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Building Respect Through Internet Dialogue
and Global Education
IN THIS ISSUE:
Morocco: Youth and iEARN's Environmental Online Project
Pakistan: BRIDGE News & BRIDGE Curriculum Enhancement Program
Indonesia: BRIDGE Master Trainers Chat Online
Egypt: BRIDGE Workshop and Planning Meeting
Malaysia: Master Trainers conduct Train-the-Trainer Workshop
Lebanon: Introductory Workshop for BRIDGE and iEARN, and BRIDGE Exchange News
Jordan BRIDGE Exchange News:
iEARN Jordan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, spent
September preparing for the coming Jordan to US exchange scheduled for
November 5-11. A total of four students, 2 male and 2 teachers,
and one teacher will travel to Cardozo High School located in
Washington D.C. During their exchange, Jordan BRIDGE students
will participate in International Education Week,
a joint initiative sponsored by the US Department of State and US
Department of Education. In turn, Cardozo youth and longtime
BRIDGE teacher Kerry Sylvia had the honor of meeting His and Her
Majesty of Jordan. During a roundtable discussion held on
September 14th, Cardozo students spoke with their peers and the King
and Queen about issues relating to technology, religion, cultural
exchange and more.
Other news this month: iEARN Jordan met with Mr. Kevin Baker - an official of the Bureau For Educational and Cultural Affairs
- along with Ms. Khitam Al Utaibi of the Ministry of Education and Ms.
Christine Habib, Director of Government Programs for iEARN USA.
The meeting included tour of Jordan's Husban County, the site where the
E-Village project is underway. Mr. Yazan Majaj, Director of UNIFEM
[United Nations Development Fund for Women], asked iEARN Jordan to join
the steering committee for the E-Village project. During the
tour, Mr. Majaj explained iEARN Jordan's role in the project as well as
discussed various objectives and goals for the E-Village. Also
this month, Country Coordinator Mohammad Jarrah has been chosen to
assist in organizing the IMCL
Conference [Interactive Mobile and Computer Aided Learning] sponsored
by the Princess Sumaya University of Technology. This is a great
opportunity for iEARN Jordan to share the BRIDGE Program as well as
other iEARN projects.
On
September 21st, iEARN Morocco participated in a tree planting day in
celebration of World Peace Day. The day was organized by Mr.
Mohammed Jaafari as part of iEARN's ENO Project
[Environment Online]. Students from around Morocco particpated
including BRIDGE youth and teachers. Also this month, iEARN
Morocco added four computer labs to four middle schools giving students
access to iEARN online forums. It will also help strengthen
computer skills and confidence as students open dialogue with their
peers around the globe.
 ![]() Pakistan BRIDGE News:
This month, iEARN Pakistan joined teachers and students from Memorial
Middle School in New Hampshire in making postcards for victims affected
by Hurricane Katrina. This collaboration stems from iEARN's Eye to Eye Project
that sponsors the creation of postcard size images dedicated to the
ideals of friendship and understanding through visual
communication. On September 21-22, an Introductory Workshop was
held at Jauhar Public School in Organi Town in Karachi and was
organized in partnership with the Rotary Club Karachi.
Faciliators include Sarah Alam and and Irfan Waleed, both BRIDGE Master
Trainers. Mr. Waleed is a recent Master Trainer who participated
in Master Trainer Seminar
held in New York City in April 2005. The workshop introduced iEARN
goals, objectives and reviewed online forums and projects. Dr.
Ali Akhtar, Executive Govenor for Rotary International, had the honor
of giving the 20 teacher participants certificates of completion.
In addition, teachers were introduced to iEARN Pakistan's BRIDGE Curriculum Enhancement Program. Teachers came from Jauhar Public English Secondary School and Mateen Grammar School.
Also
this month: specific workshops where held for projects
including Kindred Oral History, Service Learning and
Writing. In total, 62 educators participated from 28 different
schools. These workshops are in part of the Pakistan's BRIDGE
Curriculum Enhancement Program.
