iearn newsletter

�iEARN-USA NEWSLETTER 2008

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20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

As a high school student, I was asked to join the curiosity that became iEARN. My passion for Russian history, fed by an incredible history teacher, and a bent for literature combined to make a perfect storm of interest and enthusiasm for me. Initially a small group of students working with Dr. David Egan telecommunicated with equally passionate Russian students and their teacher on the project “The Contemporary.” We shared literature and ideas via a stream of electrons and dot matrix printers, something that was so new but very natural and easy. I was also the Editor-In-Chief of the international student literary magazine “A Vision”.

I had no idea that I was part of a pioneering effort but looking back on the year 1991, I realize how fortunate I was to once again prove that humanity, through youthful idealism and inventive academics, knows no bounds. I am now an allergist/immunologist in private practice. I enjoy reading Russian literature still and have no fear of the Internet: I use it for education and entertainment. I’m in a place and time in my life where I have to keep my prying three-year-old’s fingers from the computer, but I look forward to the day when he too harnesses the powerful wind of technology to bring us all closer.

In 1991, the project “A Vision” was started by Adam Sonfield, a Cold Spring Harbor student, through iEARN. Originally, A Vision started as an e-mail project consisting of only two schools participating in “The New York State-Moscow School Telecommunications Proj-ect.” The first magazine was 20 pages long. In the second year of the project, A Vi-sion grew to sixty four pages and included schools from four continents. After almost 20 years, A Vision continues to be a global literary maga-zine that teaches respect and mutual un-derstanding. It is an anthology of student writing on various literary genres-essays, stories, poems, and poetical sketches. It showcases student thoughts, viewpoints and insights of life around them and across borders, regardless of cultural and racial diversity.

Its purpose is to use art and the medium of creative writing to demon-strate that despite differences, teenagers around the world share the same interests and concerns. This magazine is dedicated to a vision of cooperation and friendship among the people and governments of the world, and to the myriad of personal vi-sions that make us all human. “A Vision is a project that intends to show more than just the artistic capability that the youth hold. Moreover, it intends to bring out a spring of emotions and ideas from young hearts and young minds.” (Student Facilita-tors). The project demonstrates that despite linguistic, cultural, ethnic, and racial differences, teenagers around the world share the same hopes, fears, interests and concerns. See: media.iearn.org/projects/avision

A Vision: Left to RightPictures from Russia, the United States, & the Philippines.

A Vision - Past & Present iEARN has been linking schools internationally since 1988. In that year, the Copen Family Fund, under the leadership of Peter Copen, linked 12 schools in Moscow with 12 schools in New York State in a pioneering demonstration that education can be enhanced and the quality of life on the planet improved if young people are given the opportunity to use technology to collaborateon projects. In celebration of iEARN’s 20th Anniversary, the iEARN-USA 2008 Newsletter presents thoughts and experiences of pioneer participants, teachers’ reflections, project spotlights, highlights of the monthly iEARN Newsletter, and a calendar of events for 2009.

How Has iEARN Made A Difference?By Richard Lavi, a pioneer participant of the iEARN project “A Vision,”1991.

� iEARN-USA NEWSLETTER 2008

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THE TEDDY BEAR PROJECT

The aim of the Teddy Bear project is to foster tolerance and understanding of cultures other than your own. Classes from different countries around the world send each other a Teddy Bear or other soft toy by airmail through the normal postal system. The bear sends home diary messages by email at least once a week. The students write the diary messages as if they are the visiting bear describing its experiences in the new culture. Available for Kindergarten to age 9, this project provides opportunities for authentic writing by providing the students with a real audience.

See: media.iearn.org/projects/teddybear

Lithuanian iEARNers in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Students in five iEARN countries joined their hands in singing the Japanese song Hana at the video conference for the Vote Project. A group of 25 most active Lithuanian iEARNers discussed global issues with youth from other EU countries at the European Day celebration in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. iEARNers met the Lithuanian President‘s wife and presented iEARN activities. These are just some of the most valuable moments of our lives. We had many more such sweet memories in the past and we hope many more are yet to come in the future...

