Peter Copen, Founder of iEARN, Shares His Reflection of 20 Years of iEARN
Dearest Friends in iEARN:
 I
was asked to share my feelings on the 20th birthday of iEARN. My
feelings are clear and simple: Awe and Gratitude. It didn't seem
possible then in 1988. It was only an idea. It was only a dream. A
dream to do something, anything, to have children and teachers know
each other as human beings and find a way to avoid war and violence and
relieve suffering for people and the planet. I am in awe of how it has
succeeded. And I am so deeply grateful for the people (and the unseen
forces of "good") that made it happen -- people who shared the same
dream -- people who resonated to the vibrations of the same guitar.
 We
have come a long way in 20 years. And we still have a long way to go.
But there is power in numbers. And the number of voices of youth and
their teachers that iEARN (and others) can bring together is as yet
untapped.
That is for the next 20 years. The strings of the guitar can grow to a
symphony. A symphony that will touch the hearts, minds and actions of
all those who want a better world for all people and the planet. Let's
just do it.
With Peace, Light and Love,
Your friend,
Peter Copen
(Pictured: Peter with his grandchildren, getting ready to be iEARNers of the future) |
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iEARN's 20th Annivesary
- How Has iEARN Made A Difference For You?
- Lights, Camera, Action
- Calendar of Upcoming Celebration Events
- NYC Science Teachers Needed for Four Rivers, One World Project
- Join New Discussion on the Teachers Forum
- High School Teachers Needed for Institute
- Partners Needed for My Dream World Project
- Partners Needed for Creative Arts projects with Pakistan
- Teacher Needed for Video Program with Bahrain
Want to learn more about iEARN projects,
membership and collaboration? Or wish to submit your iEARN success
stories or project news, please contact Christine Robinson
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How Has iEARN Made A Difference For You?: In
honor of iEARN's 20th Anniversary, we're collecting reflections and
photos about your experiences in iEARN, how it's impacted your teaching
and your students, and how your students feel about working on
collaborative projects. Visit iEARN's 20th Anniversary online forum to post your messages, stories, and photos celebrating your success in global collaboration! Read teachers' and students' reflections about their iEARN experience.
Lights, Camera, Action:
Capture iEARN moments on camera or audio including students sending
their 20th Anniversary greetings, teachers sharing their thoughts about
iEARN, tell us about your favorite iEARN project, recall a special
experience working with iEARN, or showcase your students' project work
on film. Upload your video or audio work to the iEARN 20th Anniversary
Album (once on page, click upload to view file specifications). View a video by Nila Khan, a Pakistan teacher, sharing her experience with iEARN over the years. iEARN is specifically collecting videos of gatherings of people saying Happy 20th Anniversary iEARN. Short videos of this and or other gatherings of people sending their iEARN 20th Anniversary greetings are welcomed.
Calendar of Upcoming Events:
- This year, iEARN USA will host a gala in New York City in honor of iEARN's 20th Anniversary. Please stayed tuned for details!
- Join us in July 2008 for the 15th Annual iEARN International Conference in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Register early and click HERE for more details. Download a pre-conference activity sheet
and get connected to other teachers in preparation for the conference.
Find out about visas, sites to visit, special conference events,
accommodations, and more.
- If you, your school, and or students are planning an iEARN Celebration this year, please contact Christine Robinson and share your celebrations plans, pictures, video, etc... you can also upload to the 20th Anniversary online forum.
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Projects In Action: Explore these wonderful iEARN projects and connect with teachers and students around the globe -
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Teddy Bear Project
- get to know bears from Pakistan, East Jerusalem and Mali as they
travel far from home in search of adventure, new friends, and a global
connection.
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Daffodil and Tulip Project
- join discussions reporting data from various classrooms that planted
seeds this past November. Students are asked to collect data that
includes climate change, growth rates, etc... and share these findings
in the Collaboration Center. Take a peek and join this project in November.
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CATALYST Project - join great discussions between Uzbekistan, USA and Pakistan as students engage in comprehensive animation trainings, community
service activities, classroom presentations, field trips, animation
production and exhibitions, and cultural activities. The projects focuses on natural disaster preparedness.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 New York City Science Teachers Needed:
iEARN has been awarded a grant from the US Department of State to
conduct a water analysis project with students in the US, Nepal,
Bangladesh, and India. The Four Rivers, One World project will look at
rivers in each participating country and allow students the opportunity
to compare and share their findings. iEARN will provide schools with
water analysis kits and the necessary equipment, and also an
opportunity to travel to one of the three countries for two weeks in
the Fall of 2008. Between now and then, schools will be engaged in the online work, and will participate in activities and workshops surrounding the international teachers visit to New York in April, 2008. US teachers will have the chance to attend the YouthCaN conference at the Museum of Natural History, participate in a water analysis workshop at Stevens Institute, and invite a teacher to shadow them at their school for a day! If you are a New York City area
science teacher and interested in involving your student in this
project, please be in touch with Tina Habib as soon as possible!
Check Out New Discussions on the Teachers Forum: Visit the iEARN Teachers forum and connect to educators around the global network! Recent discussions include: New Year New Thoughts, Eat Healthy Live Healthy, South Asia Consultation on Climate Change, and more. Click HERE to login and join these and other great discussions.
