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November 16, 2004 |
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Hello iEARN-USA Teachers!
By now I hope you have all received this year's new Project Description
Booklet, along with all the other goodies we sent out to you in a
packet a few weeks ago. I have enjoyed speaking to (and emailing with)
many of you over the past week as we follow up on that mailing to see
how you're all doing. If you haven't received yours, let me know and
I'll send one out immediately.
The school year is fully underway, and as November is already slipping
away many of you are enrolled in our online courses, participating in
projects with partners around the world, and building up a new
generation of global citizens. It's exciting to see you all in the
forums, and to read your student's posts as they make friends and learn
about each other around the world.
I'd love to hear the inside story on how it's all going for you, so
please send me a note to fill us in! Also, if you have items you'd like
to submit for inclusion in the next newsletter, or suggestions for what
more you'd like to see, do send them to along. And as always, if you
need anything-- passwords, help finding a forum or choosing a project,
or anything else-- feel free to call or email me at any time. I love to
hear from you!
Happy Autumn!
Warmly,
Mariam
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IEARN-US Newsletter, Issue 3
November 16, 2004
IEARN-US NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Linking for Learning: A Global Webcast
Discussing International Education and How Technology Powers It
2. New iEARN-US Staff
3. iEARN Scholarships Available
4. Join us in Senegal
5. iEARN Teachers Joe Young and Rowena Gerber Recognized
6. International Education Week Project in Djibouti
7. iEARN teacher Kristi Rennebohm Franz Publishes a New book
8. Be a PEARL Editor
9. Join us at NECC 2005
RESOURCES & EVENTS
1. Upcoming Just Vision Events
2. Free Resources on the Role of the US
3. Online Resources
4. Free Security Posters
AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
1. The Harris Wofford Awards
2. The DisneyHand Minnie Grant
================================================
DOWNLOAD THE NEW iEARN 2004-2005 PROJECT BOOK!
See http://www.iearn.org/projects/projectbook.html
================================================
IEARN-US NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
================================================
1. Linking for Learning: A Global Webcast Discussing International Education and How Technology Powers It
In celebration of International Eduation Week, iEARN invites you to
participate in an interactive dialogue with Joseph Esposito, Deputy
Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Dept. of Education and
the iEARN Coordinators from the following countries: Jordan, Lebanon,
Egypt, Morocco, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Oman, Indonesia and Pakistan.
The discussion will focus on the ways in which project-based learning
and online collaboration have helped them foster cross-cultural
communication between students from their countries and those in the
US. This event is held in partnership with the World Affairs Council of
Washington, DC and Nortel Networks Kidz Online.
On November 19, 2004, you can be a part of this unique and timely discussion by logging on to www.kidzonline.org/iew
and click on "view webcast." You will be led to a page where you can
post your questions in Instant Messenger format. Once submitted,
your question will be projected onto a screen in the auditorium and
addressed by the panel. This site also contains a link to a list of
technology requirements for viewing. We suggest looking over this
to ensure your ability to participate. In addition, here is a
site to log onto to test your technology capabilities: http://www31.nortelnetworks.com/webcast.cgi?id=2299.
Generally speaking, if you have anything better than a dial up
connection you should be fine. If you are having bandwidth
issues, there will be a telephone bridge set up where you can call and
participate.
If you are unable to log on during the webcast, please send me your
questions by November 10th and I will be sure they are addressed.
You can then log onto the above address at a later time and view the
webcast in its entirety to hear how the panelists responded.
WHO:
Teachers, Students, Administrators and Others Interested/Involved in
International Education or
Distance Learning
WHEN: 9:30 - 10:30 AM (EST-US) Friday, November 19, 2004
WHERE:
In-person: U.S. Department
of Education Auditorium, Washington, DC.
Online: www.kidzonline.org/IEW
If you plan to participate in anyway, please RSVP to Tina Habib at chabib@us.iearn.org.