Memories From the Past...By Daina Valanciene, Coordinator for iEARN Lithuanian Center

Having been under Soviet oppression for five decades and being unable to communicate freely to the world, we felt participation in iEARN was like a breath of desired freedom. When I look back on the year 1994, my start in iEARN reminds me of chaos as my students and I were trying to use every opportunity to participate in any suggested project. We lost count of projects and didn‘t manage to respond on time to project partners and facilitators as we could not remember who we had written to and whose assignment we had completed. We had just ONE computer in the computer lab those days. However, we all were full of enthusiasm and ideas which exploded during lively discussions in the iEARN club. In the first year of failures and successes we learnt the key principles of project work. Gender Equity, Special Places and Teddy Bear were among the earliest very successful projects which aroused the curiosity of regional and national educational community and increased student participation. iEARN grew in quality and quantity benefitting both students and teachers. Students learned to use computers in iEARN projects long before they started computer classes in school, and they learned much about civic participation in the community, the discussion ethics, facilitation of video conferences and Skype sessions. As an educator and a human I grew alongside my students strongly believing in iEARN’s philosophy and its motto “make a difference in the world.” I knew we COULD make a difference.... by planting trees, organizing a festival for children, examining water in wells and the lake, marching in the town streets with posters “iEARN for peace,”deliberating wide-ranging issues with iEARNers worldwide. Since 1994 iEARN projects have become an integral part of my life. iEARN was my family – my daughters participated in the projects, published the national iEARN News flash, made presentations at meetings and youth conferences and my husband accompanied me on my seminars and meetings. Since 1997 I have been integrating iEARN projects into my curriculum. It was iEARN that broadened my horizons in the sphere of civics and encouraged our participation in DEEP (Democracy Education Exchange Program) and DID (Deliberating in Democracy) projects for the last 8 years. A variety of activities in iEARN and release of the textbook “Lessons on Democracy” (among other tasks acquainting with iEARN projects on different subjects) helped me considerably in acquiring the teacher expert‘s qualification and the position of an Independent expert for the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania. From 2002-2007 I was the Member of the Jury for the European Comission program European Label, which selected the best annual national and international projects.


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PLANETARY NOTIONS “Welcome to Planetary Notions, a newsletter designed to educate students and teachers in iEARN about the environmental problems our planet faces and how we can deal with them constructively...We hope that through Planetary Notions our readers will be able to further understand other people’s views about the nature of the earth’s environment and how to preserve it locally and globally.” These words which sound so relevant today were written by the editors of Planetary Notions back in 1994. After 14 years, Planetary Notions still continues to exist as an environmental project, facilitated by students in New York City and Oman. The project gives students around the world an opportunity to

publish articles in an annual magazine so that they can share their views about the world’s environmental health and how better to protect it. In addition to articles, Planetary Notions facilitates discussion about these issues through a forum. The forum gathers articles on environmental subjects and promotes discussion of environmental issues. The project gives students the ability to express their feelings on the environment in order to learn more about it and to better protect it.See: media.iearn.org/projects/planetarynotions

When I did the Planetary Notions newsletter, we still were not allowed to use email. We had to write a letter out, usually first by hand and then on the computer, and give it to our teacher (Dr. David Egan) and he would send it for us. It made the communication process a bit slower, but we just thought that it was wonderful that we could write a letter and hear back from people across the globe a day or two later. Looking back and knowing the technology that we have now, it seems archaic, but then it was groundbreaking. Rachel Korowitz and I co-edited the magazine for two years and we made so many connections with people around the globe. We also learned so much about environmental issues in different parts of the country and the world. Rachel and I went to Russia on a school trip and we got to meet some of the students who we worked with on Planetary Notions. It was a wonderful experience to meet

the people with whom we had been communicating with over email. I have taken a lot of my experiences from working on Planetary Notions and made a career of them. I earned an MS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a PhD in science education. I am now an assistant professor in science education, focusing on improving science teaching and learning for all students (especially those in underrepresented groups). Much of my work includes bringing technology (including web-based communications) into science classrooms. It is amazing how working on a project in high school could really shape my whole life. Co-editing Planetary Notions was such a powerful learning experience for me that I want to try to create similar opportunities for other students, especially students who usually do not have access to such authentic experiences.

iEARN - Shaping the Lives of StudentsAmelia Gotwals, USA

YES Students meeting in Greenbay Beach, USA

Testing water at the Bronx River, New York City, USA

World Environment Day at the UN


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St. James Episcopal Day School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, has moved beyond the classroom’s walls, thanks to iEARN. Through the National Educators Computer Conference, (NECC), I found the perfect way to “go global” without leaving the school. My 3rd grade, 8 and 9 year old students, participated in the Books Mark Our World Project, sending hand-made bookmarks to Pakistan in the Fall. In December, the 2nd graders, 7 and 8 year old students, participated in the wildly successful project, Christmas/Holiday Cards with Judy Barr as coordinator. The