High School Teachers Needed for Journalism Institute: The American Society Of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) is seeking high school teachers for a two-week, expenses-paid summer journalism institute. A group of 175 teachers will be selected to attend the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute, which will take place at five universities. Teachers from high schools that lack scholastic media or have struggling journalism programs are especially encouraged to apply. ASNE is a partner in iEARN's PEARL World Youth News project. For application details, click here or contact Diane Mitsu Klos at dmk@asne.org.
Project Partners Needed: Shukufa Najafova from Ismailli, Azerbaijan is looking for USA partners for the project, My Dream World Shukufa took part in an iEARN project last October, and found it quite interesting so this year would like to integrate a project in his class. Shukufa would like partners from the online course, "Teaching English as a Second Language", to also join My Dream World. Email Shukufa at shukufa1961@yahoo.com or shukufa_najafova@hotmail.com if you are interested in partnering.
Pavle Tvaliashvili, iEARN Georgia Country Coordinator, is asking US teachers who have participated in the, ECA, PIE and or TEA teacher exchanges and plan on attending the iEARN International Conference to please contact him. Pavle is planning on writing a grant and interested in US teacher participation.
 Video Program with Bahrain: iEARN-USA is seeking a US teacher to bring his/her classroom together with students in Bahrain for a new collaborative public service video program, MovingVoices. The program will train an educator in the US and Bahrain to replicate and expand iEARN’s successful digital video efforts that have helped youth make a difference in their communities. MovingVoices will result in classroom teachers who are able to lead youth in new media literacy and production, and responsible community action. Moving Voices will feature: “hands-on” digital video production of public service announcements and professional mentoring and networking from iEARN’s MovingVoices trainers and media partners. Participants will enroll in the MovingVoices online course from February 11- April 6th, 2008. At the conclusion of the course, the teacher will travel with two of his/her students to Bahrain for a 10 day video production workshop and cultural immersion program. If interested please be in touch with Tina Habib as soon as possible.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Register NOW for iEARN Online Courses: Courses enroll participants from around the world, and run frum February 11 - April 6, 2008. Each course is designed so that by the end of nine weeks you will have outlined how you will use a standards-based iEARN project in your classroom. Courses include: Creative Arts, Language Arts/Writing, Social Studies/Contemporary Affairs/Geography, Science/Environment/Math, Teaching of Foreign and Second Langauges, Helping Students Cope With Traumatic Events, Learning Circles, Moving Voices (making digital documentaries), and PEARL (integrating journalism skills into the classroom). Read more and register now to save your spot, click HERE.
iEARN Workshops: Stop by and meet
iEARN teachers and staff at the following conferences. Learn about
iEARN, project-based learning, and hear first-hand how teachers have
successfully integrated global projects.
- Jan 22-25: Florida Educational Technology Conference Orlando, FL - Presentation: Rowena Gerber, Nina Lucci
- Feb 5: Texas Computer Education Association Convention, Austen, TX - Presentation: Patty Praytor
- Feb 7-9: International Studies Schools Association Conference [ISSA], Chicago, IL - Presentation and Exhibit: Ed Gragert, Mojgan Momeni
- Mar 9: Tennesee Geographic Assoication Conference, Knoxville TN - Presentation: Chris Hockert
 NECC 2008 Conference Call for Proposals:
With a successful 2007 NECC conference behind us, planning has begun
for the 2008 conference to be held in June in San Antonio, TX.
Together, iEARN teachers and staff conducted several workshops and we
hope to replicate this and more for 2008. NECC is a wonderful
opportunity to share your students' work with fellow educators. It not
only provides teachers with a stage to showcase their use of technology
in the classroom, but also provides a venue to highlight their best
practices using iEARN online collaborative projects and tools.
If you plan to submit and present your
student showcases, or plan to simply attend the conference, or would
like be part of an iEARN presentation please contact Diane Midness - Professional Development Coordinator. We're happy to assist you with any questions when submitting your proposal.
For more NECC details and how to submit, please click HERE.
 ISSA 2008 Conference - Chicago, IL: The 7th Annual ISSA Conference will be held February 7-9 in Chicago. The conference gathers educators around the country and focuses international studies for K-12 curriculum. Click HERE to register or for more information.
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iEARN EVENTS/NEWS
Global Connections Exchange Program [GCEP]: Click HERE for up-to-date GCEP news from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. GCEP is made possible through support and funding from the US State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
It is 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.
 Register NOW for the 2008 iEARN International Conference in Uzbekistan:
This coming July 2008 iEARN Uzbekistan will host and celebrate the 15th
Annual iEARN International Conference and Youth Summit. All are
welcome to join educators
and youth from around the globe to discuss collaborative projects and
technology in the classroom. It's a wonderful opportunity to
participate in various workshops, meet educators from around the world,
and build partnerships. Click HERE to download a PDF with complete details.
iEARN's Solar Cooking Project Makes News: In December, NBC affiliate in South Florida aired a special clip about students' work at Miami Country Day School and iEARN Solar Cooking Project. Click HERE to download and watch the video.
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iEARN-USA is a member of iEARN
(International Education and Resource Network), the world's largest
K-12 non-profit global network that enables young people to use the
Internet and other new technologies to engage in collaborative
educational projects that both enhance learning and make a difference
in the world. To learn more about iEARN USA click HERE.
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connected to a school in
Russia finding that they're quite similar even though miles apart. 
