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BRIDGE Newsletter
November - December 2005
BRIDGE
Master Trainer, Irfan Waleed (standing left) assist two teachers during
an iEARN Training held at iEARN Pakistan headquarters in Karachi.
For a PDF version of new, click here.
In this Issue: (please scroll down or click on country heading)
(1) Morocco: Celebrates International Education Week and hosts a visit from ACYPL
(2) Bangladesh: iEARN Bangladesh partners with Nacel Open Door
(3) Pakistan: Builds momentum with their BRIDGE Curriculum Enrichment Program
(4) Nepal: Students come together to celebrate culture and project work
(5) Egypt: US and Egypt partner for the Two Rivers, One World Project
(5) India: Joins Door Step Organization for IEW and holds their National Conference
(6) Lebanon: Conducts Training for teachers
Recent News: Bahrain participates in Historic Global Connections Initiative:
Bahrain students travel to the US for a first ever exchange: The
College of Staten Island High School for International Studies [CSI] in
Staten Island, New York City, will participate in an historic exchange
visit from Bahrainóthe first time that high school students have come
on a US government-sponsored exchange visit. CSI will host four
students and one teacher from the Kingdom of Bahrain between January
29-February 19.
In
November 2005, iEARN Morocco [mEARN] celebrated International Education Week [IEW] -
as did other BRIDGE countries - with an afternoon of debate held at the
Abdelkarim Alkhattabi High School in Rabat. About 30 students
participated  in the debate about culture and education. In early
December, mEARN welcomed a group of US political leaders visiting
Marrakech through a grant provided to the American Council of Young
Political Leaders [ACYPL] by the US Department of State's Educational and Cultural Affairs Office [ECA].
Visitors met with teachers and students who are active in BRIDGE
projects and online forums that link them with their American
peers. The US Delegation included J. Kalani English, Hawaii State
Senator, Krysten Sinema, member of Arizona House of Representatives and
Dr. Jason Dean, Policy Advisor in the Office of the Governor of
Mississippi.
For
International Education Week iEARN Bangladesh [bEARN] held a seminar
entitled, "Cultural Exchange Promotes Global Education". The
seminar was made possible by a partnership between bEARN and Nacel Open Door
Bangladesh with several guest speakers including Mr. Lutfur Rahman Khan
Azad, MP, Honorable State Minister of NGO Affairs. bEARN also conducted a
workshop for educators in late December 2005.
Approximately 41 educators attended and were trained on how to use an
integrate iEARN online forums and rescourses into their classroom or
school environment.
Click here to learn more about iEARN Bangladesh's event for International Education Week.
From Fall and
throughout Winter 2005, iEARN Pakistan was busy with enrichment
programs for bouth students and teachers. This past October,
teachers trained in the BRIDGE Curriculum Enrichment Program (a series of iEARN training workshops
organized as part of the BRIDGE Program for educators of iEARN
partner schools. Day long training modules focus on different
categories of iEARN projects that have potential for enriching and
enhancing a wide range of curriculum areas) introduced students to online projects specifically the Kindred Project, Eye to Eye and the Teddy Bear
Projects. A focus for students  was relief efforst for
victims of Pakistan's earthquake. BRIDGE students participated in
various projects including community service in effected disaster areas. iEARN members
can read their reflections in the Students Unlimited Forum.
BRIDGE teacher, Naila Khan's, shared her thoughts about community
service, ìbeing an educator it's my duty to teach the coming younger
generation to cherish all good things around you and to come together
to help each other in the time of need..." Click here to read more in BRIDGE Testimonials. (Picture: Students from Cardinal Public School busy collecting donations for quake victims.)
 During
November and December, iEARN Pakistan conducted workshops for teachers
including several iEARN Beginner Workshops, Intermediate and Advanced
trainings. Together, the beginner and intermediate workshops
trained a total of 104 teachers. On December 19-23, the advanced
workshops included 14 educators from 10 different organizations. All trainings were conducted at
iEARN Pakistan offices in Karachi. (Pictured):
The Consular General of the US Consulate Ms. Mary Witt (left)
presenting the Certificate of Completion to a participant of BRIDGE
Training of the Trainers program held December 19-23.
