Virtual Teacher Institute
GlobalEd Opportunities & Resources Newsletter- February 2014
Webinar: Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed
Date: Thursday, February 27th
Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm mountain (3:30 pacific, 5:30 central, 6;30 eastern)
Cost: Free, registration required
The ancient Maya were one of the most complex and advanced civilizations of their time. Although much is known about the Maya elite, information about the working classes is less accessible. Recent archaeological discoveries have begun to shed more light on everyday domestic life and the relationships of non-elites to the ruling class.
Join Michele Koons, Curator of Archaeology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, as she gives us a glimpse into the exciting new exhibition Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed, which explores the fascinating social, natural, and spiritual realms of the ancient Maya through the eyes of powerful kings and queens and the lesser-known people who were the backbone of Maya society.
To register: https://dmns.wufoo.com/forms/x1nxm1501trx7oj/
Questions? Contact Robert Payo at Robert.payo@dmns.org
Simon Sinek: How to Be a Better Teacher By Not Being the Expert
NEW: TeachUNICEF's Children in Armed Conflict Curriculum!
Children living in the midst of armed conflict may be unable to attend school, face separation from family members and witness violence and combat. To help you teach about children in armed conflict and how UNICEF and its partners help restore their rights, we are pleased to offer lesson plans, multimedia resources and suggested activities:
ALSO, Explore global issues with two FREE chapters of I Believe in Zero: Learning from the World’s Children, and use them with our Teacher’s Discussion Guide in your classroom today!
Students Cry Out for Global Learning: Let us Do with what we Know!
On a recent trip to Berkeley Carroll Middle School in Brooklyn, I was struck by the simple realization that a “dialogue” with other cultures is merely words, and students want something more. From a student perspective, it’s hard to deny that individual students still experience a thrill when meeting, and talking with peers from around the world. And we need to admit that this is a thrill that is just as strong coming from the other side of the digital divide, if not stronger.
But “dialogue” itself is not enough to sustain relationships. That takes action. This is a point Jennifer Klein made in a more recent blog, but it’s also a point I observed quite clearly during a student presentation in an 8th Grade World History class at Berkeley Carroll. Students were not content to “explore” or “understand” the Jasmine Revolution in 2011, they wanted to be able to know how to use and manipulate imagery and symbols from that world-changing event for their own purposes.
Using Prezi, one team of students moved through slogans, images, and icons of the Revolution that swept from Tunisia to China, but the presentation didn’t stop with what they’d learned. They wanted to know how their peers would make their own statements about the world. So the students leading the presentation challenged their peers to put this imagery to work in making political cartoons of their own. Their peers took to the activity immediately, and produced compelling rough sketches with powerful messages about poverty, oppression, and attempts to short circuit the forces for change.
This wasn’t a “global learning” activity in the sense that it engaged other students from around the globe…but it could have been because the students were working across cultural idioms. Additionally, it was the students who designed the activity after their teacher, Geoff Agnor, challenged them to do more than a “presentation of learning.” To put it succinctly, these students wanted to be able to do with what they knew, not just demonstrate that they knew it. They did, and it’s reassuring to see that we don’t have to give the world to our students. They’re ready go to work with what they find in the world, here and now.
- Tim Kubik, WLS Virtual Teacher Institute Consultant & Kubik Perspectives
The Centre for Global Education: Upcoming Video Conferences
The Centre for Global Education(CGE) is offering the following video conferences in February! Each conference is limited to six schools, and filled on a first come, first served basis, with priority participation is given to CGE member schools. If you are interested in any of the conferences requiring preparation beforehand, please contact info@tcge.ca or visit their website, http://tcge.tiged.org/.
"How Scientific is Science?" Cognitive Biases and Worldview
(Week of Feb 17, 9:00-10:30 MT/11:00-12:30 ET) Gr 9-12
Our senses and mind construct a model of reality which we project onto the external world - carelessly calling the model “reality”. Bias plays both an essential and a fallible role in our conception of reality. It is pervasive in sense receptors, neurons, hormones, images, emotions, thoughts, perspectives and world view. Understanding the inherent role of bias in ourselves can help us discern a more accurate external “reality”. This talk is pertinent to anyone interested in psychology, philosophy, constructing a more accurate world view or just watching really cool video clips of animal (including human) behaviour.
Middle East in Transition: Peace and Conflict (High School) - P I
(We, Mar 5, 9:00-10:30 MT/11:00-12:30 ET)** Gr 9-12
This session will change your students lives! Join us as we go LIVE to Israel, Palestine, Lebanon (Syria) and Egypt to hear from the people on the ground what is really happening and the role Peace and Violence have in causing change. Three lessons of preparation and involves international student collaboration.
Middle East in Transition: Peace and Conflict (High School) - P II
(Th, Mar 13, 9:00-10:30 MT/11:00-12:30 ET)** Gr 9-12
A Day for the Potential of Girls Globally (International Women's Day)
(Th, March 6, 9:00-10:30MT/11:00-12:30ET)**- Gr 9-12 – Description Coming
These four 40 min sessions will blow your mind!! Join us for one or all four as we listen to women, young and old, who are changing the world! No prep required.
To see the entire year's schedule organized by date or subject, please go to CGE's event page, link.
New Publications in Global Education
Games:
Books:
How to Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum (Keri Smith, 2008)
Magazines:
- Time for Kids: Around the World is a great resource for elementary teachers
World Maps!
This US map compares GDP of US states to countries around the world!!
Using unique maps in global classrooms can help students develop a more pluralistic world view. Check out our growing collection of unusual world maps in the WLS Teacher Forum, and please send suggestions any time you discover one we haven't posted!
Global Education and Project Based Learning Resources
Project-based Learning Online provides guidance on designing projects, access to projects developed by other educators, and research and resources for project-based learning. The site also includes a project-based learning video library.
Edutopia: Project-Based Learning
This site contains several videos demonstrating the project-based learning approach and why it is important to student learning.
Project-Based Learning Research Summary
How effective is project-based learning? This research summary compiles the various studies about PBL to examine its impact on student learning.
You can find more resources for bringing PBL into your classroom here.
World Leadership School
Email: jennifer@worldleadershipschool.com
Website: www.worldleadershipschool.com
Location: 5595 Sunshine Canyon Drive, Boulder, CO
Phone: 303-679-3412
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Leadership-School/157725137594517
Twitter: @wrldleadership