=================================================
2. New iEARN-US Staff!
The iEARN family is growing! In recent months, 4 new part- and full-time staffers have joined us: Anindita Roy (anindita@us.iearn.org), whom many of you have been communicating with on the new PEARL World Youth News Service, Jeannette Tsuei (jtsuei@us.iearn.org),
who is working on our physical exchange program, Moira Wilkinson
(mwilkinson@us.iearn.org) who will be working on membership and US
teacher involvement, and Carole Ryavec (cryavec@us.iearn.org), our new
Development Director. Please welcome them!
=================================================
3. iEARN Scholarships Available
Do you know a middle or high school that has a unit on the Middle East?
Do you know teachers who might wish to have students go beyond media
reports of countries with Muslim populations to have students talk
directly with peers in collaborative educational projects?
Do you know teachers who would like their students to go beyond
studying about the Silk Road and work with students who actually live
on it?
iEARN-USA has announced that $80,000 has been made available by the US
State Department and USAID for scholarships for US teachers and schools
to participate in the iEARN global network for educators interested in
working online and in face to face events with peers in 19 countries
with significant Muslim populations. Scholarships will cover membership
costs, online professional development course fees, Arabic language
software site licenses, and participation in Training seminars
and conferences in NYC
and in the Middle East.
For more information and an application, email me at mhabib@us.iearn.org
=================================================
4. Join us in Senegal July 17th-24th!
2005 iEARN International Conference: Join us on July 17-24 as we travel
to Dakar, Senegal for the 12th Annual iEARN Conference & Youth
Summit! Meet partners you've been working with around the world and
iEARN colleagues in the States, learn more about different iEARN
projects and partners, and spend time learning about Senegal firsthand!
Keep an eye on http://www.iearn.org for more information, or login to the 2005 Senegal Conference Discussion Forum at: http://foro.iearn.org/.1dec18f9/.
=================================================
5. iEARN Teachers Joe Young and Rowena Gerber Recognized
I am pleased to share that two iEARN teachers have been recognized for
their outstanding efforts in global education and bla bla bla.
Joe Young, a 3/4th grade teacher at Rocky Branch Elementary School in
River Falls Wisconsin and a returned Peace Corp Volunteer in Nepal,
received the Global Teacher Award at the International Education
Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Joe received the award last
spring for, among other accomplishments, his work with IEARN. Joe
was cited for his work encouraging teachers in the River Falls School
District to integrate IEARN projects into their curriculum. Joe
collaborated with Dr. Judy Freund in offering a workshop through the
University of Wisconsin, River Falls. In presenting the award,
Madeline Uraneck, from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction,
said, "We honor Joe Young for leadership in global studies and for
sharing, taking experiences he has had and multiplying them, giving not
only his own students a new perspective, but ensuring that all schools
in the district have similar opportunities."
As a recipient of the award, Joe presented a session about his work
with IEARN at the Friends of International Education, Inc., Annual
Meeting in October.
And Rowena Gerber, an eight-year member of iEARN and a leader in
projects and her community, was recently chosen to be featured on the
home page of the MY HERO Project, which celebrates heroes working to
improve global education. Her story will be featured for the next
two weeks and may be viewed at the following URL: http://myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=RowenaGerber
Rowena co-facilitates the following iEARN projects:
Solar Cooking
Beauty of the Beasts
Side by Side
Lab's Alive
Congratulations Joe & Rowena!
=================================================
6. International Education Week Project in Djibouti
US teachers interested in celebrating International Education Week with
friends and peers in Djibouti can do so with iEARN. In participation
with Djibouti's US Embassy Education Officer, schools are invited to
participate in a direct online exchange. Students and teachers will be
exchanging information about life and education in their respective
communities and schools, and will send and receive poster board
displays of their lives. Digital pictures, short movies, and other
materials are also welcomed. The project will be conducted in French
and English. If you are interested, please email me at
mhabib@us.iearn.org.
