Reaching Out to Non-Traditional Audiences
NRC/IOM Reports and their Translational Products
In recent years, the National Academies has made a concerted effort in reaching out to audiences who are not particularly well served by their traditional reports. Each endeavor in this area begins with identifying those groups that would benefit from the information and knowledge imparted in studies from the National Academies but who might not find the approach of the study committee particularly useful. Sometimes audience research is conducted to establish the needs of these groups in terms of content, writing style, and packaging, and to determine the most appropriate distribution mechanisms. We then set about performing additional research, rewriting content, and creating designs that will appeal to the identified audience and, in essence, creating a “translational product.” The new product is reviewed for scientific accuracy and audience appeal. Distribution partnerships have proven essential in reaching large numbers of people with diverse interests.
More on Communication at the National Academies
Following are examples of consensus studies and workshop reports and their translationals—products that were designed to reach a defined audience different from the original work.
Original Work
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 From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development
How we raise young children is one of today's most highly personalized and sharply politicized issues, in part because each of us can claim some level of "expertise". From Neurons to Neighborhoods presents important conclusions about nature-versus-nurture, the impact of being born into a working family, the effect of politics on programs for children, the costs and benefits of intervention, and other issues.
 Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers
Well before formal schooling begins, children's early experiences lay the foundations for their later social behavior, emotional regulation, and literacy. Eager to Learn synthesizes the newest research findings on how children between the ages of two and five begin the learning process. Valuable conclusions and recommendations are presented in the areas of the teacher-child relationship, the organization and content of curriculum, meeting the needs of those children most at risk of school failure, teacher preparation, assessment of teaching and learning, and more.
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Audience
- Researchers and faculty in early childhood education and early childhood development
Contributing Foundations
From Neurons to Neighborhoods:
- Commonwealth Fund
- Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
- Heinz Endowments
- Irving B. Harris Foundation
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Eager to Learn:
- Foundation for Child Development
- Spencer Foundation
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Translational Product:
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 Who Are These People: A Guide for Child Care Professionals
As children spend an increasing portion of their day outside the home, it has become even more important that they are consistently exposed to positive and productive experiences, especially during their formative years. High-quality care is no longer a plus—it’s a must.
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Audience
Contributing Foundations
- McCormick-Tribune Foundation
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Original Work
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 Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children
While most children learn to read fairly well, there remain many young Americans whose futures are imperiled because they do not read well enough to meet the demands of our competitive, technology-driven society. This important book draws upon the expertise of psychologists, neurobiologists, and educators to establish clear recommendations on several prominent education controversies--it just may put an end to the "reading wars".
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Audience
- Reading researchers
- Education faculty
- Policymakers
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Translational Product:
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 Starting Out Right: A Guide to Promoting Children's Reading Success
This wonderful book, based upon the landmark NRC study Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children, is a practical and fun guide for parents, teachers, caregivers, and pediatricians. Find out how to help children build word recognition and avoid comprehension problems. Handy checklists show you specific accomplishments that can be expected at different ages. The book also includes 55 activities to do with your children, a list of 100 recommended children's books, and a guide to computer software.
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Audience
Additional Products
- Poster
- Take-one Display
- Brochures
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