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Happy Holidays!
The holiday season is always a very reflective time for me and, looking back on my first full year with TIGed, there is so much to celebrate! This year saw many improvements to the TIGed platform, from a complete re-haul of the site's overall design and navigation to the addition of tools and features designed to enhance the collaborative nature of the community. We launched not one but two thematic classrooms, providing educators with free tools to support teaching about food systems and climate change. We worked with a range of educational organizations, from the Canadian Teachers' Federation to Amnesty International, to provide customized technology solutions incorporating TIGed virtual classroom spaces. TIG was represented at educational events around the world, both by staff members and - increasingly - TIGeducators keen to share their experiences and expertise. Finally, the TIGed program expanded its reach from 1,629 teachers in 71 countries at the beginning of 2009 to over 3,750 teachers in 94 countries as the year comes to a close.
None of these accomplishments could have taken place without the support, encouragement, and input of TIGeducators. Thank you all so much for helping us to improve the platform, spreading the word about our work, and continually reminding us of why we do what we do. We look forward to making the TIGed platform even stronger in 2010!
Happy holidays and all of the best for a new year full of love, learning, and laughter.
All the best,
Katherine Walraven,
Director of Education Programs
TakingITGlobal
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TIGwear now available!
If you have seen and admired TIG's t-shirts in person, you'll be happy to know that you can now get your own! We have partnered with Me to We Style, a social enterprise committed to providing ethically manufactured, quality apparel for the ethically-conscious consumer, to make our tees available for purchase online. Show your support for TIG and look great doing it! Responsible clothing is just a click away!
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Upcoming International Days
The following international days are coming up in the next few months. Mark these days on your calendar in order to incorporate them into your teaching and school-wide events!
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Announcements
 Imprints Art Contest Deadline Extended
The Imprints art contest is looking for submissions from environmentally aware individuals and groups with a passion for the arts! Open to people of all ages, across the globe, Imprints is accepting submissions of original pieces of artwork (photos, paintings, drawings, or anything) that make a statement about the state of our planet. The contest deadline has just been extended to 4 January 2010 to allow for even more submissions of earth-inspired artwork!
Please visit www.tigurl.org/imprints for more information about the contest.
Imprints is part of the Tread Lightly program - TIG's most recent climate change education and engagement initiative. Check out http://www.treadlightly.me to learn more about the program.
 TakingITGlobal at the UN Climate Change Conference
The first round of Tread Lightly is coming to a close! Schools around the world, from Brazil to the Netherlands, have employed The Tread Lightly program, with students learning about climate change, creating earth-inspired art, and stepping up to the 40-Day Challenge. Many partner schools are celebrating the end of the first round by hosting closing events to celebrate accomplishments and reflect on achievements.
Live from COP15, TIG is co-presented an international video conference for Tread Lightly students, in collaboration with The Centre for Global Education (TCGE). "There is no greater forum to provide a balanced argument, based on sound scientific principles, than that of the classroom, informed by global, connected dialogue," notes Terry Godwaldt, Director of Programming for TCGE.
TIGed Site Improvements
The new and improved virtual classroom design has been launched! Visit your classroom to check-out the new colour scheme, layout and streamlined settings!
Opportunities
TIGed Is Hiring!
The education program is seeking a full time coordinator whose main responsibilities will include representing TIGed and seeking out opportunities at high-level events, establishing and managing strategic partnerships, and leading the TIGed Professional Development Program. To view the full job description, please visit http://opps.tigweb.org/7925.
The application deadline for this position is January 4, 2010. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, two professional references, and a writing sample to: Sulmaz Ghoraishi, Human Resources and Office Manager, internships@takingitglobal.org.
TIGed Is Looking for Volunteer Interns!
TakingITGlobal is launching a new internship program, with placements commencing in January 2010. There are a number of opportunities available within the education program, both based out of the Toronto office and virtually, including:
The application deadline for all of the above positions is January 4, 2010. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to: Sulmaz Ghoraishi, Human Resources and Office Manager, internships@takingitglobal.org.
 Sprout e-Course Now Accepting Applications
TakingITGlobal is pleased to announce that applications for the winter 2010 cycle of the Sprout e-course are open!