7 and 8 year old students created their own personal Christmas cards to share with students in China, England, Australia, Romania and New York. It was very exciting to see the creations of other students, some older than the St. James students, but still willing to share holiday greetings with new friends around the world. Coming up is the 4th grade, 9 and 10 year old students, doing a Time Machine Project. The St. James students used this opportunity to learn about the atlas. Students used the library’s atlas to locate the country from which the cards were received. For one country we used

GoogleEarth to locate the town. We also enjoyed seeing pictures of the other countries on the internet and it made us smile to think that some other student was receiving our cards and our well wishes for a happy holiday. Next year? I think we may expand our research skills by investigating the stamps that the countries used in mailing. We will learn about the bird, the flowers or people on the stamps. Why was that person or plant chosen to be on a stamp? Hmmmm…. Time to get curious and learn a little more about the world around us.

“Go Global...”Rebecca Richardson, iEARN Teacher, USA

Dr. Ed Gragert, executive director of iEARN-USA, is the last person in the network who would want to be singled out for his efforts on behalf of the iEARN community. That didn’t stop the George Lucas Foundation’s Edutopia publication from recognizing Ed as one of its 2008 “Daring Dozen,” professionals worldwide who are revolutionizing the field of education. Two decades ago, iEARN was founded on the belief that students working in teams and using technology to bridge international borders would become “global citizens, who recognize that the way you deal with the world’s issues is by working together.” Today, iEARN encompasses programs in 120 countries in which some 2 million students participate. Given what the planet faces in the years ahead, the wisdom of the iEARN philosophy,

and the millions of students benefiting from it, provide ample reason for hope. “Whether it’s global warming, poverty, or conflict in general,” Ed tells Edutopia, “if we don’t have a process by which students learn to address these issues by working together, they won’t be addressed.” To many of us, Ed continues, the world’s problems seem so insurmountable that we give up on a solution without even trying. The collaborative aspect of iEARN, he adds, “gives students a sense that by working together they can address a curriculum project, but they also can address larger issues because the technology allows them to no longer be just one, but to be 10, 20, 1 million working together to solve the same problem.” The full article may be read at: www.edutopia.org/edwin-gragert

iEARN-USA Director Recognized as Education Innovator“Edutopia,” The George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2008

Ed GragertCredit: Peter Hoey

Christmas/Holiday Card Exchange ProjectLeft to Right:: Students from Suriname, Belarus & Georgia.


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Congratulations and thank you to iEARN! In some ways, although it sounds dramatic, iEARN has changed my year! You see late last year, although I was (and am still) new to iEARN, I received a scholarship, from iEARN Australia, to assist with costs of travel to the 2008 conference in Uzbekistan. Most Australians have not even heard of Uzbekistan, don’t know where it is and never, ever get the opportunity to travel there....So iEARN has broadened my teaching outlook, opened up shared teaching opportunities and given my husband and I an opportunity to travel, that we wouldn’t have ever dreamed of.

Liz RoutiEARN Teacher, Australia

I joined iEARN about a year ago. The experiences both professional and academic are awesome. Professionally, I am able to integrate technology in my teaching. Presently my students are involved in the Daffodil and Tulip Project. They are having fun. iEARN has confirmed for me that learning can be fun.

Donna PowelliEARN Teacher, Jamaica

I have been regularly participating in Learning Circles sessions every year... It’s very interactive and students and teachers learn a lot from each other. I observed that my students improved in various skills like communicating, researching, thinking, writing, presenting, and publishing.

Vijaya ModaliiEARN Teacher, India

The Smithtown Central School District has been piloting the iEARN program in our schools this year (2007-08). As a participant, I chose to work with third grade students on the “One Day in the Life” project. The third grade social studies curriculum includes cultural studies of several countries, including Japan, Australia, and Brazil. Therefore, I thought this would be a great opportunity for these students to communicate with other children around the world and discover the similarities and differences between cultures. The students were eager to do this project from the first day I introduced it. We brainstormed ten topics we would like to write about during our school day: Art, Gym, Music, Library, To and From School, Lunch time, Recess time, Classroom Activities, Buddy Classes, and what our hometown of St. James is like. Students selected a topic and wrote a short description of it. We also took photographs to accompany our writing. As each topic was posted, we have been checking for responses and also responding to other groups’ posting. We have communicated with students from Taiwan, the Ukraine, and Pakistan. It has been great fun so far and we will continue to participate through the end of the school year.

