Berkeley, CA, October 1, 2016 — The National Writing Project (NWP) has received an award from the Playlists for Learning Challenge, the sixth and final Digital Media and Learning Competition. Eleven winning projects will scale connected learning content and experiences to diverse local and digital audiences through the development of innovative learning playlists that close the opportunity gap and help learners succeed in today's connected world. This investment in NWP will support Sandboxes for Learning, an Educator Innovator project that will work to convert the established Youth Voices connected learning curriculum into playlists with digital badges. Through leveraging design workshops and after-school programming, the Youth Voices playlist will engage youth involved in the program to play-test and co-develop new connected learning pathways and opportunities.

"We are very pleased to be able to initiate this effort with the generous support of the Digital Media and Learning," said Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, NWP executive director. "Working with playlists to create engaging and coherent real-world learning opportunities for young people will amplify the powerful work of Youth Voices."

The Playlists for Learning Challenge winners include youth-serving institutions, non-profit organizations, museums, libraries, school systems, and universities committed to developing and scaling connected learning playlists that can provide viable pathways to higher education and employment. Representing diverse approaches to connected learning, winning projects engage youth through a wide range of issues. These include digital citizenship, creative career readiness, urban agriculture, environmental science, computer programming, music, arts, and other interests highly relevant to youth and life-long learners.

For more information and the full list of awardees, please visit the DML Winners Announcement .