Stefania: internationalism in schools

Here are a few things I found on the Internet.

Many International schools around the World refer to Internationalism and Global Citizenship often pairing these with Community Service, as in getting to know about the needs in less developed Countries.

Many schools refer primarily to the topics which are considered the exposed top of the cultural iceberg (food, fashion, festivals, field trips, languages, performing arts). They offer several modern languages.
www.sevenoaksschool.org/modern-languages
www.sevenoaksschool.org/internationalism

The deeper layers (values and beliefs, learning styles, non verbal communication, assumptions, norms, rules, gender roles, etc) are taken into account by schools which offer specific curricula, such as the IB program (not only as in the Diploma, but also as in the Primary Years Program and the Middle Years Program).
These schools pay particular attentions to world languages (including the native languages of the students' community), they stress a lot on activities such as the Model United Nations, as well as on study trips or teaming up with schools from other countries to promote students mobility.


Probably IBO is one of the most structured organizations in reference to an international curriculum, and offers a number of services, including teacher development. www.ibo.org
http://www.pypchatswortheast.com/internationalism.html for an example of action taken in a school.

A system to integrate Internationalism in the curriculum is Project Based Learning, also through current events and international news analysis www.bie.org

Other sources of informations are
Oxfam Education: Global Citizenship Information and Support
http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/index.htm (for school networking in Europe)
www.global-issues-network.org/ (school networking in the World)

Also have a look at a 4 years Development Plan for Internationalism here:
http://www.sirbernardlovell.s-gloucs.sch.uk/internationalism/documents/InternationalismDevelopmentPlan.pdf
http://iew.state.gov/index.cfm


My personal experience as parent:
At AISC last year my son in Grade 6 ESL Humanities had an amazing lesson unit about Global Citizenship. He had to pick up a topic from the "underwater" part of the cultural iceberg: he chose "sense of Modesty". He had to prepare questions for an interview; he interviewed my husband and me as well as a staff member of AISC from a different Country; he reported his findings of different cultural approaches to the same issue on a poster that he later presented to the rest of the class. Each student did a similar research on different areas and I think this stretched my son's language abilities, his awareness of cultural diversity, his skills to interact with people and in general developed his ability to perceive differences and similarities on something else than just food or flags. Amazing job!
This year he regularly has to report on current events in the World that he finds in the news, and - again - this implies stepping in other people's shoes to understand the whys and hows things happen.

Susan Cain: The Power of Introverts

Here is the Ted Talk by Susan Cain, who wrote Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking. Thanks to Gita for mentioning her work,  it is definitely worth a look. .  . 

Link to TED Talk: Beau Lotto + Amy O’Toole: Science is for everyone, kids included

http://www.ted.com/talks/beau_lotto_amy_o_toole_science_is_for_everyone_kids_included.html

HI team, this is the TED Talk I mentioned, it was inspiring to see what the possibilities are if teachers and students give each other permission to explore all possibilities.

Hope you get inspired as much I was.

Latest Research

1. What is the definition of a 21st Century learner? (Chris, Gita)
• How can we instill the "State of Wonder?"
• What does brain research say? (Gita)
1. How do we define service-learning and create the structures that will allow it to succeed? (Jason)
2. How do we build a common understanding of best practices to guarantee consistency?(Aarthi and Andrea)
3. What is the role of technology and teachers as we aspire to meet the vision? Interview Kevin to explore the possibilities of modifying Moodle 
4. Internationalism: how do we profit on the untapped resources of our demographics?(Stephania,

Ideas from November 5 Workday

Ideas from November 5 Workday

1. Themes we have discovered
• Co-teaching and inclusion
• Project-based learning
• Choice
• The importance of failure and play/ risk-taking "State of Wonder"
• Meta-cognition, reflection and feedback
• Service-learning
• Technology
• Role of teacher
• Global essence
2. Ideas to consider specifically for Service-learning
• What is service-learning?
• How do we meet that definition?
• How do we advise the Talent and Resources team?
• How do we define service (such as CAS), charity and service learning to the community and then manage each of those?)
• What system needs to be designed so that a service-learning program succeed?
• define the process from planning to reflection
• Service learning with local schools
• Resource team has done some research here- share that!
3. What research needs to happen between now and January 14 based on our current reality
• What is the definition of a 21st Century learner? 
• How can we instill the "State of Wonder?"
• What does brain research say?
•  How do we define service-learning and create the structures that will allow it to succeed?
• How do we build a common understanding of best practices to guarantee consistency?
• What is the role of technology and teachers as we aspire to meet the vision? Interview Kevin to explore the possibilities of modifying Moodle
• Internationalism: how do we profit on the untapped resources of our demographics?