Strategic Plan 2007 Executive Summary

SHIFTING THE LANDSCAPE OF EDUCATION IN AMERICA
STRATEGIC PLAN 2007
Just Think teaches young people to lead healthy,
responsible and independent lives in a culture
highly impacted by media.
www.justthink.org

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Just Think is a leader in media education in America. JT develops and delivers innovative programs and cutting-edge curricula, emphasizing the professional training of youth and their educators in the areas of media literacy, technology skills, and scholarship.
JT is positioned at the vanguard of an expansion in media literacy education, leading to the discovery and deployment of a new set of vital pedagogic methods. These methods are intimately joined to the real lives of young people through the use of media arts. Results of the three-year Media Education Arts and Literacy (MEAL) study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education are being published. The preliminary data show a marked increase in critical and creative thinking scores for student participants. Indicators also point toward commensurate improvement in these students’ standardized test scores in math and lan¬guage arts.
In light of the MEAL results, the Just Think strategic plan outlines the specific rubrics JT will cultivate to accomplish the goals of building institutional permanence through advancing the “train the trainer” methodology while maintaining high quality, cutting edge program delivery and curriculum development.
The approach:
1. Serve under-resourced youth because:
a. they are one audience most targeted by media messages
b. unconscionable dropout rates will be inverted using media education
2. Promote and disseminate the MEAL model through The Shifting The Landscape Campaign
3. Continue to develop and distribute pioneering curricula and innovative programming
4. Build standards of external measurement and validation into all programs
5. Grow Just Think’s organizational resources through staff development, integrated communications, improved I.T. and promotion of alliances and consortia
This plan is a blueprint for progress of the institution for the next six months to three years. It is a foundation for measuring performance of the organization. It is a
charter of commitments to the Just Think Board of Directors and to external constituencies. Finally, it is an instrument of communication to advocate for the institution.
In order for young people to continue to become media literate, Just Think will amplify its recognized leadership position in the field. Through media education, young people and their caring adults will build and improve their skills in critical thinking, core academic competency, creative expression and civic participation. Just Think envisions a world of critically and creatively engaged young people who influence media more than media influence them, a world where being literate includes being media literate.

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MEAL Documentary