Louise PrescottiEARN Teacher, USA

One Day in a Life ProjectLeft to Right: Students from the USA & Romania.

Students in Iran and Uganda plant bulbs for The Daffodil and Tulip Project.See: media.iearn.org/projects/daffodilsandtulips

Participant Countries/Schools of Learning Circles, September-January 2008

Belarus: Slonim Gymnasia No.1Canada: Janetville School, Bradford District High School, Anmore Elementary SchoolColombia: Colegio Manuel Mejia VallejoGhana: the Opanyin, Ghana West Africa SchoolIndia: India gemsIran: Farzanegan Zeinab High SchoolKenya: Mukumu Girls High SchoolMorocco: Aghbalou Primary SchoolOman: Abu Said Al KhudaryPakistan: Beacon House School SystemRomania: Romania School No.7Russia: Koltsovo school, Korolev Gymnasium No.12, Novosibirsk School No.4, Armavir school No.8, Saratov School No.6, Teacher Training College, Korolev school, Irkutsk Lyceum No.3, Mineralnye Vody School No.21, Novosibirsk Gymnasium No.12, Almetyevsk School No.5.Slovenia: Gimnazija Maribor, Primary School Brinje, Primary School TrnovoTaiwan: Ming Dao High SchoolTurkey: Ibrahim Tanrıverdi Sosyal Bilimler LisesiUnited Arab Emirates: Fujairah schoolUnited States: Agora Cyber Charter School, Wind River Middle School, Hadley Middle School, Springside School, the Linsly School, Franklin Township School, Virtual High School, McConnell Elementary School, Walker Elementary School, LT Ball Intermediate School, St Peter’s Preparatory School, Empire High School.

For more information on the project, see:www.iearn.org/circles/

TEACHER REFLECTIONS


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PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS

Students from around the globe including Belarus, Can-ada, China, Georgia, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, Slovenia, Taiwan, and the USA - made and flew 10,000 kites to promote cultural and social dialogue. The project encourages students to make kites using artwork, images, or poems that reflect their values, feelings, and dreams for a better world. “Flying the kites is a tribute dedi-

cated to Janusz Korczak and his teachings as well as progressing through cultural and social boundaries, a symbol of bridging the gap and caring about those we consider maybe to be outsiders or different”(Ruty Hotzen, Israel). See: media.iearn.org/projects/kites

Talking Kites All Over the World Left to Right: Belarus, Port Allen, USA, Georgia, India, Mexico.

Talking Kites

Based on the picture book “Machinto” and the exhibit catalogue “They Still Draw Pictures, Children’s Art in Wartime,” participants of the Machinto project research what kind of wars have taken place in modern times after Hiroshima/Nagasaki, and where armed conflict continues to destroy the lives of children.

Students will learn about a little bird still crying somewhere in the world, in these areas where war threatens civilian lives creating innocent victims. They learn what wars bring us, and discuss what together we can do for this little bird. They will make creative picture books to present for those little birds in the world. See: media.iearn.org/projects/machinto

Machinto Project“Do you hear a little bird crying?”

The books that were on display in Cairo, made by students all over the world.

Students from Cordoba, Argentina Students from Brazil discussing stories and posting messages in the forums.

Chicago Public Schools-Literature and Writing Magnet Cluster Program Schools have enjoyed another year of building global relationships through collaboration. During the 2007-2008 school year our schools successfully planned and completed ten projects with over 12 different countries. There were four outstanding schools that shined in our 2nd Annual iEARN Display fair. These schools represented each area of the city; Jane Addams Elementary (East), Alcott Elementary (North), Burroughs Elementary (South), and Midway Elementary (West). The judges of the iEARN Fair were so impressed with each project that they spent over thirty minutes listening to the excited explanations of the students. The projects that were displayed at the fair were One Day in the Life, Fairytales Project, Special Place

Project, Kindred Project, Heart to Heart Project, iQuote Project, Flower Project, Folktale Project, and the Teddy Bear Project. The countries that our students teamed up with were Brazil, Russia, Egypt, Ukraine, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Australia, Germany Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. One of our teachers remarked that her students are already making plans for the projects they will do next year. We are looking forward to engaging and exposing more of our schools and students to this global network.

Amina Sayeed, Chicago Public Schools

Chicago, IL


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“The iEARN Folk Tales project enables students to go global using the Internet, sharing their ideas with students from around the world. Just as important, it gives opportu-nities for reflection on the lessons and morals of local and national folktales, stories told down through the generations as a way to pass along lessons that still have much to teach students today.” See: media.iearn.org/projects/folktales

Saleem Ibrahim, Senior Program Officer for iEARN-Pakistan. “The House in the Wood,” Sevastopol, Ukraine.

