AUGUST 2005
In This Issue: Morocco
convenes in a strategic planning meeting; Jordan begins recruitment for
BRIDGE Physical Exchange; Pakistan conducts day-long professional
development workshop and youth collaborate in the iEARN Teddy Bear
Project; Nepal focuses on youth empowerment; Egypt collaborates with
Oceans and Environmental Sciences and iEARN Youth Board meets to discuss
future plans; Bangladesh partners with EarthCorps; Lebanon's YouthCaN
go on a nature hike and the Universal School of Lebanon prepare for the
US students' visit; India holds a workshop and a Master Trainer
facilitates her own training; Indonesia shares iEARN with 80 teachers; USA creates a Master Teacher Alumnae Forum
This
August, iEARN Morocco prepared a strategic plan outlining activity for
the next four years. Discussion also focused on 2006 activity for
teacher trainings, newsletter production and training of
trainers. iEARN Morocco worked on plans to hopefully launch
campaigns to promote and encourage technology in education.
iEARN
Jordan began recruitment for the upcoming BRIDGE Physical Exchange
scheduled for this November. Selected students will come from two
public schools in Amman and travel to Cardoza High School located in
Washington, D.C. The successful implementation of the LINC Program
has brought greater visibility to BRIDGE throughout Jordan; and as a
result students, parents and teachers are extremely excited to take
part in another interactive US State Department funded educational
program (US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs).
iEARN
Pakistan conducted five successful day-long professional development
workshops with 95 teachers from 16 different schools. The workshop
was located at the iEARN Centre-Karachi and was facilitated by Farah
Kamal - iEARN Pakistan Country Coordinator, Sarah Alam, Saleem Ibrahim
and Melissa Tylee. Training was divided into two sessions with
the first focusing on providing participants with an overview of iEARN,
how to get started and how to navigate the iEARN website. Session Two
delved deeper into iEARN resources and offered teachers a sample rubric
in how to best post and respond to forum messages, direct hands-on
opportunity to log online and use the Teachers Forum (individually and
or in groups), and training on specific projects including how to post,
respond and integrate projects in to curriculums. In addition,
success of BRIDGE has enabled some teachers to share curriculum
enrichment projects with elementary teachers. One such example
took place during a workshop held on August 26-27 for 26
teachers. The training incuded an introduction to the Teddy Bear
Project, a case study, and time to interact in the forum.
 Other news:
BRIDGE has had an overwhelming effect on iEARN Pakistan schools and
student that elementary teachers want to take part in iEARN
projects. One such project, Animals Are Our Friends,
connects students of all ages. This August, teachers of Alif
Laila Book Bus Society-Lahore enaged their students in a series of
three-hour interactive online sessions for two weeks. This is yet
another example of the growing influence the BRIDGE programs can have
even outside the secondary level.
This
month, iEARN Nepal focused on youth empowerment by facilitating a
workshop for junior high students. The workshop took place in
Kathmandu with 100 participants from Nobel Academy. Students were
trained in how to use iEARN forums and how to actively participate in
online discussions. Immediately students engaged in current iEARN projects including LEWIN and Virtues. In addition, discussions focused on how to effectively integrate technology using projects students can work on.
In
August, iEARN-Egypt collaborated with The United States Oceans and
Environmental Sciences Bureau [OES] at a meeting held at the US Embassy
in
Cairo. Success of BRIDGE and other iEARN-Egypt efforts have
strengthened their presence as an effective technology educational
resource for teachers; and therefore, organizations like OES have
sought partnership with iEARN-Egypt. The meeting focused on
planning and
organizing the commemoration of the US-Egypt Collaborative Agreement in
Science and Technology. Through the Two Rivers, One World
Project, Egyptian and US students will engage in a compartive analysis
of the Hudson and Nile Rivers. This online activity will be the
springboard for a week long Youth Science Summit to take place this
December in Cairo, Egypt.
Youth
Development:
iEARN Egypt's Student Board covened in a meeting this
month to discuss and plan for upcoming student elections. The
Student Board also discussed the International Youth Representative
Election process and for ways for current members and iEARN Alumni to participate. iEARN students from Cairo, Alexan dria, Fayoum and Aswan - in
collaboration with Wadi Environmental Science Center [WESC] and other
NGO partners - began work on a water project. This project
explores Egypt's water issues and will engage students in presentation
media skills and techniques that will develop throughout the
projects' duration. With this, students will go to their schools
and share the knowledge and skills they have learned. A
culminating event will take place in Mexico City 2006 with a World Water
Forum. To read more about iEARN Egypt students' work in the water
project, please click HERE.
