Joan Ganz Cooney Center

Seeing and Solving Through Multiple Lenses: New Ways to Transform Education
2024-09-18
On Wednesday, September 18, New America hosts the biennial summit of the Learning Sciences Exchange (LSX) in Washington, DC. The Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s Senior Director of Research Medha Tare is a former LSX Fellow, and will participate on a panel about co-design with parents and teachers. Registration for the full-day, hybrid event is free.

Learn more and register here.

World Children’s Day: A Global View of Current Practices for Children and Digital Environments
2024-11-20 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
This webinar celebrates children’s rights in the era of AI. It brings together leading experts in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Children’s Rights to discuss the latest advancements, ethical considerations, policy initiatives, practices and future directions with a focus on children’s inclusion. This webinar emphasizes the need for multi-stakeholder discussion and invites experts from academia, industry and policy while a panel of young people will contribute their perspective. This webinar will celebrate participation from the Global South trying to create awareness for the importance of inclusion of children from less privileged environments. We will discuss successful directions with specific examples and practices for responsible development of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence.

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s Executive Director Michael Preston will be delivering the keynote talk as part of this AI for Good webinar, organized by Vicky Charisi (Berkman Klein Center, Harvard University), Selma Šabanović (Indiana University Bloomington), and Judith Okonkwo (Imisi 3D)

Speakers include:
– Adam Ingle, the LEGO Group
– Andrea Blasco, EU Science, Research and Innovation
– Francisco Marmolejo-Cossío, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
– Grace Lin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
– Michael Preston, The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop
– Randy Gomez, Honda Research Institute Japan Co. Ltd.
– Sonia Livingstone, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
– Spyros Doukakis, Hellenic Institute of Educational Policy – Ινστιτούτο Εκπαιδευτικής Πολιτικής,
– Steven Vosloo, UNICEF Innocenti

November 20, 2024 at 16:00 CET Geneva | 10:00-12:00 EST, New York | 23:00-01:00 CST, Beijing

Learn more and register here.

SRCD 2025: Breaking Through Silos
2025-05-02 - 2025-05-03 | Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, United States
Breaking Through Silos: Apply Your Research across Media, Tech, Homes, and Classrooms

Imagine your research becoming a driving force for education transformation. Imagine breaking out of purely academic spaces and attracting the interest of leaders in schools and education systems, media and tech development companies, and social-impact organizations. What would it take to develop a career that brings you into cross-sector collaboration with talented people from diverse perspectives, all of whom are motivated to give more children opportunities to learn and thrive? What types of strategies and skills might help you apply your research in the real world? These are not just imaginary ideas or hypothetical questions. Researchers who have been part of the Learning Sciences Exchange at New America (LSX) can attest that mid-career professionals can come together from many sectors to generate new ideas and tackle urgent problems in human development and education. In this session, you will learn about the LSX approach, which aims to break down silos among the fields of education leadership, entertainment, journalism, social-impact entrepreneurship, and research on the science of learning. Hear how collaboration across these sectors can unleash creative ideas and long-lasting professional relationships. Through video showcases, interactive discussion, and self-reflection activities, this workshop will help you chart a course for applying your research far outside the boundaries of your institution.

Date: Friday May 2, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Lisa Guernsey, New America
Roberta M. Golinkoff, Ph.D., University of Delaware
Meredith L. Rowe, Ed.D., Harvard University
Medha Tare, Ph.D., The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop
Andrea Paula Goldin, Ph.D., Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
Susana Beltran-Grimm, Ed.D., Portland State University

Learn more here

Edtech Insiders Webinar: Co-Design Secrets: How the Best Edtech Teams Build Products that Work
2025-06-13 12:00 - 13:00
Michael Preston and Medha Tare will participate in an upcoming Edtech Insiders webinar on June 13, 225 at 12pm – 1pm ET.

Co-design has become a buzzword in edtech—but what does it really take to make it work in practice? Join us for a candid conversation with leading experts who have successfully embedded co-design into their product development cycles. We’ll explore how to move beyond surface-level engagement to authentic collaboration with educators and learners—without breaking the bank or slowing down innovation.

Whether you’re a startup founder, product manager, or researcher, this session will leave you with actionable strategies to make co-design a core part of your process—and build better products as a result.

