iEARN-USA - The International Education and Resource Network

January 2006

Click HERE for a recent article on the Pakistani visit to the ECA office.

In This Issue:

Bahrain: four students and one teacher participate in an historic BRIDGE exchange

Egypt: youth group take iEARN's YouthCaN project outdoors for a nature hike

Morocco: 150 educators gather for a workshop on project based learning

Nepal: partners with the Education Network of Nepal for classroom technology integration

Pakistan: 11 educators from two different schools participate in BRIDGE workshop

Lebanon: conducts 3 workshops for educators in Beirut

Click here to view more pictures from the Bahrain presentation.

http://www.iearnegypt.org/

In January, iEARN Egypt's youth organized a hike to the Wadi El Rayan Natural Reserve in El Fayoum as part of the YouthCaN

Project. In YouthCaN, students facilitate an online network to engage and share environmental work locally and around the world. The online forum allows students to write about and interact on environmental issues facing their communities. Global Connections' BRIDGE Program encourages youth to participate in YouthCan - and many successful projects and online exchanges have come from Egypt. iEARN Egypt Alumni (students who have graduated secondary school, yet remain involved and active in projects) assisted in planning and coordinating the nature hike that included visits to a museum, discussion on water sources within the nature perseve, and observed wildlife in their natural habitants.

http://www.mearn.org/

January 26, 2006: iEARN Morocco [mEARN] gathered 150 educators for a workshop about project based learning and integrating technology in the classrooms. The workshop was

conducted by the mEARN team including, Mourad Benali, Morocco's Country Coordinator. Educators represented six different schools anxious to learn about iEARN projects and how to integrate them into existing curriculums. Different from a beginner's workshop, this training informed teachers about specific online projects, how to use projects effectively and how to benefit from connecting their students to other youth around the world. (Pictured right: group of teachers during workshop)

http://www.iearn.org.np/

Education Network Nepal [ENN] has asked iEARN Nepal to present their views and recommendations of how to help build and maintain professional development for Nepal teachers and how to reach youth using iEARN projects and activities. ENN's President, Mr. Bimal Phuyal believes iEARN to be a great source for ehancing the learning experience. With that, ENN and iEARN Nepal plan to join efforts in encouraging the use of online connectivity to empower youth.

Also this January, The United Mission to Nepal requested that iEARN present their work using technology in the classrooms. iEARN Nepal hopes to sustain connectivity in classrooms as well as build the program with such partnerships with ENN and the United Mission. (Pictured left: iEARN Nepal presentation to United Mission to Nepal)

http://www.iearnpk.org/

January 23-24, iEARN Pakistan conducted a workshop for 11 educators from two different schools. The training took place at SOS Hemain Gmeiner School in Lahore. Teachers Shazia and Maqsood facilicated the training along with World Education Corp volunteer Melissa Tylee. Both Shazia and Maqsood are graduates of an iEARN BRIDGE training; and therefore, well qualified to provide support to their own schools as well as during beginner iEARN workshops for teachers. In addition, Global

Connections-BRIDGE program has definitley broadended its reach in Pakistan to not only high school students, but also to primary and junior high students. This month several online collaborative exchanges took place between Grammar School Rawalpindi and Qadim Lumierre School (Peshwar) with John Muir School located in Seatle, WA. Students engaged in the following iEARN projects: Local History, Eye to Eye, Teddy Bear, Folks Custumes and Friends and Flags.

http://www.iearnlb.org/m/

For the past three months, iEARN Lebanon has continued to work with educators and youth conducting three face to face workshops including a YouthCan Med workshop, English writing workshop, and an Introduction to Training. In addition, iEARN Lebanon collaborated with Mr. Keith Mitchell, English Language teacher and employed by the Center of Research and Development in Beirut, to design and develop the Training of Trainers Workshop. This new workshop examines what skills are necessary to implement English learning events and activities within the classroom. All teachers who participated in the above workshops are also engaging in iEARN's Online Professional Development Courses.