Newsflash #271, July 20, 2010

SEEKING PARTNERS: iEARN PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
1. Include your iEARN project in the 2010-2011 Project Book.
2. Special video-only documentary event – One Day on Earth, October 10, 2010.

RESOURCES, CONTESTS, WEBSITES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
3. www.iearn.org has a new look!
4. Learning Circles collaboration among Suriname, Curacao, and the Netherlands.
5. Thanks to all who contributed suggestions for the Getting Started in iEARN guide!
6. Check out the new Tres Bosques, Un Mundo (Three Forests, One World) Project Video.

UPCOMING EVENTS
7. 2010 Natural Disaster Youth Summit in Turkey, August 23-27, 2010.
8. 2011 iEARN Annual Conference and Youth Summit in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, July 17-23, 2011.

RECENT EVENTS
9. See photos, videos, blogs and tweets from 17th Annual iEARN Conference and 14th Annual Youth Summit in Canada, July 12-17, 2010. 
10. Adobe Youth Voices Film Festival at 2010 iEARN Conference and Youth Summit.
11. Educators in USA and Sierra Leone team up on Kids Camp in Sierra Leone.

SEEKING PARTNERS: iEARN PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
Download the 2009-2010 iEARN Project Book (available in English, French, Spanish, and Korean) or View full listing of iEARN projects.

1. LAST CHANCE TO INCLUDE YOUR iEARN PROJECT IN THE 2010-2011 PROJECT BOOK!!!  If your project is already active and will continue, please submit an updated template to projects@iearn.org if you would like it included in the book.  If it is a new project, please first post your project idea in the Teachers Forum or, for students, the Youth Forum.  Once you find partners, complete the project template below and send it to projects@iearn.org as soon as possible, but no later than the FINAL DEADLINE of August 2, 2010.  This project template can be submitted in any language, and is available in multiple languages in the translated versions of the iEARN Project Book.

1. Name of Project:
2. Brief one-sentence description of project:
3. Full description of project:
4. Age/level of project participants:
5. Timetable/Schedule for the project:
6. Possible project/classroom activities:
7. Expected outcomes/products:
8. Project contribution to others and the planet:
9. Project language(s):
10. Curriculum/Subject area:
11. Names/email of initial participating groups:
12. Name of facilitator(s):
13. Email of facilitator(s):
14. iEARN Forum where it will take place or is taking place (leave blank if uncertain, and you will be assigned to a forum):
15. WWW page of project (not required):

Send by email (optional: with project photo/image to accompany description) projects@iearn.org

2. SPECIAL VIDEO-ONLY DOCUMENTARY EVENT – ONE DAY ON EARTH, OCTOBER 10, 2010.   From One Day in the Life co-facilitator, Chris Baer (USA), “This initiative will be a partnership between iEARN’s “One Day in the Life” project and  OneDayonEarth.org, a group of USA filmmakers who are preparing a movie for theatrical release which will document life around the world on 10 October 2010. Your students work – and your work – could be in a big-screen movie!  If you’re interested, please sign up with them at www.onedayonearth.org.  Be sure to watch the trailer! When signing up, be sure to identify yourself as an iEARN member in your profile (and then join our iEARN group!).  Signing up doesn’t commit you to the project, so it’s okay to sign up even if you’re not sure you can participate yet.”

RESOURCES, CONTESTS, WEBSITES, ANNOUNCEMENTS

3. WWW.IEARN.ORG HAS A NEW LOOK!  We hope you enjoy our new drupal powered website — www.iearn.org, and invite you to send comments or suggestions to web@iearn.org.  www.iearn.org continues to be a place to learn about news, events, programs, and activities from across the network.  We welcome all in iEARN to contribute their news, stories, photos, and videos about their involvement in global project work. 

4. GETTING STARTED IN iEARN GUIDE SURVEY!  Many thanks to those of you who took the time to respond to our survey about how to help teachers new to iEARN begin participating in projects. Your feedback is very valuable. We are incorporating your suggestions into our new Getting Started Guide for teachers and will be sharing with you soon! Thanks for helping other teachers get started!

