The Research Journalism InitiativeSupporting Human Rights through Education

Creativity and Conflict: Methods for Using Technology to Explore the “Other”

“As diverse as America has become, it remains remarkably inward-looking. Without an educational

and media establishment that takes on the responsibility of teaching and informing and

respecting the riches of foreign cultures, this country could become a paranoid and parochial suburb of a

vital global village.”

—Morley Safer, CBS News Correspondent

Among the findings from a Roper Poll of 18-24 year old Americans, conducted for

National Geographic in 2006…

• Despite the wall-to-wall coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, one-third of respondents couldn’t pinpoint Louisiana on a map and 48% were unable to locate Mississippi.

• Fewer than three in 10 think it important to know the locations of countries in the news and just 14% believe speaking another language is a necessary skill.

• Two-thirds didn’t know that the earthquake that killed 70,000 people in October 2005 occurred in Pakistan.

• Six in 10 could not find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.

• While the outsourcing of jobs to India has been a major U.S. business story, 47% could not find the Indian subcontinent on a map of Asia.

• While Israeli-Palestinian strife has been in the news for the entire lives of the respondents, 75% were unable to locate Israel on a map of the Middle East.

• Nearly three-quarters incorrectly named English as the most widely spoken native language.

• Six in 10 did not know the border between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified in the world. Thirty percent thought the most heavily fortified border was between the United States and Mexico.

“From science and culture to sports and politics, ideas and capital are crossing borders and spanning the world.

The globalization of business, the advances in technology, and the

acceleration of migration increasingly require the ability to work on a global

scale. As a result of this new connectivity, our high school graduates will need to be

far more knowledgeable about world regions and global issues, and able to

communicate across cultures and languages.”

--Asia Society, from “Partnership for Global Learning”

Educator and liberation theorist Paolo Freire believes education must be a dialogue with students, not something

inserted or “banked” into students’ minds, and that the teacher is as much a participant as his/her students. The

wider and more pluralistic the dialogue, the more fully students develop their own “conscientização” or internal conciousness, what Freire called “…learning to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions, and to take

action against the oppressive elements of reality.”

The Research Journalism Initiative

No foreign sky protected me,no stranger's wing shielded my face.I stand as witness to the common lot,survivor of that time, that place.

Requiem, by Anna Akhmatova

The Research Journalism InitiativeForging Direct Connections and Dialogue

Program Part 1: Palestine

Workshops in journalism and leadership for students at An Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank

“In my poetry I tend to go beyond the daily life details and focus on my experience as a Palestinian woman, and it's

fascinating to share my experience with students across the ocean and see them relate to it in so many different

meaningful and creative ways. RJI confirmed my belief that words and thoughts are bridges to our humanity.”

Falastine Dwikat, Poet and RJI Program Manager, Nablus

Program Part 2: United States

Middle, High School and University students explore RJI’s student-produced resources from Nablus

Photographic Dialogue—Mohammad Faraj

www.ResearchJournalismInitiative.net

Student Poem, written in response to accompanying photo by Mohammad Faraj

“The photography we were shown (as well as the photos on the website) allowed us to see the world and those in it

(especially children) from the eyes of another young person in a completely different culture. The concept of being able to communicate with someone our age in a totally different

part of the world yet understand and respect the ideas/struggles of the other person is completely amazing.”

--Meg Boost, 9th grade, Colorado Academy, USA

Poetic Dialogue—Falastine Dwikatfrom “A Margin for a Nomad”

I am not a heroIt’s meaningless to stand aloneWhen all the stories collapseWhat’s our life without a story?What would I say to my epithets?Doctrines can’t give us loveOnly principles can.…Nomads we will always beLiving in wordsWith nothing living inside of usNothing withinAnd our search will go onFind your words and swordsAnd I’ll be looking for my homeA margin, where words can grow.

Student Poem, written in response to the poetry of Falastine Dwikat

Student-Produced Media and Online Dialogue

“It Was,” by Megan Cronin (11th grade)“The Dark Side of Hope,” by Frankie Frank (11th grade)

St. Mary’s Academy, Denver, USA

RJI and Taking IT Global

“Seeing two worlds come together because of poetry and writing opened my eyes to the beauty of diversity and the

importance of communication. My writing has become less about me and more about the world around me. I’ve

learned that writing is a testament to the events and people we encounter.”

–Frankie Frank, 11th grade, St. Mary’s Academy

Program Part 3: Live Video Conferences

Students from the U.S. and Nablus discuss their lives and experiences through e-technologies

“One of my favorite parts of RJI is when I participate in the video conferences with other students from abroad. I usually

think that the experience will repeat itself, but every time is a new experience by itself, with new students, new points of view, and for

sure, something new to learn and to teach.”Beesan Ramadan, An Najah University student, Nablus

“The videoconference was among the most powerful pedagogical experiences I have ever had. Students reflected that their

realtime interaction with Palestinians made the conflict come to life in a very real way that was unlike the readings, videos,

articles, and websites they had used to study the conflicts.”

Holly Arida, Teacher/Global Studies Director, Cranbrook School, USA

“RJI is catalyzing a qualitative leap forward in the ability of American students to explore earnestly, think critically and

engage their counterparts in the most politically controversial location on earth. The tools we utilize today will be reflected

in the world they build tomorrow. Change is not only possible, it is happening.”

Mark Turner, RJI Founder and International Director

• a culture of questioning and dialogue, developing comfort with discomfort and difficult dialogue

• a willingness to humanize conflict, honoring others’ views and seeing the world pluralistically

• internal and primary source exploration, not external/observational education or mimicry

• experiential education—project-based learning where DVC and related projects aren’t “dessert” but are at the heart of students’ explorations

RJI strives to develop global educational frameworks and

methodologies which foster…

• inquiry-based critical thinking, geared toward solution building, collaboration and 21st Century leadership skills

• student-directed explorations and self expression, which improve creativity and student engagement

• guided, interactive discussions and assignments online, under the control of the teacher, to ensure substantive and authentic educational experiences, not just “cyber-flirting”

RJI strives to develop global educational frameworks and

methodologies which foster…

“Ours is a world of 24-hour news cycles, global markets, and high-

speed Internet. We need to look no further than our morning paper to see that our future, and the future

of our children, is inextricably linked to the complex challenges of the global community. And for our

children to be prepared to take their place in that world and rise to those challenges, they must first

understand it.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Roderick Paige

Jennifer D. KleinDirector of Educational Development

Jennifer@ResearchJournalismInitiative.net

www.ResearchJournalismInitiative.netand click on Resources for Teachers

find more Teacher Resources at

http://rji.tiged.org/teacherforum