Puppet show from Uzbekistan.

Daffodil and Tulip Project - Students around the world plant bulbs and collect data on various parameters (latitude, longitude, sunlight, temperature) and track when they blossom. The ultimate goal of the project is to promote building connections between students and their teachers, considering what affects plant growth, and peace!See: media.iearn.org/projects/daffodilsandtulips

Farzanegan School, Iran. A Boy taking the soil temperature after bulb is planted, MA, USA.

iEARN-Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and USA are working in partnership with Stevens Institute of Technology (USA) and the Water Keeper Alliance (USA) to conduct the Four Rivers, One World project. This project promotes active and responsible citizenship through international environmental science collaboration among science teachers and their students. See: media.iearn.org/projects/rivers

A girl testing river water in Pune, India. Students testing river water in Pune, India.

Through support from the US Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, a team of participants in Pakistan, USA, and Uzbekistan participated in comprehensive animation trainings, community service activities, classroom presentations, field trips, animation production and exhibitions, and cultural activities as part of CATALYST Project: Changing Attitudes by Taking Advantage of Linking Youth and Schools Together. All iEARN participants were invited to participate in the project’s online forum and exchange information on the importance of a functioning and transparent government, cooperation and coordination across non-governmental sectors of a society, and

the crucial role young citizens have within a civil society during times of crisis. iEARN-Pakistan, iEARN-USA, and iEARN-Uzbekistan have worked in partnership with AnimAction and The Red Stick Animation Festival in the USA to conduct the Community CATALYST Project. On March 16-30, 2008 students and teachers from iEARN-Pakistan and iEARN-Uzbekistan visited Baton Rouge, LA. AnimAction led a 4 day workshop on making animated public service announcements and produced videos to give an idea of what the workshop was about and showcase the work produced at the CATALYST workshop.For more animations, see: media.iearn.org/v/Activities/catalyst/

The CATALYST Project

The Uzbek and Pakistani students did presentations and a dance.

Students attending the CATALYST workshop in Baton Rouge, USA.

The Uzbek and Pakistani students dying Easter eggs, Baton Rouge, USA.


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EVENTS & EXCHANGES

iEARN teacher, Nicole Boujaber -Diederichs, from Cypress Creek High School in Florida traveled to Azerbaijan in April, 2008 to visit a fellow iEARN teacher Farida Huseynova - a teacher at School #290. Teachers exchanged their work on iEARN projects, ideas, reflections and challenges. Nicole - second from right in back -with

students and teachers in Azerbaijan.

In summer 2008, Darlene Peelle, of Branch Brook Elementary School in Smithtown, NY toured Japan stopping by an iEARN Japan school, Ashihara Elementary School. She was able to meet the Principal of Ashihara, tour the school, and meet parents and students. Darlene was also able to meet Sonoko Ogawa, teacher at Saitama Prefectural Nanryo Upper Secondary School - an active iEARN school. In 2007, iEARN USA conducted a workshop for the Smithtown School district and since then teachers have jumped right into using global projects to enhance their students’ learning experience.

Darlene with Sonoko, Nanryo Upper School.

“At the start of the school year, Lower School teachers participated in a workshop to learn about iEARN... In looking at this program, I became interested in Christmas Card Exchange [Project]. We were connected with seven schools: one in Germany, one in England,

another in Ukraine, three schools from Canada and a school in Orlando Florida. The teachers communicated through an internet forum via emails as we learned about each other’s schools and customs...”

Robyn L. Endress, iEARN teacherRobyn L. Endress, iEARN Teacher

The 1st Annual National School Conference on International Youth Exchange was held on February 28-29, 2008 in Indiana. The conference provided a unique opportunity for school leaders, educators and administrators to meet and network with school colleagues and leaders of various youth exchange programs. The Opening Address was delivered by Ambassador Keith, Vice President of Meridian International. The Keynote address was delivered by Dr. Suellen Reed, Indiana Superintendent for Public Instruction. iEARN-USA Director Ed Gragert participated on a panel titled “Online Classroom and Student Collaboration.”

Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Ohio: iEARN teacher, Teddy Mwonyonyi, won the LIVE GREEN Teacher Grant, sponsored by General Motors and Discovery Education, that enables teachers to “implement imaginative classroom lessons focusing on sustainability.” The grant recognizes teachers who are using innovative tools to engage their students in hands-on activities. Teddy was part of the iEARN Ohio pilot program in 2007 and is participating an Adobe Youth Voices Online Courses administered by iEARN-USA as part of a media training program.