=================================================
7. iEARN teacher Kristi Rennebohm Franz Publishes a New Book!
Teaching for Understanding with Technology
by Martha Stone Wiske, Kristi Rennebohm Franz and Lisa Breit
Jossey-Bass, Publisher, San Francisco, 2004
=================================================
8. Be a PEARL Editor!
Hello everybody,
I hope you have had a chance to read more about PEARL World Youth News on our website, www.iearn.org/pearlproject/.
This is going to be a unique project to bring together secondary school
students from across the world to report, edit and publish their
articles on an online news service.
We are currently looking for schools to join our project as PEARL
Editors. Four Editor schools will each manage student reports related
to news, features, commentary and entertainment. One Managing Editor
school will be responsible for the final selection and publication of
articles on the online PEARL World Youth News service.
If your school would like to participate in this project as a PEARL
Editor, please take a few moments to fill out the following form. This
would help us learn more about each other as we begin working on this
project.
Best regards,
Anindita Roy
anindita@us.iearn.org
=================================================
9. Join us at NECC 2005!
2005 National Educational Computing Conference
Sparking a Revolution in Learning
Pennsylvania Convention Center ~ Philadelphia, PA ~ June 27-30, 2005
www.iste.org/necc
Mark your calendar, budget now, and get ready for the 26th Annual
National Educational Computing Conference. Join ISTE Members and more
than 18,000 teachers, technology coordinators, library media
specialists, teacher educators, administrators, policy makers, industry
representatives, and students from all over the world who'll gather
June 27-30, 2005, in the historic and revolutionary city of
Philadelphia.
Our purpose? To spark a revolution in learning. How? With hundreds of
sessions in multiple program formats that highlight promising practices
for leaders in urban, suburban, and rural school settings; that explore
essential questions about technology and the construction of knowledge;
and that emphasize the importance of focusing on the needs, goals, and
learning environments of today's students.
Register at http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/NECC2005/registration/
To submit a proposal, go to http://center.uoregon.edu/ISTE/NECC2005/program/
Deadline is October 6
Share your learning stories at NECC 2005. We're especially interested
in proposals that address Student Voices, Ubiquitous Internet Access,
or Virtually Extending NECC (V-NECC) -- presentations that extend
presenter/participant interaction beyond the scope of the physical
conference through virtual means.
RESOURCES & EVENTS
=================================================
1. Upcoming Just Vision Events
On October 8th, Just Vision is reaching its 1-year anniversary. In a
few weeks, Julia Bacha, editor of the critically-acclaimed documentary
film, Control Room, will be heading to Jerusalem with me to begin
editing our film. Meanwhile, our Project Manager and Coordinator --
Nahanni Rous and Joline Makhlouf - continue to interview Palestinian
and Israeli civilian peace seekers for our online curriculum.
In honor of our 1-year anniversary, and in order to raise the necessary
funds to complete our work, they will be hosting events throughout the
Northeast. If you are interested in attending any of these events,
please contact: events@justvision.org
=================================================
2. Free Resources on the Role of the US
America is talking about the U.S. role in the world--Iraq is in the
news daily, and the threat of terrorism hangs in the air. Because of
this, America's role in the world is being debated at home and abroad.
The Choices Program has teamed up with The People Speak to promote
youth deliberation on the role of the United States in the world
today. Discussion is being promoted throughout October.
The People Speak is providing resources for classroom and school use
FREE to those who request them. See theirYouth Circles www.choices.edu/peoplespeak> for details.
For additional online resources on Iraq, terrorism, environment and more, see <http://www.choices.edu/curriculum_twtn.cfm>Teaching with the News on the Choices web site.
=================================================
3. Online Resources
Below are some excellent online resources that can help students plan and develop service projects.
Project Plan-It
(http://www.ysa.org/planit)
Project Plan-It! is an interactive tool that allows you to plan a
service project from beginning to end. Through a series of questions
about participants, goals, resources, dates, etc. this project
management tool provides all the necessary information to effectively
design and implement your project.
