Our Early Learning Resource Hub will address the lack of resources about sustainability for early learning educators. Hosted in the Cool.org digital platform, the freely accessible resource hub will transform how educators access to best practice early childhood resources. The newly developed Hub will seamlessly integrate the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) with the National ...
Cool.org
Early Childhood Resource Hub
GOAL
$38,700
Australia > National / Multi-state > Metro and Regional
07/01/2024 > 22/01/2025
Field of Interest
- Education/training and employment
- Health/wellbeing and medical research
Target Population
- Early years (0-5)
- General population
Cool.org
For nearly 16 years, Cool.org has been dedicated to nurturing a generation of happy, healthy, and empowered young individuals equipped to address the world's most pressing challenges.
Quality teachers have one of the most significant impacts on student learning outcomes; our mission is to support teachers to be the best they can be so that all students have access to high-quality education and an equal opportunity for a successful future.
Our focus is on environmental, social and economic sustainability. We aim to amplify students' potential, foster responsible citizenship, resilience, and entrepreneurial skills. We provide crucial support to underprivileged and underserved schools, particularly in regions with low socio-educational advantages in Australia, by addressing critical challenges like overwhelming teacher workloads, the preparation gap for the future workforce, declining student engagement, a growing teacher shortage, and disparities in rural education.
Cool.org is at the forefront of transforming education, making it more engaging, relevant, and effective for every student.
Project Summary
Our Early Learning Resource Hub will address the lack of resources about sustainability for early learning educators. Hosted in the Cool.org digital platform, the freely accessible resource hub will transform how educators access to best practice early childhood resources. The newly developed Hub will seamlessly integrate the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) with the National Quality Standards (NQS). It will provide a rich repository of resources for educators of children aged 0-5 years.
What sets our project apart is the collaboration with experts in health, nutrition, psychology, and science, our end goal is to curate over 150 tailor-made resources and a professional development course.
Key focus areas for sustainability resources include:
– Social and Emotional Learning: Covering critical topics like inclusivity, empathy, resilience, and positive self-talk, we aim to build a foundation for emotional intelligence and creativity.
– Health Literacy: Emphasising the importance of healthy eating, physical activity, and teamwork, our resources make learning these concepts fun through play-based activities, including yoga and balance exercises.
The digital nature of the platform ensures accessibility, overcoming geographical and socio-economic barriers. This is especially crucial for reaching low socio-economic, rural, regional, and remote communities, promoting educational equity.
Cool.org’s Early Learning Resource Hub is more than just a collection of resources; it’s a dynamic tool for educators and parents to bolster their confidence, save time, and ensure every Australian child has an optimal start in life. Each resource is meticulously crafted by experienced professionals, linking theory with practice, and made available free of charge.
Project Outcomes
Goal 1: Resource Development and Distribution: Develop and distribute 150 comprehensive educational resources focusing on holistic child development to at least 85% of our network of early learning educators within the first year. The objective is to enhance teaching practices in early childhood education, ensuring the resources are available and actively utilised by the end of this period.
Goal 2: Enhancement of digital accessibility: Significantly increase the accessibility and user experience of our digital platform. This includes optimising for low-bandwidth environments and improving navigability, particularly for users in remote or disadvantaged areas. Our target is a 30% increase in usage of our Cool.org platform and achieving over 90% user satisfaction. This goal supports our broader aim of making digital resources easily accessible for all target beneficiaries.
Goal 3: Targeted Educator Engagement and Feedback: At the six-month milestone, conduct a feedback survey with a group of early learning educators Cool Members. The goal is to gather detailed qualitative and quantitative feedback specifically on the resource effectiveness and user experience of the Early Learning Resource Hub. The objective is to achieve a 25% increase in positive educator responses regarding the Hub's resource effectiveness and user experience, ensuring that the platform is closely aligned with the needs of early childhood educators.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $149,000
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Brian M. Davis Charitable Fund (confirmed) | $70,000 |
| The Myer Foundation (confirmed) | $40,300 |
| Funding gap (unconfirmed) | $38,700 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Education Project Manager 0.2FTE | $23,300 |
| Education Specialist 0.4FTE | $43,800 |
| IT Specialist 0.2FTE | $34,700 |
| Editor and Proof Reading | $5,200 |
| Marketing and outreach | $32,500 |
| Reach Measurement & Research Survey | $9,500 |
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