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March 2006: iEARN-USA Newsletter
Issue VIII
Pictured Above:
4th Grade students representing the "Everyone Smiles in the Same Languge"
Project - faciliated by Nigar Gulmalieva in Azerbaijan and connects children and
youth around the globe. Visit the project page HERE. Photo submitted by June Stewart, Winter Haven, FL.
In this Issue:
- iEARN Teacher introduces online projects to Kindergartens and 1st Graders
- Dr. James Bosco shares a few words about how iEARN helps cross boundaries
- Valentine's Day:
Sissonville High School shares the spirit
of love with the Pakistan BRIDGE Delegation during a community service project
(2) Professional Development:
- Online Courses: A Chance Encounter Can Lead to a Life Changing Experience
- Workshop at John A. Logan College in Caterville, IL
- Teachers
from Pakistan, New York, West Virgina and Atlanta, GA share their iEARN
experiences at the International Studies Schools Association Conference,
Durham, NC
- High School Students Needed: International Scrapbook Project
- Illinois International High School Initiative
- My Hero Project needs student reporters
MARCH SPOTLIGHT
 iEARN Teacher shares her thoughts and pictures about iEARN Projects:
"I am enjoying the interactive forums, and I will be registering some
students to communicate online...I am especially glad to be able to
include Kindergarten and Grade One students. So many programs
target only older ones....You [iEARN] are to be congratulated on the
exceptional model you have created." June Stewart, Academic Enrichment Programs Coordinator All Saints' Academy in Winter Haven, Florida
Visit the Teddy Bear Project HERE
 Dr. James Bosco, Western Michigan University Department of Educational Studies shares:
ìIf there was ever a time when using all of our razzle dazzle
"communication" technologies to communicate...not in the technical
sense but in the human sense....it is now. And it is hard to think of
any organization which has done more to help us cross geographic,
language, and ideological boundaries than iEARN.î
 Sissonville High School Celebrates Valentine's Day: For
Valentine's Day, SHS students visited a local senior community home. SHS students
introduced seniors to a special group of youth, the Pakistan BRIDGE
Delegation. The Pakistan group visited SHS for a three-week
Global Connections BRIDGE exchange from February 3-March 6.
During the exchange, SHS hosted various educational, social and
cultural activities. Robin White, iEARN Lead Teacher, recruited
and selected host families and coordinatored details surrounding the
highly successful exchange. Pakistan student, Mariam Ali
reflected on her exhange experience on the online BRIDGE forum:
"I
am having the time of my life here and enjoying an extremely unique and
adventerous experience. I am learning so much from these people
and its great talking to them about my country. A lot of
misconceptions have been removed...and people have the correct picture
of my country and vice versa. I have realized that they are not
very different from us. They are willing to hear us out and
improve things internationally which is great! This program has
made my mind broader than before and I am actually looking forward to
implementing some of the enthusiatic school activities in my own school
if possible. I think the education system here is remarkable
and we have learned a lot from it and will surely adapt things.
Socializing at this level has increased my knowledge on a lot of issues
and on the way people think..."
Online Courses: Sometimes a chance encounter can lead to a life changing experience.....When
McKean High School teacher Holly Franklin attended an education
conference last summer she had no idea that a chance encounter would
transform in her professional life in so many ways...[a teacher from Delaware] told her about the International
Education and Resource Network (iEARN)...offering professional development to
increase technology skills and expand international education in the
classroom. Holly thought, ìÖit would be a fun way to get involved,
especially since I love to travel and learn about different cultures.î
Three thousand miles
away...Eddie Kigozi, also a High School teacher from
Kampala, Uganda was packing his bags and getting ready to move to Pune,
India for one year of voluntary service as a member of the World
Education Corps. In October Holly and Eddie enrolled in the iEARN
Social Studies online professional development course...
Click HERE for complete article and read how online courses
have impacted both Holly and Eddie
 Workshop at John A. Logan College in Caterville, IL: On
January 26, John A. College hosted an iEARN Beginners Workshop for
teachers from Carbondale High School (Carbondale, IL), Vienna High
School (Vienna, IL) and Herrin High School (Herrin, IL). iEARN
teacher, Deborah Payne - an iEARN member since 2004, coordinated the
workshop facilitated by Diane Midness, Professional Development
Coordinator. The workshop highlighted iEARN basics and reviewed
site navigation tips, how to access forums and how to join online
collaborative projects. The workshop included 17 teachers and was
made possible with funding from the University of Illinois Center for
Global Studies.
Teachers representing Pakistan, New York, West Virigina and Atlanta, GA share their iEARN Success Stories: On
February 16-18, Diane Midness - iEARN-USA Professional Development
Coordinator - traveled to Durham, NC for the International Studies
Schools Association Conference [ISSA].
During the conference, Diane asked that iEARN teachers share their
stories and experiences using iEARN projects and resources. The
result - success. Diane stepped aside and proudly watched as
Naila Khan - of Cardinal School in Lahore, Pakistan, Amiee Horowitz -
of the College of Staten Island High School for International Stdues
[CSI] in New York, Robin White - of Sissonville High School in
Charleston, WV and Freda Goodman - retired teacher of Riverwood High
School and consultant in Atlanta, GA individually shared their
stories.
 Naila talked about the role that iEARN projects play in community service activities within Pakistan schools, such as Eye to Eye, Comfort Quilt or Natural Disaster Projects. Amiee conducted a presentation highlighting CSI's very own iEARN project, International Teen Scrapbook, designed by CSI teacher Nancy Kaplan. She shared CSI's success in implemeting online projects including PEARL World Youth News and Moving Voices.
Amiee also presented on their
recent participation as a host school for the BRIDGE
Bahrain Delegation this past January. With that, Robin expressed
Sissonville's success in hosting the Pakistani BRIDGE Delegation and in
sending a group of her students to India for an outbound BRIDGE
exchange. In both exchanges, students were given the opportunity
to explore each other's life, education and culture. Participants
then heard from Freda who discussed the importance of face to face
workshops, conferences and online courses as key ingredients to
discovering iEARN's global network.
We
believe teachers best demontrate how iEARN's vast resources help create
and build connectivity within global school communities.
Teachers' first hand accounts and experiences help conference
participants understand the true educational value online projects
provide to students. Thank you iEARN TEACHERS!!
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
High School Students Needed: International Teen Scrapbook Project: College
of Staten Island High School, in Staten Island New York, is looking for
secondary schools to join their iEARN project, International Teen
Scrapbook. New this Spring 2006, the project was designed by
Nancy Kaplan and her students and focuses on teen culture.
Students are able to share essays and photographs that reflect the
lives and concerns of teens around the world. Visit the project page or contact Nancy Kaplan via email.
 Illinois International High School Initiative: The
Illinois International High School Initiative and Center for Global
Studies will hold the 4th annual Global Studies Forum on March 17 and
18, 2006, at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois. This
annual event has been a pioneering effort in exploring ways teachers
can ensure that high school students develop the international
awareness, skills, and understanding necessary to cooperate and compete
effectively in todayís globalizing world. For more information, please
click HERE.
 iEARN My Here Project Needs Student Reporters: MY HERO
invites educators and students of all ages to participate in this
online journal celebrating global heroes from all walks of life.
Student reporters are needed for a TV special. Please visit the
following site for more information. Click HERE.
NON-iEARN GRANTS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Click HERE for grants, awards and other great opportunities for teachers and students.
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