A BIG thanks to Diane Flynn Keith for such a nice article.  Keep reading until the end - you will see that we got the ClickSchooling Award for Excellence!

Diane's website Clickschooling is full of good informaton.  Visit her site and register, you will get a free curriculum idea each day.

Recommended Website
Freshbrain.org
http://freshbrain.org/

Age Range: 13-18

Brett Walter (President of Homeschool Buyers Co-op) suggested this fantastic website that provides teens with free tools and training in the latest technologies (including social networking). Teens can explore activities and work on creating projects with others. Advisors (selected by the non-profit Freshbrain.org) are available to support and mentor teens in these creative processes that range from music videos to logo designs.

The Founder of Freshbrain.org, Dale Ferrario, observed that schools struggle to keep up with the latest technologies. He decided to help enhance the education and development of teens in the areas of business and technology by providing hands-on real world experiences focused on different areas that include:

• Development
• Eco/Green
• Gaming
• Graphic Design
• Music
• Robotics
• Venture
• Videos/Movies
• Web

When you get to the site you'll see an icon menu of the above areas. Click on any one and a new page opens where you can explore the topic through "Activities" and "Projects."

An Activity is a fairly simple task whereby teens create something useful. It can be completed in a few days to a few weeks. For example, under the area of "Graphics" you can create a simple stick figure animation.

A Project is described as an extensive effort to take an idea and turn it into something substantial within weeks or months. It may be the work of one person or a team and "usually involves going through a systematic process to simulate real business scenarios where projects are justified through some quantifiable metrics, including preparing a business plan to building the final product." For example, under the area of "Graphics" you can work on creating a 3D video game.

All of the materials, programs, and instructions are provided for free at the website. While there are no deadlines or rewards associated with the completion of activities and projects, there are contests and scholarships available for those who are interested.

As the website explains, "FreshBrain’s community is open and collaborative. Teens can share their opinions and experiences through discussions and chats. They can also create groups with familiar members, and enlist the help of others in the community."

FreshBrain is committed to providing a safe environment for teens. They protect members' personal information and take precautions when it comes to what can be displayed for public viewing. Learn more at the website.

This is a remarkable educational resource that helps teens learn to use state-of-the-art technology. Freshbrain.org earns a ClickSchooling Award for Excellence.

Enjoy!