DeforestACTION Update!

Offered by TakingITGlobal and Microsoft Partners in Learning, DeforestACTION is a 21st century global learning project that helps youth and schools around the world take action to stop deforestation and create a permanent habitat for orangutans and other species that depend on forest ecosystems. Students are connecting globally by using innovative social media and technology tools that make learning about global issues fun and exciting!

A lot of interesting things have been happening in the DeforestACTION community lately! The 15 eco-warriors returned from 20 days in Borneo, Indonesia, having met more than 3,000 members of local Dayak communities, authorities and government officials to assess the scale of the challenge. They also rescued a baby orangutan named Jojo, who is happy and healthy in her new home at the Sintang Orangutan Centre! Check out the DeforestACTION headquarters for updated blogs and photos of their trip.

And, we've made some improvements to the DeforestACTION virtual classroom. You can now connect directly to your school action hub and the DeforestACTION headquarters from your classroom. Create your virtual classroom today!

Want to help your students develop global competencies through international collaborations? Schools can now sign-up for DeforestACTION in just a few clicks! By filling out a short form on under the "Schools" tab at www.deforestaction.org, schools can access:

- Innovative educational resources and the DeforestACTION virtual classroom designed for 21st century skills development;

- Information and sign-up details for our latest online events, including arranging a webinar for your school with an eco-warrior; and

- Their own school action hub - a showcase of your fundraising and recruitment efforts to a global audience.

For more information, contact us at deforestaction@takingitglobal.org.

International Days

November 16 - International Day for Tolerance

Let's embrace and celebrate our differences by exploring tigweb.org and connecting with TIG members from different countries and backgrounds.

November 17 - International Students' Day

International Students' Day is a global observance of student activism, and a time to celebrate students! Take the time to reflect on what student activism and engagement means to you? Share your thoughts through a blog post, and find other educators to share stories with through the TIGed Community page.

November 20 - Universal Children's Day

November 20th marks the adoption by the UN of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Take time on this day to explore young people’s rights with your students by reviewing TIG’s Child and Youth Rights issue page.

November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Violence against women and girls remains problem of pandemic proportions around the world. Take time on this day to learn about and reflect on the ill treatment of females and demonstrate solidarity by talking openly with your students about gender based violence.

December 1 - World AIDS Day

With the ever-growing number of people worldwide infected with AIDS in the range of 35 million, take World AIDS Day as an opportunity to learn about treatment and prevention, and the various global effects of the pandemic. There are many opportunities available through TIG to learn about HIV/AIDS: visit the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, a program of TakingITGlobal; check out TIG Xpress HIV/AIDS TIGed’s virtual classroom on HIV/AIDS; and join the World AIDS Day videoconference with your students on November 30th to get involved in the fight against AIDS.

December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

On December 2nd, 1949, the UN adopted a convention to abolish slavery. In honor of this day, learn more about this convention from the UN’s official site dedicated to this international day.

December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Celebrate diversity today on International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Learn about disability culture on TIG’s global issues page, and make a commitment to increasing access to all public buildings for persons with disabilities.

December 5 - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

TIG and TIGed could not operate without the help of our incredible volunteers. On December 5th, please join us in celebrating volunteers who are at the heart of economic and social development in the non-profit sphere. Join TIG as a volunteer or learn about other volunteer opportunities available through TIG’s member organizations.

December 10 - Human Rights Day

Human rights are an integral part of global eduction. In honor of Human Rights Day, we encourage you to bring issues of human rights into your classroom. You can start by visiting the TIG global issues page dedicated to these issues, and visiting TIGed’s Activities Database for inspiration.

December 18 - International Migrant's Day

On December 18, 1990, the UN adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Celebrate this day, and learn more by visiting the UN official site dedicated to this day.

TIGed Internships

TIGed is looking for a few motivated individuals to join our team. Are you passionate about the potential of technology in shaping a better world for educators and students? Apply today! Applications will be accepted until November 18th.

• TIGed Marketing and Promotions Assistant
• TIGed Program Assistant
• Global Encounters Educational Animator
• DeforestACTION Project Assistant
• Education Assistant, Sprout E-course
• Education Assistant, Change Inc.

TIG Internships

TakingITGlobal offers part-time internship opportunities perfect for students or recent graduates interested in gaining experience in the non-profit field. Available opportunities include:

• HR Assistant
• Volunteer Management Assistant
• Communications Coordinator
• Online Community Animator
• Multilingual Volunteer Management Assistant
• Office and Bookkeeping Assistant
• Research Assistant
• Online Community Communications Coordinator
• Web Developer

Social Entrepreneurship e-Course for Ontario High School Students!

Change Inc.: Cultivating Young Social Entrepreneurs, led by TakingITGlobal and the Public Policy Forum, aims to develop the entrepreneurship skills of Ontario youth to imagine and create their own social change projects by facilitating learning, skill building and mentoring opportunities between outstanding youth and established social entrepreneurs. Through an interactive e-course, Ontario youth aged 16-21 can take part in a unique opportunity to develop essential social entrepreneurship skills, including team building, project management, communications and leveraging technology to design social change projects.

