TIGed Newsletter

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News from TIGed
January/February 2012


It's not too late to register!

Now that we're settled into 2012, let's get learning! "Project-based Learning for Global Citizenship" is a 5-week e-course for teachers who want to bring the world into their classrooms, kicking off next Wednesday. Join experienced global educator, Jennifer D. Klein, for this graduate-level accredited e-course that empowers teachers from around the world to utilize technology to create innovative and transformative global education experiences. Learn how to build 21st Century Skills and foster global citizenship amongst your students while expanding your network of international colleagues! Here's what previous participants have to say about the course:

"This course has broadened my horizons in the areas of global education and highlighted ways in which I can more actively engage in these kinds of models."

"This course course had a deep impact on my understanding the importance of global education. It has further made me aware of specific tested tools on global education."

Register today! Discounts are available for groups of 3-5 participants enrolling together.


International Days

February 4th - World Cancer Day

So many of us know the effects of cancer on individuals, families and communities. World Cancer Day is a time to promote awareness about cancer prevention and treatment, as well as to think about the ways in which you can get involved to help make a difference.

February 20th - World Day of Social Justice

What better day than World Day of Social Justice to commit to bringing global education into your classroom? This day recognizes the need for equality in building peaceful, sustainable societies and encourages us to get involved. Find a teacher on TIGed to strike up a conversation between your classes about social justice today.

February 21st - International Mother Language Day

Celebrate diversity today! International Mother Language Day aims to achieve unity in diversity by promoting the preservation of different languages and cultures. This is a special day for TIG, as the largest multilingual social network for youth engagement. Learn more about this day with your class on the official UN website.

March 8th - International Women's Day

Women from different cultural, linguistic, and national backgrounds unite! International Women's Day is rooted in the historical struggle for gender equality, promoting solidarity among women across borders. Celebrate by learning about strong female historical figures with your students today.

Announcements

Upcoming Global Encounters events

Global Encounters has two exciting student video conferences coming up!

Middle East in Transition: Voice, Agency and Democratic Values - Part 1
Feb 22, 9-10:30 (MT), Online
Join activists in the Middle East to critically explore issues of human rights and democracy as they are understood and experienced within the context of a complex and tense ideological landscape. This challenging video conference will ask students to investigate the politics of identity, values, agency and rights in various contexts. This video conference is the first in our two-part offering Middle East in Transition series and will focus on the challenges faced by citizens who seek to have their voice heard.

LOW Carbon Lunch
March 7, 10-11:00pm MT, Online
Did you know that the food system is responsible for approximately 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions? Reduce your carbon footprint and take a bite out of climate change, starting with your lunch! Join students around the world as we learn practical ways to make food choices that are Local, Organic and Waste-free. This video conference is a partnership between the Centre for Global Education and the Tread Lightly program through the generous support of the Staples Foundation for Learning.®

Teachers! Visit encounters.tigweb.org to register your high school class for these or any other Global Encounters events. All video conferences may also be viewed live online at www.livestream.com/globalencounters.

Subject and topic landing pages on TIGed Resource Database launched!

We are excited to announce the launch of new subject and topic landing pages on TIGed's Resource Database! You can now explore popular resources, videos, active educators, and more, related to 26 different major subject areas and 9 popular global issue areas. We've also added a new "My Collection" feature, where you can store your favourite activities or bookmark resources to review at a later date. We are pleased to offer you this new feature, and hope that you will enjoy browsing through all of the great materials TIGed teachers from around the world have posted!

Introducing new TIGed Program Manager, Kate Gatto!

As the new TIGed Program Manager, Kate is honoured to be able to serve TIGed's diverse community of globally-minded educators. She joined TIGed as a Program Assistant in January last year, while wrapping up her Masters of Education thesis on international education in Canadian universities. She will be supporting our team of staff and interns, facilitating the development of new PD offerings, and continuing to deliver workshops and webinars to help educators learn about our offerings.

We all owe thanks to our outgoing Director of Education Programs, Katherine Walraven. Kat's dedication to TIGed over the past three years has been at the heart of a vibrant community of educators, partners and staff. Her passion for global education, impressive work ethic and positive attitude have brought so much to the team. Kat will now be working with us as a Grant Writer and Education Program Specialist. From all of us at TIGed, thank you for all your wonderful work, Kat!