In this webinar, you’ll learn:
– Why most co-design efforts fall short—and how to avoid common pitfalls
– Practical methods for engaging diverse users efficiently and effectively
– How to balance speed, cost, and inclusivity in the product design process
– Real-world examples of successful co-design from leading edtech teams
Featured Speakers:
Michael Preston, Senior Vice President & Executive Director at Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop
Medha Tare, PhD, Senior Director of Research at Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop
Katie Boody Adorno, Founder & CEO of Leanlab Education
Alicia Quan, Founder & Designer at UX of Edtech
Wyman Khuu, Head of Learning Engineering at Playlab AI

Watch the recording here:

Playing with Well-Being By Design at Games for Change 2025
2025-06-27 11:00 - 17:00
Join the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at the Games for Change 2025 Festival on Friday, June 27 for a workshop on creating games that promote children’s well-being. Hear how Fred Rogers Productions, Killer Snails, University of Oregon, Tiny Docs and Quest Craft are incorporating well-being by design into their games. Participants will then have a chance to ‘play’ with the ideas!

Fri, Jun 27, 2025
11:00am – 12:30 pm

Speakers include:
Noelle Posadas Shang, Design Director, Killer Snails
Michael Preston Executive Director, Joan Ganz Cooney Center
Daniel Pimentel, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon
Rubin Soodak, Interactive Producer, Fred Rogers Productions
Jen Chiou, Founder, CodeSpeak Labs / Quest Craft
Medha Tare, Senior Director of Research, Joan Ganz Cooney Center
Sunny Williams, Tiny Docs
Allisyn Levy, Sr. Manager, Partnerships, Joan Ganz Cooney Center

Learn more about Games for Change and register here

Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress
2025-07-13 16:00 - 2025-07-16 13:00 | The Westin DC Downtown, 999 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
The 2025 Digital Media and Developing Minds International Scientific Congress is an interdisciplinary convening that will bring together researchers, clinicians, educators, government agency representatives, and others with expertise in child development, psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, pediatrics, communications, social work, public health, education, human-computer interaction and more to explore how digital media use impacts the social, psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and physical development of children and adolescents.

Join the Joan Ganz Cooney Center team at the following sessions:

Guinea Pigs or Pioneers? The Risks and Rewards of an AI-Mediated Childhood

Tuesday, July 15th from 11:15 am -12:15 pm
What are the implications of kids interacting with AI across so many areas of life and during critical stages of development?
Join moderator Michelle De Mooy and panelists Amanda Lenhart, MA, and S. Craig Watkins, PhD, at #MediaAndMinds25 as they explore how AI is currently being deployed to children, and how we can design healthier, human-centered systems.

Child Centered Design: Creating Better Digital Experiences for YouthTuesday, July 15th at 2:00 pmHow can tech design support children’s digital well-being? #MediaAndMinds25 Hear from leading voices in the field on what will truly work for kids — technology that is accessible, developmentally supportive, and built with children’s needs and perspectives in mind. Moderator Katie Davis, EdD, will lead the panel discussion featuring Alexis Hiniker, PhD, Zamaan Qureshi (Design It For Us), and Medha Tare, PhD.
In addition, please join us for the Poster Session on July 15 at 4:30 pm to learn more about our work with Reading Reimagined and children and AI.
To register, click here.

Webinar: Launching the Voice of the Child
2025-07-22 22:00 - 23:15
The Voice of the Child toolkit is an evidence-based resource designed for researchers, service providers, clinicians and others keen to involve children and young people in their work – whether they are just starting out or looking to expand their skills.

The Centre for Community Child Health’s upcoming webinar will formally launch the toolkit, explore the policy context for the involvement of children and young people, and identify barriers, enablers and learnings from practical case studies.

Michael Preston joins a panel of international leaders as they share how embedding children’s voices results in informed decisions and impactful programs.

Date/Time: Tuesday, July 22 12:00 pm-1:15 pm AEST / Monday, July 21 10:00 pm – 11:15 pm EST

Cost: Free

View the webinar here:

Empowering Our Youth to Thrive in a Digital World: Axios House at Climate Week & UNGA 2025
2025-09-23 - 2025-09-24
Axios’ Empowering Our Youth to Thrive in a Digital WorldSeptember 23, 2025 | 3:00PM – 4:30PM ETJoin Axios House for an event convening leading voices in tech, policy and youth advocacy for conversations examining strategies empowering young people to build healthy habits, meaningful connections and digital boundaries. We’ll look at ways families, educators, and young people can create safer, inclusive online environments.