"Resources for Mobilizing Funding for Developing Projects " (http://www.gysd.net/involve/resources.pdf)
A useful guide published by the International Youth Foundation and
World Bank (both International Coordinating Committee members) to help
young people and organizations successfully mobilize support for their
work. (Adobe Acrobat required)
Educating About STDs, HIV, AIDS and Pregnancy
Please check out the following resources, made available by the Jamaica Red Cross.
- Peer Educator Handbook (PDF, 800KB)
- Activity Kit (PDF, 1MB)
The nonprofit group EPIC (Every Person Influences Children) has
launched an online resource for parents, teachers, school
administrators, and community members to gain insight into the "whys"
and "how tos" of effective parenting and character education. Backed by
a $500,000 grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation, the site includes
a section for parents--featuring topics such as "Helping My Children
Learn" and "Managing Behavior"--as well as for teachers. In the
Teachers section, educators will find strategies for working with
parents and boosting student achievement. EPIC also takes a look at the
challenges confronted by the nation's schools--from funding dilemmas to
professional development and stakeholder training. Thomas E. Baker,
president of the John R. Oishei Foundation, said of the site, "EPIC
approached our foundation with a vision for serving families through
technology and the media. This comprehensive web site positions them to
achieve exactly that. They've created a place on the web where parents,
teachers, and community members can gain knowledge and become a
positive force in the character education of our young people."
http://www.epicforchildren.org
=================================================
4. Free Security Posters
Central Command is giving away free security posters that cover the
three security topics of phishing scams, e-mail safety and the risks of
file sharing. Educators need only logon to http://www.centralcommand.com/edu to sign up to receive the free posters.
AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
=================================================
1. The Harris Wofford Awards
Pay tribute to individuals that best exemplify the spirit of service by
nominating them for the Harris Wofford Awards. The Awards carry
significant prestige as it recognizes one of our nation's greatest
public servants. Established in April 2002, the Harris Wofford Awards
recognize extraordinary achievements of an Individual, Institution, and
Media organization or member that actively contributes to "Making
service and service-learning the common expectation and common
experience of every young person in America".
When nominating a nominee think about funders, donors, partners, board
members, youth advocates, and members of the media who have improved
the public's opinion of youth.
Youth Service America is proud to announce the availability of the new
Media award category. We recognize that in order to encourage and
mobilize the energy, commitment, idealism and experience of young
people through their community contributions, we must work through the
media to heighten awareness of the positive role of young people in our
society.
Award Finalists will be honored and presented with a commemorative
award of recognition at the 15th Annual National Service-Learning
Conference, March 17-19, 2005 in Long Beach, California during the
State Farm Companies Foundation Awards Luncheon.
Youth Service America and the State Farm Companies Foundation are proud
to present this award in Mr. Wofford's honor. To apply, download an
application and submit complete nominations by November 22, 2004.
For more information about the 2004 Harris Wofford Awardees click here.
Contact Toyasha Vaughn, grants manager at (202) 296-2992 ext. 18 or
email tvaughn@ysa.org for specific questions in relation to the Harris
Wofford Awards.
=================================================
2. The DisneyHand Minnie Grant
The DisneyHand Minnie Grant is designed for children and youth ages 5-14.
Grants of $500 each are available to children, youth, teachers, and
organizations that engage youth ages 5-14 to create projects for National
Youth Service Day, April 15-17, 2005!
Submit a complete grant application postmarked no later than December 20, 2004.
By mail send to:
Youth Service America
C/o Minnie Grant
1101 15th Street N.W.
Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20005
By email send to: MinnieGrant@YSA.org
Mariam Habib
iEARN-US Membership Coordinator
Connecting Youth, Making a Difference in the World
t: (212) 870-2693
f: (212) 870-2672
mhabib@us.iearn.org
www.iearn.org
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