BRIDGE Master
Trainers Online Chat: On September 29th Master Trainers from this
year's seminar held in April held a group online chat addressing the
theme of "sharing experiences about implementing iEARN Projects in school for sturdents." Master Trainer Abdul Latif, from
Indonesia, is among the various teachers who joined the online chat and
acted as facilitator. During a visit to Government Senior High
School, Mr. Latif conducted a two-hour introduction to iEARN and shared
pictures in the Master Trainer forum:
Other news: Indonesia shared iEARN with 200
teachers for gifted children at a Introductory Workshop held at Hotel
Cipayung in West Java. Country Coordinator Hasnah Gasim presented
on iEARN's global network and how collaboration through projects can
help gifted children in using technology. Many teachers expressed
interest; and therefore, a follow up workshop will consist of actual
teacher training.
BRIDGE Workshop: Egypt held an Introductory Workshop for 27 participants from 10 different
schools. Facilitators include Mr. El Gohary Helal, English
language teacher from Orman High School for Boys and Mrs. Ghada El
Degwy, a computer teacher from El Sheikh Zayed Experimental Language
School. The workshop was held at El Mostakabi El Motakamaia
Experimental School in Nasr City. Prior to this training
workshop, teachers completed a three-day beginners workshop that was
held this past March 2005.
 Also this month: iEARN Egypt conducted
a follow up day-long meeting with all Egyptian educators and students
who particpated in BRIDGE exchanges, BRIDGE conferences, BRIDGE Master
Trainings, as well as iEARN projects, workshops and international
conferences. The meeting was divided into two sessions with the
first an open forum where participants could share their experiences,
skills and knowledge gained while being part of various iEARN programs. Session two focused on
brainstorming and planning for the 2007 Conference. Other
workshops were held including Egypt's fundraising workshop and a
seminar for private schools introducing iEARN to this educational
sector.
Student Workshop - September 17, 2005:
iEARN Nepal conducted a workshop for 29 junior high school students
introducing online collaborative projects. Previously, Galaxy
Public Schools from Kathmandu partcipated in an iEARN Nepal National
Workshop. The training this month was focused on teaching and
preparing students for project based learning. Students were
excited to read messsages posted by their peers around the globe
welcoming them to iEARN.
 Other
news: Country Coordinator, Binita Parajuli, continues to visit schools
to train and or introduce iEARN and project based learning.
Building off successes from BRIDGE students' participation in projects
such as LEWIN and Virtues, teachers are impressed how projects engage
youth in meaningful dialogue. This October, iEARN Nepal will make
a presentation on how technology empowers youth.
iEARN Malayasia - BRIDGE Train-the-Trainer:
Although the workshop was held this past August, iEARN Malaysia
successfully trained a total of 68 teachers in two sessions held on
August 26th and 28th. Officials from the State Education
Department and various teachers from colleges attended the sessions
facilitated by Malaysia's Country Coordinator Zait Isa and Bob
Hofman, Country Coordinator for iEARN Netherlands. In
total, 11 schools
attended the workshop held at the University Sains Malaysia in Penang.
Also Mr. Isa, along with two BRIDGE Master Trainer teachers (Mr. Chong
and Mr. Hamidah), conducted three iEARN project based learning
workshops
on September 19th, 20th and 21st. About 90 teachers and principals
attended the three one-day workshops.
Introductory Workshop:
This month iEARN Lebanon conducted a workshop at the Ahlieh
School. Projects were introduced, forums visited and time alloted
for teachers to register. In other news, a tree planting ceremony
and meeting was held on September 23rd where BRIDGE youth and teachers
planted trees and honored the day with one tree dedicated to Millard Clements, one
of the key founders of YouthCaN
who passed away this September. The second tree was planted in
honor of International Peace Day. Also this month, iEARN Lebanon
was recognized by the Hajj Bahaa School for their work in YouthCaN and
guidance in projects and collaborative learning. Mr. Karim Abu
Haydar represented iEARN at the school's 10th Anniversary.
BRIDGE Exchange News:
iEARN Lebanon is peparing for US students for the exchange scheduled
this October 2005. More news and reports to come when the exchange is
complete.
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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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