Photos from EYE TO EYE projectLeft to Right: Students from Romania & Pakistan. See: media.iearn.org/projects/eyetoeye

iEARN Presenters at 2008 Conferences included:

October 23-24, Council for the Social Studies Conference, Athens, GA. Presentation and Workshop by Freda Goodman & Alison Tanner.

November 14-16, National Council for the Social Studies Conference, Houston, TX. Presentation, Workshop, Exhibition by Lisa Jobson, & Diane Midness.

November 23-25, New York State Career and Technical Education Conference, Rochester, NY. Presentation by Steve Brooks. December 9, KCIES Conference Putting the World into World Class Education, Topeka, KS. Presentation by Losira Okelo.

Lower School Students with their teacher.


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CALENDER OF EVENTS 2009

Kathy Law & Christine Robinson, the Teaching & Learning Conference, NYC, 2008.

In April 16-18, 2009, iEARN USA will present on (“Teaching Hindi: A New Model Combining a New Curriculum & Technology”) in the 56th Annual Northeast Conference “Engaging Communities: The World Is Our Classroom.” The Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is a non-profit organization that promotes use of English together with at least one other language.See: http://alpha.dickinson.edu/prorg/nectfl/

On January 17-19, 2009, iEARN USA will participate in International Studies Schools Association (ISSA) Conference, in Tampa, Florida. The International Studies Schools Association is a national network of K-12 schools which is administered by the Center for Teaching International Relations (CTIR) at the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies.See: www.du.edu/issa/

On March 6-7, 2009, iEARN USA will participate in “The Celebration of Teaching and Learning” sponsored by Thirteen WLIW21 in New York. This two-day professional development conference is designed to provide powerful learning experiences and to recognize and inspire the nation’s education community(Exhibitor prospectus, 2009).See: http://thirteencelebration.org

On February 23-April 26, 2009, iEARN will run the spring sessions of its Online Professional Development Courses for Educators. Each course brings together educators from around the world and 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 Languages, Learning Circles, Moving Voices (making digital documentaries), and PEARL (integrating journalism skills into the classroom). Read more and register now to save your spot at: www.iearn.org/professional/online.htmlE-mail:[email protected]

In July 19-25, 2009, iEARN Morocco (MEARN) will be hosting the 16th Annual iEARN International Conference and 13th Annual Youth Summit - “Innovative Technologies and Cross Cultural Dialogue For Quality Education.”

The 2009 iEARN Conference Committee offers 8 scholarships (four students and four educators) to the candidates who are willing to attend the conference in July 2009. The scholarship consists of an amount for covering all the conference and youth summit fees including registration, accommodation, meals, airport transportation, one day tour and gala dinner. Traveling and visa expenses are at one’s own account. See: www.iearn2009.ma

Sign Up for Learning Circles! January 30 - May 18, 2009, iEARN will have the 1st session for Learning Circles. There are two sessions each year, September-January and January-May. To join iEARN Learning Circles, you must be a member of iEARN and complete an iEARN Learning Circle placement form two weeks before the session. Learning Circle Placement forms are due on January 15, 2009. See:www.iearn.org/circles

Online Course Scholarship Opportunity iEARN-USA has received financial support from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA) and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State to encourage educators in the US to increase interaction with peers in countries with Muslim populations. Through the ECA grant, you will be involved in online projects with educators and students in the following countries: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, China, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Oman, Sierra Leone, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen. If you are interested in applying for any of thesescholarships, please contact Anindita Dutta Roy at: [email protected]

This newsletter was edited by Rusudan Chanturia & the staff at iEARN-USA

Photo Credits: iEARN Participants Everywhere

Online Professional Development

Get ready for the 2009 NECC conference on June 28-July1 in Washington, DC. iEARN would love to host a workshop prior to the conference to provide resources and discuss themes important to you. If you are planning to submit a proposal for NECC and need materials, please contact Diane Midness at:[email protected]

iEARN-USA Needs Your Help!

In order for us to provide quality support to teachers and assist schools around the world to collaborate in online projects with our students, iEARN-USA needs your financial help. If you or someone you know is able to provide a tax-deductible contribution, we hope you will donate -- either online (http://us.iearn.org/support/donate.php) or via check to iEARN-USA, 475 Riverside Drive, #450, New York, NY10115.

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