TIGed and the Toronto District School Board Launch an Exciting New Partnership!

TakingITGlobal is pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new partnership between TIGed and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). The board has made an important commitment to transforming education in our city through 21st century leadership, teaching and learning. This pilot project, with a family of 18 Toronto schools, will take over 100 TDSB staff through a blended professional learning program in global citizenship, student voice, and environmental stewardship, with problem-based learning methodologies and innovative technology tools integrated throughout. The courses will culminate in final projects developed by each participant, or in teams, comprised of education units or projects to be implemented in schools across Toronto. Many of these projects will be showcased at an innovation fair in late May.

As an organization focused on making global connections and addressing international challenges, this tie to our most local school board is critical. The adage "Think global, act local” rings true for us here. The potential to affect change on a system level is evident in this initial collaboration, and we'll be working with the TDSB's research team to understand the outcomes of our work together.

Read more about the launch of this partnership on our TIGed team blog. Thanks to everyone who has made this collaboration possible!

International Days

March 22 - World Day of Water

International World Water Day is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater sources as well as advocating for the sustainable management of these resources. Over one billion people live without access to safe drinking water. On this day, use TIGed's classroom resource "The Global Water Crisis" to introduce to your students about factors contributing to the global water crisis and their effects on this crisis.

April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day

Autism is a growing challenge around the world; it is a lifelong disability with significant impacts on the individual, family and society. Autism is a broad term for a group of very complex developmental disorders with symptoms ranging from difficulties with motor skills, communication and social interaction, to problems with sleep and gastrointestinal issues. No one person with autism is the same: each individual is unique in their abilities, with many effected having incredible aptitude in memory, the arts and academics. April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, when we promote the need for inclusion and special education for those effected. Strike up a conversation with your students on diversity today.

April 7 - World Health Day

World Health Day is celebrated each year on April 7, which marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). The date was created to focus on important health issues, and this year’s theme is hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. This day should be used to help raise awareness surrounding the causes and consequences of high blood pressure, to encouraging people to change behaviors that can lead to hypertension, and to help enable healthy life habits. Take advantage of TIGed's resources on health or send an ecard to help spread awareness!

April 25 - World Malaria Day

Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease which kills an estimated 660,000 people per year worldwide. The majority of these deaths are among children under five years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. The last year has seen huge leaps towards eradicating the disease through the use of medicated nets, but malaria is still a major threat to those exposed to infected mosquitoes. On this day, have your students explore World Health Organization's section on malaria and share their new knowledge with the TIG community on TIG Blogs.

April 23 - World Book and Copyright Day

April 23rd is International Book and Copyright Day, an initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading and the protection of ownership and property rights. This day is particularly focused on fostering an understanding of the importance of the written word and on encouraging children to enjoy active reading that will continue into adulthood. Have your students share their own written work by submitting work to TakingITGlobal's online magazine, Panorama.

April 22 - Earth Day

The inspiration for Earth Day came from Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, who witnessed the ravages of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. Also inspired by student anti-war movements, 20 million people came together across the United States on April 20th, 1970 to celebrate the first Earth Day. Today, Earth Day is recognized globally to celebrate and accelerate environmental progress. Use today to talk to your students about the importance of environmental awareness and take the pledge to use less plastic.

Call for Entry to Young Media Makers

Do you know any artistic young people who want to bring positive change to their communities? The Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards is an annual competition that recognizes original, youth-produced media that creatively expresses vision for driving positive change in local communities. The competition offers eight content categories representing various forms of visual storytelling. Eligible projects are created by youth between the ages of 13-19 and demonstrate the power of media to give voice to youth issues and concerns. The call for submissions is now open, and your students can get more information on how to submit and what they can win by visiting the Adobe Youth Voices project page. The deadline to apply is April 19th. Questions about this opportunity can be directed to ayv@takingitglobal.org.

