Education Fast Forward Debate at the Education World Forum

TIGed is pleased to announce Education Fast Forward 6: From Learner Voice to Emerging Leaders. This exciting event will engage youth from nine different countries around the world to speak about their perspectives on learner voice and leadership. The debate will be held live on January 28th at 11am GMT at the Education World Forum in London, with youth joining through Cisco telepresence technology in their various locations. The Education World Forum attracts leaders and policy makers from around the world, so this is an important platform for learners to have their voices heard. Check out this video to learn more about the Education Fast Forward debate series.

We encourage you to watch the debate live from home, or with your class (a link will be posted on this site closer to the 28th), and to participate on Twitter by using the hashtag #eff6. Your comments and questions could be incorporated into the live discussion by our moderator, Gavin Dykes. Thanks to our partners at Promethean Planet, Cisco, and the Education World Forum for helping to make this important event happen.

International Days

January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through non-violence in 1964. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed each year around his birthday to honor and remember his work. To best honour Marting Luther King Jr.'s legacy of racial equally, have your students take a commitment for greater racial awareness within your communities.

January 27 - International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

On January 27, 1945, the Soviet army entered Auschwitz - the largest concentration, forced labour, and death camp in World War II - and liberated more than 7,000 former prisoners of the Nazi regime. Many of these prisoners were severely ill or close to death. These survivors were a vast minority of the population at Auschwitz - 1.1 of the 1.3 million people that were deported there between 1940 and 1945 were murdered. The UN General Assembly designated January 27 International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, a day used to honour the memories of those lost, and never forget the testimonies from that tragic period in history. We must use this day to learn from history and prevent future genocide and crimes against humanity. TakingITGlobal's Global Issues section is great place to start learning about other 20th century genocides. Have your students express themselves on TakingITGlobal's Global Gallery to help them express themselves artistically today.

February 4 - World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is marked on February 4 to raise awareness about cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. This day provides us with a is a chance to raise our collective voices in the name of improving general knowledge around cancer and minimizing misconceptions about the disease. In 2013, World Cancer Day will focus on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration: to dispel damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer. Visit the World Health Organization website learn more. Encourage your students to take on an initiative informed by their research.

February 20 - World Day of Social Justice

"Social Justice" encompasses the hope for a world free from barriers of race, class, gender, religion, culture, sexuality or otherwise. On February 20, we look to ways we can make our societies more focused on a range of goals surrounding issues like equal employment, gender equity, poverty, environmental health, and social well-being and justice for all. You can help foster ideas of greater social justice within your community by encouraging your class to express themselves in creative writing, like other young people have on TakingITGlobal's Panorama magazine.

February 21 - International Mother Language Day

On February 21, join us in celebrating International Mother Language Day – this day has special significance for TakingITGlobal, as we are the largest multilingual online social network for engaged youth. The purpose of the day is to recognize people’s uniqueness and cultural diversity by highlighting their mother tongue. In today’s increasingly globalized world, there are many languages on UNESCO’s list of endangered languages. In celebrating Mother Language Day, start a conversation with your class about how language plays a role in culture, and how the preservation of language might take place. Your class can also explore TIG's page on culture in the Global Issues site section.

February 13 - World Radio Day

Radio is a low cost medium that is suited to reach remote communities, and to provide people around the world in both urban and rural settings with information and news from other communities around the world. It is also an essential tool for emergency communication and disaster relief. Shockingly, up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today. World Radio Day is observed to raise awareness about the importance of radio and how it can used to facilitate access to information. Start a discussion with your class today using TIG's Discussion Board tool on how emergency communication and disaster relief might look if more communities had access to radio technology.

Winter 2013 Professional Development E-Courses with TIGed

With a new year comes new opportunities for professional development! The winter/spring 2013 schedule for our professional development e-courses are now available online, with the first classes starting the week of January 21. Each e-course is five weeks long, and is facilitated online by an experienced global educator. Check out "Project-based Learning for Global Citizenship" with Jennifer Klein; "Education for Environmental Stewardship" with Deanna Del Vecchio; and "Empowering Student Voice in Education" with Mandeep Atwal. Every TIGed e-course is designed with you, the educator, in mind. You will walk away from the experience with a project to implement in your class, and a new-found network of globally diverse educators with whom to collaborate! Learn more, and register today!