Welcome, new TIGed interns!

TIGed is excited to be welcoming three new interns! The following individuals will be joining us for the next four months to contribute to our program: Didi Frydel and Sunniva Vann will be joining us as TIGed Program Assistants, and Dalia Rashid will be helping us in the area of outreach and promotions. We'd also like to introduce you to Christina Galego, the World By Cycle Design and Education Coordinator with ismotion, a partner organization of TIGed. Welcome, everyone!

Launch of COOL 2.0!

We are excited to announce the launch of COOL 2.0! Built on top of the TIGed Platform, COOL 2.0 is a collaborative online community for teaching and learning about energy and sustainability with resources on topics such as climate change issues and solutions, renewable energy, fossil fuels in the transition to sustainability, and energy conservation and efficiency. To access COOL 2.0, visit cool.greenlearning.ca.

Opportunities

Adobe Youth Voices is looking for new educators!

Are you an educator who would like to integrate global perspectives and digital literacy into the classroom? Are you interested in learning how you can support youth development through artistic expression? Do you work with young people aged 13-18? TakingITGlobal is preparing to launch its third cycle of the Adobe Youth Voices program and would like to invite educators who work with youth in underserved communities to take part in this opportunity. The program supports youth to create multimedia art exploring social issues that affect them.

Visit adobeyouthvoices.tigweb.org/getinvolved/ to find our how you can apply for this opportunity. The deadline for applications is February 6th, 2012. Questions? Contact us at ayv@takingitglobal.org.

Register for Shout conferences!

Shout is Back! New to the Shout program are technical sessions, where you can learn how to integrate free Microsoft technologies in the classroom and connect with schools around the world.

For 2012, SHOUT will be focusing on issues of water, exploring both water quality (how we can ensure that water is safe for ourselves and for the environment) and water quantity (how we can manage crises of too much water and not enough water). The first of three interdisciplinary conferences on water, "Water Questions: When We Want to Learn More," Feb. 7-8, will feature seven sessions led by Smithsonian experts. Participants will gain not only a global view but also a broad perspective from the art world to the zoo, from underwater to outer space, from current problems to future solutions. Register now!.

TIGed in the Media

Australian Educator

December 2011

DeforestACTION was featured in The Australian Educator, in an article that highlighted schools involved with the program, and teachers who are engaging their students in global project-based learning through the program.

Earth Watchers Article (Dutch)

January 2012

DeforestACTION Eco Warrior Yvette Teeselink was interviewed with her students from the The the Mendel College in Haarlem (Netherlands). Yvette's students are monitoring the rainforest in Borneo during their lessons, with the help of the Earth Watchers application.

Recent and Upcoming Events

Consortium for School Networking K-12 Technology Leadership Conference

March 5 - 7, Washington, DC

Join us at the Consortium for School Networking K-12 Technology Leadership Conference this year in Washington, DC. We will be hosting a Digital Demonstration, "Reimagining Learning in a Globalized World." For more information, take a look at the conference program and to register for the conference, visit the registration page.

National Association for Independent Schools Conference

February 29 - March 2, Seattle, WA

The theme for this year's National Association for Independent Schools conference is Innovation: Imagine, Invent, Inspire Dream!" With Bill Gates as the opening speaker, and plenty of innovative workshops lined up, including one co-led by the TIGed team and some of NAIS's Challenge 20/20 participating educators, this year's conference is bound to be a success!

Join us for a special event co-hosted by World Leadership School to celebrate the accomplishments of our educators and programs at the Daily Grill nearby from 6-8 pm on March 1st. For more information, and to RSVP, please email us at education@takingitglobal.org

Reminders

Don’t forget to add your collaboration details!

Do you have specific ideas for how you'd like to work together with other educators on TIGed? Share your collaboration details by visiting the TIGed community page and inputting your ideas. Your details will be featured alongside your name in search results.

Wrap Up

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If you have questions or feedback, or would like more information about TIGed, please contact us: education@takingitglobal.org.

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Copyright 2013 TakingITGlobal

This newsletter is a subsection of TakingITGlobal's TIGed division, electronically published via email, and compiled from various events and news from within the TIGed network. Questions and/or comments can be sent to education@takingitglobal.org. Please include your full name, age, and your TIG username. Click here to unsubscribe.