5. LEARNING CIRCLES COLLABORATION AMONG SURINAME, CURACAO, AND THE NETHERLANDS.  During 2010, 48 schools in Suriname, Curacao, and the Netherlands (including 20 special needs schools) worked and learned together in 7 thematic Learning Circles as part of the Global Teenager Project, an iEARN partner.  See project work from one of these Learning Circles.

6.  CHECK OUT NEW TRES BOSQUES, UN MUNDO (THREE FORESTS, ONE WORLD) PROJECT VIDEO.  The video documents an experience of the iEARN-USA and FUNDGLODE coordinated exchanged between high school students in New York City and Villa Riva, Dominican Republic. Includes student perspectives throughout, footage of school life and culture, rice and Cacao agricultural production, Los Haitises National Park, the impact of foreign industry on local ecology, and relations between Dominicans and Haitians in reflections after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.  The exchange was made possible through support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.  Read more about the program and view video.

UPCOMING EVENTS

7. 2010 NATURAL DISASTER YOUTH SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN TURKEY, AUGUST 23-27, 2010.  The summit was started by the JEARN (iEARN-Japan) team, and has been held since 2005. The participation of 300 students  (150 students from abroad and 150 students from Turkey) has been  planned for this year.  Visit the NDYS 2010 Conference Website, or learn more about the year-round Natural Disaster Youth Summit Project.

8. IEARN-TAIWAN TO HOST THE 18TH ANNUAL iEARN CONFERENCE AND 15TH ANNUAL YOUTH SUMMIT, JULY 17-23, 2011.  The theme will be “Green Tech, Green Life, Great Era.”   iEARN-Taiwan announces “We are thrilled to invite all to Kaohsiung, Taiwan to join the 18th International Conference and 15th Youth Summit.  Taiwan is a beautiful island with environmental and cultural diversity.  Our foods, night markets and fruits are something you don’t want to miss!  2011 iEARN Annual Conference will be held in the 2nd biggest city of Taiwan, Kaohsiung City.  Kaohsiung is a charming harbor city with its hospitable citizens, pleasant subtropical climate and gentle ocean breeze.  Come to explore the passion and vitality of Taiwan!”  Stay tuned for details.

RECENT EVENTS

9. CHECK OUT PHOTOS, VIDEOS, BLOGS AND TWEETS FROM 17TH ANNUAL iEARN CONFERENCE AND 14TH ANNUAL YOUTH SUMMIT IN BARRIE, CANADA, JULY 12-17, 2010.  Visit the conference website at www.iearn2010.org for more information, the iEARN-Netherlands/ICT&E Website for photos, and Virtual Conference Website to see webcasts and photos.  Among countries in attendance: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brasil, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, India, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, and UK.

10. ADOBE YOUTH VOICES FILM FESTIVAL AT 2010 iEARN CONFERENCE AND YOUTH SUMMIT.  On Thursday, July 15th at 8:00 pm, participants of the 2010 iEARN Conference and Youth Summit gathered in the Gryphon Theater at Georgian College for a global festival of youth media created by young people in iEARN and Free the Children as part of the Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) program.  Visit the iEARN-AYV YouTube Channel to view the youth-produced AYV videos screened at the festival from Argentina, Belarus, Brasil, Canada, China, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Romania, and United States. Download the festival program (1.7 MB pdf) and see more photos on Flickr.

11. KIDS CAMP IN SIERRA LEONE.  Alusine Kamara (Sierra Leone) and Lynn Rosen (USA) have launchd Lynn’s Kids Camp of Sierra Leone.  Using skype and other online tools, the coordinators connect and share activities and lessons with the students.  The team will be hosting a Rocking for Sierra Leone rock concert on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 in support of camp activities and related technology.  Connect with Lynn and Alusine in the Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger Project.
 

iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is a global non-profit network that empowers teachers and students to undertake projects designed to make a meaningful contribution to the health and welfare of the planet and its people. Started in 1988, iEARN is currently active in over 125 countries, with 2,000,000 students participating as part of their education. iEARN-International: www.iearn.org

[top banner photo: Images from the 2010 iEARN Conference and Youth Summit in Canada.