More pictures of Egypt's youth working on the water project:
iEARN Bangladesh partnered with EarthCorps,
a US based non-profit organization that offers opportunities for youth
to experience environmental work. This collaboration will enable
BRIDGE students to connect with other youth ages 18-25 in possible
discussions and projects focusing on environmental restoration and
community service. Congratuations to iEARN Bangladesh as this
collaboration will be fruitful!
 iEARN
Lebanon's YouthCaN participated in a nature hike this month at Al Awali
by the HBS Ecology Club. The hike took place on August 27th and
included youth of all ages discovering the natural environment of the
South of Lebanon. Also this month, the Universal School of
Lebanon is preparing students and teachers to receive the US Delegation
from Verona Area High School in Wisconsin. US students, with lead
BRIDGE teacher Sue Reget, will visit Lebanon for a three-week
short-term physical exchange. Eliane Metni, iEARN Lebanon's
Country Coordinator, will provide both the school and host families
with orientations prior to the delegation's arrival. In addition,
Ms. Metni is working closely with school administrators and parents in
creating a schedule of activities incorporating academic, cultural and
social activities. Most importantly, the exchange will take place
during Ramadan; and therefore, provides the opportunity for US students
to gain deeper understanding and respect for their holy holiday.
To learn more about BRIDGE Exchanges, please click HERE.
On
August 30th, iEARN India conduced an Introductory Workshop for 56
participants while Master Trainer, Shobha Panchawati (who received
her Certificate in April 2005, during the Master Trainer Seminar
in NYC) facilitated an additional training workshop for 17 teachers from
seven different schools at the Government Girls High School in
Hyderabad, India. This is a wonderful example of how a
BRIDGE teacher uses  professional development skills in training
workshops that share and encourage other teachers to integrate iEARN
into curriculums as well as the positive impact online courses and
face-to-face workshops can have on a single teacher. During the
workshop, Mrs. Swarna Kapoor - of The American India Foundation -
delivered a lecture about iEARN's progress through the years as well as
it's bright future. Participants took a virtual tour of the iEARN
website, and Ms. Panchwati lead the group in a discussion and training
on the positive benefits of iEARN teacher and student forums. Upcoming: India's Country Coordinator Dr. Sunita Bhagwat, prepares
BRIDGE youth for their physical exchange to Riverwood High
School in Atlanta, GA.
For more information on iEARN's Professional Development opportunities including online courses, please click HERE.
On
August 18-22, iEARN Indonesia's Country Coordinator, Hasnah Gasim,
attended and presented at the Associated School Project Network
[ASP-NET] workshop held in Cisarua. 80 teachers
participated from 20 different schools from all over Indonesia.  The workshop was divided into two sessions, the first focusing on
mutlitiple intelligenc and inquiry based learning; while Ms. Gasim
facilitated the second session aimed to train teachers on iEARN, how to
join, best practices on integrating projects and how to design a
project. Participants included curriculum and social science
teachers.
 Master Teacher Alumnae Forum: At the request of the 2005 BRIDGE
Master Trainer participants a new Master Trainer forum has been
established that brings together the participants of the CIVICS and
BRIDGE Master Trainer Seminars that have been held since 2000.
The teachers have much support to share with each other as they work to
strengthen iEARN in all the countries. They can give support for
professional development, share exciting projects and news and just
keep that spark going stronger for all involved. Alumnae take
responsibility for facilitating conversation in the forum for a month
at a time. Congratulations to Rosemary Dolphy of India and Datta
Kaur Khalsa of the United States for their excellent facilitation.
Jamaldin Slimani from Jordan is the facilitator for September. |
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Global Connections & Exchange Program (GCE) is made possible through support and funding from the US State
Department's (DOS) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It
is a part of iEARN-USA's BRIDGE project which is committed to
connecting students and teachers in the US to those in countries with
significant Muslim populations |
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July 12-18, 2008
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
All are welcome to attend.
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