The Change Inc. e-course will take place over a 9-week period from January to March 2012. Due to the generous support of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Change Inc. e-course is available at a reduced rate of per participant. Don’t miss your chance to register by December 19th, 2011 at www.tigurl.org/changeinc. For more information, “like” us on Facebook or contact Sara Hassan, Change Inc. Outreach Coordinator (sara@takingitglobal.org).

MindShare Annual 21st Century Classroom Video Challenge

TakingITGlobal and the are proud partners of MindShare Learning for the 4th Annual 21st Century Classroom Video Challenge, which celebrates new thinking and new possibilities through the power of education technology. If you’re a Canadian educator and are interested in rising to this challenge, sweeten your changes by joining us on Monday, November 21st, 2011 from 12-1pm ET to learn more about the video contest and amazing technology prize package; hear from past winners to gain tips and tricks on how to submit a successful video entry; and ask any questions you have about the contest.

Register for the webinar by visiting www.tigurl.org/launch, and then check out www.mindsharelearning.ca/videochallenge to learn more and enter for your chance to win!

20-something.ca

September 2011

Eco-warrior Emily Hunter shares details of the DeforestACTION campaign to protect the Borneo rainforest and inspire 20-somethings around the world to fight for what they believe in.

Hennessey Events

October 2011

TakingITGlobal’s Director of Education Programs, Katherine Walraven, was interviewed for a feature Hennessy Events Life article, “A Social Network Creating Positive Change.”

School Board News Today

October 2011

TakingITGlobal’s co-founder, Michael Furdyk, was featured in this National School Boards Association publication after hosting a webinar on “Reimagining Learning in a Globalized World” for the organization about TIG’s work in global education and youth leadership.

Kiwi Commons

October 2011

TakingITGlobal was interviewed by Kiwi Common to discuss the motivation behind Global Dignity Day.

Metro News

October 2011

October 20th, 2011 marked the first time Global Dignity Day was celebrated on a large scale across Canada! Jennifer Corriero, co-founder of TakingITGlobal, was featured in a Metro News video and article, "Respect Our Friends, Big or Small," amongst other Global Dignity leaders around the world.

Environmental Education Forums a Success!

October 2-10, various locations, Europe

Tread Lightly, an environmental education program offered by TakingITGlobal and the Staples Foundation, just wrapped up an exciting month! Throughout October, we met with youth and educators in five European cities to discuss pressing local environmental issues and make recommendations to the agenda of the UN Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, taking place in June 2012. Check out the Tread Lightly blog for updates on what youth from Oslo, London, Milan, Paris and Amsterdam had to say about environmental education in their local areas. And, visit www.treadlightly.me for free environmental education tools that you can use online and in your classroom.

Educational Computing Organization of Ontario

October 20-22, Richmond Hill, Canada

TakingITGlobal had a great time at ECOO this year, sharing an exhibit space with our friends at GreenLearning Canada, promoting MindShare Learning’s 4th Annual 21st Century Classroom Video Challenge, facilitating several workshops, and helping Minds on Media participants get hands on with TIG and TIGed on Saturday. Check out the Minds on Media wiki to learn about what we were sharing at ECOO this year!

Global Education Conference

November 14-18, Online

This completely free and online event is a collaborative and world-wide community effort to significantly increase opportunities for global education activities and initiatives. There is no formal registration required and TIG staff will be facilitating the following sessions:

Take Your Classroom Global!
November 15, 10-11am ET
Learn to use online social networking and digital media tools to facilitate global education and inspire student leadership in local and global communities.

Best Practices in Global Project-Based Learning
November 16, 3-4pm ET (English) and 9-10pm ET (Spanish)
Explore the importance of global education, and how technology can help bring the world into our classrooms. Note: this session will also be offered in Spanish on the same day from 9-10pm ET (Las Mejores Prácticas en la Educación Global Basada en Proyectos).

DeforestACTION: Global Education for Environmental Stewardship
November 17, 11am-12pm ET
Learn about DeforestACTION, a global learning project connecting students around the world to learn and take action on deforestation by using innovative social media and technology tools that make engaging with global issues fun and exciting!

The Quest for Increased Student Achievement

November 16-18, Toronto, Canada

Find out how colleagues at home and abroad are forging new engagement strategies, stimulating curiosity and igniting passion with techniques and technologies that promise to expand and reshape the meaning of lifelong learning. TIG will have a resource display at the event so be sure to stop by and say hello!

National Council for the Social Studies

December 2-4, Washington, D.C., USA

The 91st NCSS Annual Conference is your opportunity to rejuvenate your teaching strategies and collaborate with some of the leaders in social studies education. TakingITGlobal staff will be in the exhibit hall with our friends at Pearson Education and hope to see you there!