Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice: Vroom, Mind in the Making and Wide Open School

During this webinar, leaders from the Bezos Family Foundation — Ellen Galinsky, Erin Ramsey and Dan Torres — shared how they are leveraging Vroom and Mind in the Making to ensure low-income parents have access to science-based tools, programs and information that can help them support their children’s continued growth and development while schools, child care centers and other community supports remain closed. Rebecca Randall of Common Sense Media joined them to announce the launch of Wide Open School, a free collection of the best online learning experiences for kids.

Ellen Galinsky, the chief science officer at Bezos, presented the research that undergirds both Vroom and Mind in the Making, explaining how the development of Mind in the Making was fueled by the question: How can we keep the fire for learning burning in children’s eyes? To answer that question, she conducted her own research, interviewed scores of other researchers and reviewed thousands of studies and then began working to translate that research into action.

Erin Ramsey, the senior manager of Mind in the Making, explained how that research led to the identification of seven essential life skills every child needs — focus and self-control, perspective taking, communicating, making connections, critical thinking, taking on challenges. and self-directed and engaged learning — and strategies parents and caregivers can employ to foster these skills in children. She also described some of the tools that Mind in the Making has developed to support them, including a set of Learning Modules that are being used in learning communities in 16 states and will be available online later this fall. Through a collaboration with First Book, Bezos has identified a library of 89 books and developed downloadable skill-building tip sheets to accompany each. In addition, they have produced 98 tip sheets for parents to help them turn challenging situations into skill-building opportunities.

Dan Torres, the senior program manager of Vroom, described how this asset-based tool is helping parents and caregivers integrate brain-building activities into everyday moments like mealtime and bath time. The Brain Building Basics delivered through Vroom’s more than 1,000 tips encourage parents to build their child’s brain by making eye contact, chatting from birth on and stretching out moments with follow-up comments or questions. These bilingual tips are available for free in several different forms, including the Vroom app, text messages, cards and printable PDFs.

Rebecca Randall announced the launch of Wide Open School to support children and families and make learning from home an experience that inspires kids, supports teachers, relieves families and restores community. With resources for children in PreK through grade 12, the site offers suggested daily schedules with activities that can be done offline as well as online. The site features free content developed by National Geographic, Sesame Workshop, noggin, Boys & Girls Club and National Head Start Association among others addressing topics such as math, reading, writing and science. It also delivers resources for special needs students and English-language learners. Randall stressed the importance of ensuring that all children and families have adequate broadband and the devices necessary to access quality remote learning experiences through increased funding for and expansion of Lifeline and E-Rate.