This pilot project will evaluate various short-term, intensive
training options to provide Romanian teens the HOTS – Higher Order
Thinking Skills – needed for adult decision-making.
Current research tells us the brain can learn and grow at any age, even if the important development years of 0-4 were missed. Research also tells us that teen brains are being "rewired" based on choices made by teens. Using current brain development knowledge and accelerated learning models, we will:
- Develop and present workshops to teach teens about nutrition for general and brain health; how to manage emotions, make choices, and solve problems; understand personal strengths and use those strengths in job search.
- Assess the learning through pre- and post-training evaluations.
- Adjust future training, based on evaluations from this pilot project.
Romania's move from communism to a market-driven society has been hard on her people. During the communist years, required birthrates (at least five per family), a poor economy, and the exporting of the food resulted in approximately 200,000 children being placed in centers -- called orphanages in the West. Since the fall of communism in 1989, and most recently with the diligent work of the Romanian government and many non-profit organizations in Romania and from other countries, the conditions for institutionalized children have improved considerably. About 40,000 children remain under state care today. This project focuses on the needs of teens who are transitioning from placement centers.
The HOTS Team Members:
- Franclyn Heinecke - Project Director & Lead Trainer
- Stefan Covaci, Project Assistant & Lead Translator
- Ryan Medeck, Instructor
- RJ Myers, Instructor
- Billie Jo Wood, Web Designer
- Corina Camen, Translator
- Andreea Neace, Translator
- Sami Gaidosi, Translator
Contact HOTS at hots4learning at hotmail.com
This is a Magic Pennies Project
Know and Love Yourself
Understand Others
Know How You Learn
Why This is Important
Student Journals
Graduation
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