Adobe Youth Voices is looking for Partners!

Are you an educator looking to integrate global perspectives and digital literacy into the classroom? Are you interested in learning how you can support youth development through artistic expression? TakingITGlobal is preparing to launch its fourth cycle of the Adobe Youth Voices program and would like to invite educators who work with youth aged 13-18 in under-served or at-risk communities to take part. The program supports youth to create multimedia art that explores social issues affecting them. Visit our site to find our how you can apply to participate. The deadline for applications is January 31st, 2013. Questions? Contact us at ayv@takingitglobal.org.

Become Earthwatchers!

Want to help your students take action against large scale environmental problems? Become Earthwatchers with your class with DeforestACTION! Through exciting satellite image technology, you and your students will monitor forested regions in Borneo, Indonesia. If illegal logging takes place on the land you are assigned to monitor, you can alert relevant authorities who will then use your work and observations to investigate the illegal activity. The satellite image of your assigned area will be updated on a regular basis, allowing you to compare images. By collaborating within the Earthwatchers platform with those monitoring neighbouring parcels of land, you can help determine whether or not the disturbances you may see are a result of illegal deforestation. Learn more, and sign up to be an Earthwatcher today!

TIGed Webinars

In the coming months, TIGed will be offering two free professional development webinars to learn about all of TIGed's global programs and the fantastic opportunities for you to get involved and bring global issues into your classroom!

1. “TIGed Programs & Opportunities” - Thursday January 24th, 10-11am EST
2. “Introduction to TIG & TIGed” - Thursday February 21st, 2-3pm EST

To learn more about these programs, visit our webinar page.

International Schools Essay Competition and Debate

The Living Rainforest is inviting students to write essays in response to the question: 'Who is responsible … are we ready to take responsibility for the future of our planet?' Students are encouraged to look at the role of different groups in society (such as governments, citizens, educators, businesses) in responding to our growing environmental, social and economic crises. The competition and debate are aimed at English-speaking primary students (ages 7-11) and secondary students (ages 11-17) and their teachers, in both formal and home schools. First, second and third prizes will be awarded in both categories and one overall grand prize winner will receive a free trip to either the UK or the island nation of Seychelles to attend the International Schools Debates, together with a parent and teacher champion!

Closing date for essay submissions is March 22, 2013. Interested? Learn more here.

Get Involved With World By Cycle!

World By Cycle, a global community program that inspires global change though real-life adventure, invites you to participate in Ride To Learn, an educational tool for youth! Through Ride to Learn, students are emerged in the subjects of global citizenship, sustainability, and humane education through a variety of engaging and interactive multimedia teaching resources, including online discussion boards.

Mosquitoes Suck Tour

TIGed was thrilled to participate in the Mosquitoes Suck Tour (MST) this past October at David Suzuki High School in Brampton. Hosted by SoChange, the tour pairs hard-hitting statistics and figures with funny dialogue and entertaining content to teach students about malaria, international development issues, and the role youth can play in making their world a better place. Check out this video of the tour, with an interview of TIGed's Sara Hassan.

2013 NAIS Annual Conference

February 27 - March 1, Philadelphia, PA, USA

With its 50th anniversary coming up, the National Association of Independent Schools is hosting their annual conference in Philadelphia from February 27 - March 1. The conference itself brings over 4,000 independent school leaders and champions together to talk about the past, present and future of independent education.

TIGed's Kate Gatto will be co-presenting with educator, Martha Fox, on Challenge 20/20, a program that brings schools from around the world together to address the world's most pressing issues. For more information on the conference, visit the NAIS website. We hope to see many of you there!

Global Encounters: Child Soldiers

February 12, Online

This February, bring the important subject of child soldiers to your classroom though the international student video conference, "Child Soldiers: Caught Up in Conflict" on February 12 from 11:00 AM- 12:30 PM EST. This event will connect students with former child soldiers in what promises to be a moving and inspiring experience. We will learn both about the complexities of the situations in which children become caught up in conflict, and what the most appropriate and impactful responses can be taken. Learn more about this event and other conferences that are part of our Global Encounters program on our program website