Professional Development E-Courses with TIGed

This Spring, don't miss out on our professional development e-courses that are designed for educators like you. This April, Jennifer Klein will be leading two cycles of "Project-based Learning for Global Citizenship" along with Deanna Del Vecchio who will be leading two cycles of "Education for Environmental Stewardship". "Empowering Student Voice in Education" led by Mandeep Atwal will only be offered once, so reserve your spot today. To apply for a scholarship for "Empowering Student Voice in Education", fill out this short survey.

Each of our e-courses is five weeks long, and will allow you to connect with other like-minded educators from around the world. To register, visit our PD webpage. Questions about this program can be directed to pd@tiged.org.

TIGed Webinars

In the month of April, TIGed will be offering an informational webinar to introduce you to TIGed's global programs and the fantastic opportunities to get involved and bring global issues into your classroom. Register for our webinar, “TIGed Programs & Opportunities” on Thursday April 25th, 10-11am EDT through our webinar page.

Connect 2013

May 6 - 7, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada

CONNECT 2013 is a education and technology-focused conference that will be held for the first time ever this year on May 6 and 7 at the new Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This event is geared towards K-20 educators, administrators, technology specialists and industry leaders to allow them to connect with each other and help support and enhance teaching practices through the use of technology. Participants will enjoy powerful presentations, hands-on workshops, interactive seminars and engaging poster sessions. The conference will also host a 7,000 square foot exhibitor showcase, where you'll find the TIGed team! We'll also be hosting a poster presentation on our education programming. Take a look at the agenda, and don't forget to register. This exciting new event is not to be missed!

National Association for Independent Schools Annual Conference

February 27 - March 1, Philadelphia, PA, USA

The National Association for Independent Schools (NAIS) put on another incredible annual conference this year in Philadelphia. This year's theme was "think big, think great" and brought together educators, administrators and other key education stakeholders from across North America to discuss future directions of independent and public education. With the support of NAIS, TIGed hosted an exhibit table and present twice to eager conference-goers. Check out our blog post about our experience at this year's annual conference for more information, and for some great photos and videos!

School Leadership Summit

March 28, Online

The Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership (TICAL) and Steve Hargadon will be hosting the worldwide virtual School Leadership Summit on Thursday, March 28th. This free conference offers a unique chance to participate in a collaborative conversation on school leadership with presentations from diverse education stakeholders from around the world.

Don't miss the following presentations from the TIGed team:
"DeforestACTION! A Global Learning Program for Environmental Stewardship" at 6pm EDT
"Building Future Friendly Schools Through the Use of Collaborative Technology" at 8pm EDT

Check out the entire schedule here and contribute to the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #sls13.

Discovery Education Network Spring VirtCon: Connecting Communities

April 20, Online and Various Locations

The Discovery Education Network (DEN) Spring Virtual Conference is a free professional development event for educators to learn about effective ways to integrate digital media into their instructional practices. This year's theme is "Connecting Communities" which emphasizes the growing connection between Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) and classroom communities. This conference is unique because it has sessions that are broadcast live with a full video feed alongside dozens of face-to-face events across North America and the world. For more information on how you can participate, including the call for online and in-person session proposals, check out the conference web page.

Don't miss TakingITGlobal co-founder Michael Furdyk delivering the midday keynote, "Imagining Future Friendly Schools: Technology, Global Citizenship, and Student Voice"!

Celebrate Earth Day with DeforestACTION

April 22, Online

On April 22nd, join us for an exciting DeforestACTION live event to celebrate World Earth Day! We will hear from guest speaker Holly Carroll, presenter from The Last of the Great Apes and youth ambassador for the Jane Goodall Institute of Australia, on her experiences working and volunteering with great ape conservation projects. We will also take you live to the Borneo jungle to receive updates about Jojo and Juvi, two baby girl orangutans rescued through the support of schools participating in DeforestACTION. Connect with other schools to hear about their inspiring DeforestACTION projects, share your ideas on how to tackle deforestation, and learn how to get involved! Register today!