The event features a conversation with Tami Bhaumik, Vice President, Civility and Partnerships at Roblox and Michael Preston, PhD, Executive Director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center.

Presented by Roblox.

SDG Media Zone @UNGA80: Safeguarding Mental Health for Future Generations in the Digital Age
2025-09-26 12:00 - 12:20
This panel took take place at the SDG Media Zone at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly and was streamed on UN WebTV.

AI and digital platforms are increasingly influencing how children and young people learn, connect, and experience the world. This panel explores how we can safeguard the mental health of young people while advancing technology that upholds children’s rights and well-being. The discussion will address opportunities and risks of AI in shaping online well-being, highlight strategies for protecting and promoting youth mental health, and consider how global commitments, such as the UN’s Declaration for Future Generations, can ensure safe, inclusive, and resilient digital spaces for generations to come.

Speakers:
Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs
Michael Preston, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop
Joanna Lai, Health Specialist, UNICEF NYHQ
Moderator: Anya Kamanetz

Connected Learning Summit 2025
2025-10-05 - 2025-10-11
The Seventh Annual Connected Learning Summit will take place October 5–10, 2025 as a hybrid event. CLS will feature Research Papers and Showcases that focus on digital technologies for learning, educational and commercial games, innovative tech-infused curricula, and theoretical and/or empirical exploration of digital media and technology for learning. The event includes an online program of meetups, talks, and workshops, as well as in-person events organized by hosts and sponsors on campuses around the world.

If you’re in New York, please join us at an in-person event on October 6, 2025 from 12:00-6:00 pm

Host: New York University
Address: 370 Jay St., Brooklyn, NY

Sponsored by Google

Agenda

12:00–1:00 pm Lunch and Registration
1:00–1:45 pm Designing Educational Products: The View from the Industry
2:00–2:45 pm Designing Educational Products: The View from Startups
3:00–4:00 pm Poster Session
4:00–6:00 pm Viewing of Keynotes and Plenary

Register here

Register for Connected Learning Summit 2025 here and see other in-person events here

Growing Readers in a World of Screens and AI
2025-10-27 14:30 - 17:00 | Washington, DC, Washington, DC, Select a Country:
Designing the Next Decade of Literacy Innovations while Reflecting on 10 Years of Rapid ChangeTen years ago, Tap, Click, Read: Growing Readers in a World of Screens brought together voices from the fields of early childhood, developmental science, literacy, media, and technology to offer guidance on helping children learn to read in a digital age. This was before ChatGPT, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and before students’ literacy scores declined even further. Since then, technology has evolved at breakneck speed. Nearly two dozen states have enacted laws centered on the science of reading. New methods of co-designing tools with educators and students have emerged, and there is new research on what is working—and what is not. Please join us on October 27 at New America in Washington, DC, or virtually, for an afternoon of discussions reflecting on the past decade and the challenges innovators and educators face in today’s shifting education landscape. We will issue a call to action for learner-centered tools and policies, stronger R&D, and investments to promote equity. There is an urgent need to shape policy, research, and tools so that all children—especially those struggling to read and in under-resourced communities—can learn to read and love reading. With thanks to the Walton Family Foundation for its support of the Sandbox for Literacy Innovations and to the Children’s Pritzker Initiative for supporting our 2015 book Tap, Click, Read: Growing Readers in a World of Screens. October 27, 20252:30pm–5:00pm EDTIn-Person and OnlineNew America| 740 15th St NW #900 Washington, DC 20005Register here Presented in partnership with New America and The Campaign for Grade Level Reading,

Research Reaction Panel at FOSI 2026
2025-11-10 12:00 - 2025-11-11 11:59
How are teens using genAI in 2025? Find out at the FOSI 2025 Annual Conference!

Amanda Lenhart, Senior Fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, will moderate a Research Reaction Panel that will examine and contextualize how teens are using, thinking and feeling about generative AI. This session will feature a critical discussion with experts including Alanna Powers-O’Brien, Anne-Sophie SERET, and Sunny Xun Liu. Join us live to tackle the toughest challenges in online safety and learn how we can build a safer digital world for families together.

See full agenda: https://lnkd.in/eP35TAjD