In
celebration of International Education Week [IEW] iEARN Nepal held an
exhibit
on culture awareness. The event took place from November 14-18
and involved nearly 4,000 students and 300 teachers from three
different iEARN schools: Galaxy Public School, The Excelsior School and
Mahan Siddartha School. Various art projects were displayed and
open discussions held about the importance education and culture
awareness for the development of peace.  Essays,
stories, poems
and crafts were on exhibited as well. Mahan Siddartha High
School also celebrated IEW with students dressing in tradional Nepalese
fashions. Seven different ethnic groups were celebrated including
Sherpas (people living in the Himalayan Mountains), Rai (those who live
in elevated hill type areas), Gurung (an indigenous group), Magar (an
ethnic group rich in culture) and Tharu (an indigenous group who lives
in plain areas). Students conducted presentations on the
importance of dress, language and livelihood as an expression of
culture.
Click here to view more of iEARN Nepal's IEW Photo Gallery.
This November 2005
iEARN Egypt introduced online collaborative learning to 11 new schools
(eight in Cario and three in Alexandria, as requested by the National
Institution Department of the Egyptian  Ministry of Education). Each
school designated three teachers to participate and complete an iEARN
Beginner's Workshop. In Cario, the training took place at the
National Institution's center located Portsaid Language School, Zamalek
and in Alexandria at the El Nasr Girls College.
 In December, iEARN Egypt hosted the US-Egypt Young Scientist Program supported with funding from the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Oceans International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
and the US Embassy in Cairo. This came as U.S. and Egypt renewed
the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement that aims to
strengthen the science and technology skills in youth for peace and
mutual understanding. The Program united secondary students from
the US and Egypt for a project entitled, "Two Rivers, One World".
Students are working together on an analysis of the Nile and Hudson
Rivers (New York), to be shared at the 10th Anniversary commemoration
of the US-Egypt Joint Science and Technology Agreement later next
year.  Students gathered information and shared data electronically
using interactive online forums hosted by iEARN. On December
11-17, a week long science camp brought students face to face after
weeks of online connectivity. iEARN Egypt, the Wadi Environmental
Science Center and the American Museum of Natural History in New York
City, partnered to help organize and maintain the collection of
students' scientific data during trips and visits to program related
sites. For iEARN members, click here to explore this interactive project forum.
(Pictured Left to Right:
Mrs. Sahar
Farouk - iEARN trainer, Ms. Aliaa Khalil - iEARN Egypt Program Specialist, Francis J. Ricciardone, The Ambassador of the United States of America and Ms. Nadine El Hadad - head of Alumni
committee during the renewal of the U.S.-Egypt Science and Technology
Cooperation Agreement)
On
December 26, iEARN Indonesia conducted a workshop  for teachers in
Cilegon. Country Coordinator, Hasnah Gasim, faciliated the
workshop to 60 teachers from five different schools in Cilegon, West
Java and organized by school SMAN 2KS. Co-facilitators included
Suparno, iEARN Coordinator in Jakarta and Hari Prasetyo, iEARN
Indonesia's website manager. The training focused on  introducing iEARN
basics, how to effectively engage in online collaborative projects, how
to best utilize online discusssion forums, and sample iEARN
projects. This type of introduction workshop provides teachers
with the necessary skills to begin connecting to others around the
globe as well as the foundation for online curriculum integration.
This past November, iEARN India gathered  youth to celebrate International Education Week. Students from Pune participated in activities organized by Door Step,
an organization dedicated to providing opportunities to learn for
underprivileged youth. For more on this event and pictures,
click here to visit the IEW events.
On November 24-26, iEARN India hosted their National Conference, "Technology Learning Initiatives in Schools,"
at Garware College of Commerce in Pune. Opening ceremonies were
conducted by Deepak Shikarpur. Shikarpur specializes in
manufacturaing and IT retail consulting. After, Dr. Sunita
Bhagwat, iEARN India's Country Coordinator and Surabhi Bhagwat
faciliated several workshop sessions that offered participants with an
overview of iEARN online resources. Teachers were introduced to
online forums, benefits of collaborative project based learning and
more.
 Teachers
and students also presented their BRIDGE work. Rosemary Dolphy
and P. Shobha shared their experiences as BRIDGE Master Trainers in New
York City in April 2005, while exchange students presented their
reflections of their BRIDGE physical exchange to Atlanta, GA in October
2005. Together participants were able to share first hand
experiences with their peers interested in global learning. In
addition, students ages 8-14 participated in community service
activities including origami making and open forum discussions about
the impact of natural disasters.
In
November, iEARN Lebanon conducted a trainings for teachers. This
training included emphasis on project based learning, iEARN
resources and how coordinate school events and lessons that integrate
online learning. |