Sprout is an e-course designed for aspiring social innovators and environmental entrepreneurs who want to grow their project ideas and learn to create lasting changes in their communities. Innovative young people (aged 16-30) around the world are invited to apply to participate in Sprout, which offers a unique way to learn about community-focused project management in a supportive online environment. Sprout participants are paired with experienced e-mentors of all ages who provide inter-generational support, encouragement and insight throughout the eight weeks of the course.
Applications for participants and e-mentors are due January 3, 2010. Feel free to contact the Sprout team by email at sprout@takingitglobal.org. For more information please visit www.sproutecourse.org.
Help us spread the word by plugging Sprout on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets, including information about Sprout in your newsletter or blog, and forwarding this email.
 21st Century Digital Classroom Challenge
The search is on for Canada's most tech savvy K-12 educator! If you are a leader in employing technology to support student success, then you are invited to submit a 3-5 minute video about your classroom success story to the Microsoft-Mindshare Learning 21st Century Digital Classroom Challenge. You could win one of three classroom technology prize packs for your school valued at $15,000!
Submissions will be accepted until 15 January 2010. For more details and to apply online, check out the website.
To view last year's winner, click here.
 Partner with TIGed for Professional Development!
Please let us know if there is an upcoming education-oriented conference close to where you live. If you feel comfortable facilitating a workshop or giving a presentation about TIGed, and our proposal is successful in securing a spot in the conference program, TIGed could support your attendance in recognition of your efforts to spread the word about TIGed! To suggest a potential speaking engagement, please contact education@takingitglobal.org.
Check out SOS: Students Offering Support
Students Offering Support (SOS) is a sustainable charitable social venture that develops and supports chapters within post-universities across Canada. Each SOS chapter raises money to raise roofs through raising marks during their 'Exam-AID' group review sessions - taught and coordinated by student volunteers for university and high school students. Each year, the money raised is spent supporting sustainable education projects in developing nations on annual outreach trips. Since its creation in 2005, over 400 SOS volunteers have tutored over 4,000 students and raised over $240,000 CAD for numerous communities in Africa and Latin America. Greg Overholt, the Executive Director of SOS, was recently nominated as one of four finalists for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, recognizing the many successes of SOS. To get involved, set up an 'Exam-AID' session, or to inquire about student volunteering, visit the SOS website.
Recent & Upcoming Events
World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE)
16-18 November 2010, Doha, Qatar
Organized by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the Summit brought together a multi-sectoral group of key individuals from more than 120 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, North and South America. The goal of the Summit was to examine the key challenges facing education around the globe in the 21st century and to promote visionary thinking about new educational models.
TIG's co-founder and Executive Director, Jennifer Corriero, joined 1,000 decision-makers, opinion leaders from over 120 countries in a conference program focused on "Global Education: Working Together for Sustainable Achievements." A great achievement for TIG was being included in case study referenced by Alex Wong, Head of Global Education Initiative of the World Economic Forum.
To learn more about TIG's participation in the WISE Summit, please check out Jen's blog post.
MacArthur Digital Media and Learning Conference
18-21 February 2010, La Jolla, California, USA
The Digital Media and Learning Conference is an annual event supported by the MacArthur Foundation and organized by the Digital Media and Learning Hub at University of California, Irvine. The conference is an inclusive, international and annual gathering of scholars and practitioners in the field, focused on fostering interdisciplinary and participatory dialog and linking theory, empirical study, policy, and practice. This year, the theme of the conference is "Diversifying Participation" and TIG will be co-facilitating a session focused on online learning and leadership for a better common future.
2010 Microsoft Regional Innovative Teachers' Conference
9-11 March 2010, Singapore
TakingITGlobal is pleased to announce that, for the second consecutive year, we will be working with Microsoft Asia-Pacific to bring student voices to the regional Innovative Teachers' Conference. More details to come!
17th Annual iEARN International Conference and Youth Summit 2010
12-18 July 2010, Barrie, Canada
TakingITGlobal is working with the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN) Canada to host the 17th annual iEARN International Conference and Youth Summit. Check out the website for more details!
Wrap Up
If you like what you've read don't keep it all to yourself! Please share this email with colleagues and friends in education, or direct them to our TIGed blog at http://www.tigblog.org/group/tiged.
We'd love to hear from you! If you have questions or feedback, or would like more information about TIGed, please contact us: education@takingitglobal.org. If you do not wish to receive future TIGed updates, change your settings.
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