Centre for Teaching International Relations - Newsletter December 2007
Dear HumanDHS network friends
Please find below the December 2007 Newsletter of CTIR.
Kind regards
Brian Ward
December 2007 Newsletter of CTIR
Contents
2008 ISSA Conference:Featuring the Video Conferencing Track Catch the Early bird registration for the ISSA Conference! Thank you for stopping at our CTIR booth at NCSS World Affairs Challenge For Colorado Readers Opportunities for Educators and Students Lesson Plans Resources, Competitions and Tid Bits
Catch the Early bird registration for the ISSA Conference!
Join us for the premier conference on international studies in the K-12 curriculum. Learn meaningful and practical ways to infuse your curriculum with global issues and international perspectives in order to reach a culturally diverse student body and prepare your students to succeed in the contemporary global society.
Registration is now open. The Early Bird rate runs until December 21, 2007. Hurry and register to go before the regular rate sets in!
Thank you for stopping at our CTIR booth at NCSS
Thanks to all of you who visited our booth at the just concluded NCSS conference in San Deigo. We especially welcome the new members to our listserv who expressed a keen interest and enthusiasm for our programs. We hope to see you all at our Annual ISSA conference in Itasca and Chicago in February.
World Affairs Challenge
Upload Deadline Extended!
Last spring CTIR successfully pilot-tested a video- based version of the World Affairs Challenge. We are now in the middle of another round of the Video World Affairs Challenge and we need YOUR teams to participate! If you are a middle or high school teacher - or if you know one! - please consider registering your students today. Young people will learn valuable skills in technology, research, public speaking, collaboration, and critical thinking. Register now!
For 16 years, the World Affairs Challenge program has engaged 6-12 grade students in Colorado on various critical international issues through a fun, academic competition at the University of Denver. Now, CTIR is bringing the Challenge to students everywhere through video and the internet! Teams of students are invited to research topics related to Global Health for the next Video Challenge. Then they will create a video presentation on their subject, which will be uploaded to a central website and judged online. The upload deadline will be January 25, 2008.
Please email Liz Beindorff for details. We are continuing our testing of this program this fall and winter, with videos due on January 25. This is a GREAT opportunity for you and your students to explore new content and new technology! You can learn about both the “live” World Affairs Challenge, which takes place in Denver and San Francisco, and about the Video World Affairs Challenge at
www.worl daffairschallenge.org.
For Colorado Readers
(1) The 2008 World Affairs Challenge - University of Denver
High School Event: Saturday, March 1, 2008
Middle School Event: Saturday, April 12, 2008
The time is NOW to register for the 2008 Colorado World Affairs Challenge! This creative, academic opportunity engages middle and high school students in relevant, real-world study through in-depth research, peer collaboration, and public presentation. The Challenge theme for 2008 is Global Health, and CTIR provides research assistance to students as well as lesson plans and other useful resources to teachers. Registration deals available! Learn more at www.worl daffairschallenge.org, or call Liz at
303-871- 7442 with questions.
Many thanks to the 2008 Colorado World Affairs Challenge Sponsors!
the JANUS Foundation * BigOTires * CHASE
Opportunities for Educators and Students
(1)The Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award which recognizes exceptional teachers who further mutual understanding between Americans and Japanese is presented annually to two pre- college teachers. A $2,500 monetary award, $5,000 project funds and certificate of recognition are awarded. More.
(2) The Odyssey Institute invites students (age 13-18) and/or teachers to become members of The Odyssey Club, a new nationwide program that supports students in becoming global citizens through monthly volunteer service projects and a bi-weekly newsletter full of inspiring information. Learn more here.
(3) Mercy Corps Global Action Awards honor U.S. high school students who have led a project that had a direct, positive impact on people in developing countries and that raised awareness about global poverty. Honorees receive $5,000 for their education or a charity of their choice. Deadline Jan. 31, 2008. More.
(4) Know of a great geography initiative in your school that needs funding? Check out Donors Choose, a non-profit that connects teachers and their projects with sponsors.
(5) The University of Toledo is sponsoring a seminar for educators in South Africa and Lesotho, June 21- July 20, 2008. Focus will be southern African political, cultural and historical relations. Deadline Jan.10, 2008. Learn more here.
Lesson Plans
(1) Remember you can now view the Table of Contents and Sample Lessons from our award- winning publications on our CTIR website!
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(2) Teachers can visit the Genographic Project Education Outreach site to order Genographic Project Participation Kits at a special educator’s discount and to get free lesson plans and other resources.
Resources, Competitions and Tid Bits
(1) It’s called Panwapa meaning “here on this earth” in Tshiluba. It’s a new website for kids (4-8 years old) all around the world which promotes global citizenship, appreciating similarities and differences and understanding economic differences. It is in 5 languages.
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(2) This year’s National High School Essay Contest on the United Nations focuses on MDG Goal six, and asks students to tackle the challenge of combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Postmarked deadline Jan.10, 2008
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(3) Invite your students to enter the 2008 Hands-On Explorer Challenge for the chance to win a trip to Australia! It is open to kids who will be ages 9-14 during National Geographic’s expedition in July 2008. Deadline Feb.15, 2008.
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(4) With the National Geographic magazine Mapping Memory interactive brain,turn the human brain upside down and all around to see how memories are saved (or lost).
Contact CTIR/ISSA About Other Events
2008 ISSA Conference:Featuring the Video Conferencing Track
Japanese art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Want to learn how to add global content through virtual field trips? Be sure to see the video conferencing track of sessions at the ISSA Conference on Friday, February 8th. Learn about a myriad of educational organizations that specialize in providing international content for any classroom subject. Here is a sample of topics and organizations you will learn about:
· Philadelphia Museum of Art - Explore art from around the world without ever leaving your classroom! Video conferencing enables you to tour the Museum’s world collections and special exhibitions. Museum staff will provide your class with interactive learning experiences relating to language arts, social studies, foreign languages, and fine arts.
· Alaska Sea Life Center - This is a world class marine science facility that combines research with animal rescue and rehabilitation. Learn about video conferencing science programs that employ problem based learning and data analysis. Programs are also designed to address math, economics, foreign languages, arts, and more.
· National WWII Museum - This museum provides a global perspective on the causes of WWII. Learn about the experience of the people in different countries through the course of the war.
· St. Louis Zoo - Learn about habitats across the globe, as well as international conservation initiatives that the zoo is involved in. Programs can be adjusted in complexity for different grade levels. Zoo experts can also provide your students with an up close and personal examination of almost any animal found in the zoo.
· Center for Puppetry Arts - Learn how puppetry is an important part of the cultural heritage in many societies around the world. Choose an overview of puppetry around the world, or focus on a specific region or culture. Learn about the various programs the Center offers that you can use to enrich your classroom.
More organizations and ways to enrich your classroom via virtual field trips will also be featured at the conference!