International Project-Based Learning Opportunities
The Teachers for Global Classrooms Program made it possible for me to spend time visiting Moroccan schools and meeting great kids like those in the photo above. However, this experience did not begin and end with my trip to Morocco. The truly fun part of an international educational experience is when it turnkeys to our students.
Making Connections
One of the goals for my time in Moroccan schools was to bring my own learning experience back to my students in the United States. Any time a teacher travels internationally or even nationally, it provides one an exciting new teachable moment. For this reason, I usually post blogs which my students can read and then generate questions or responses. Students who will never have the opportunity to personally visit notorious sites of the Holocaust like the Majdanek, Treblinka and Auschwitz can read my blog and walk through these sites with me, seeing my photos and my commentary.
A Truly Amazing Global Lesson
Another way that I brought Morocco to my students was through a shared activity. I Skyped with my Moroccan host teacher to find out about the curriculum at his school and was very happy to learn of their Human Rights Club. In addition, they learn about NGO's in their English classes. I asked him if I might be able to teach a lesson related to these topics. The result was a paired lesson, implemented first in the US then in Morocco. My students had studied about Malala Yousafzai in our Social Studies class and in my O Ambassadors club. They knew some important facts about her: her religion (Islam), her nationality (Pakistani) and her initial campaign (education for all girls in Pakistan). Malala was a perfect way to connect schools.
In Morocco, none of the students had heard of Malala, but they were fascinated by her story. The fact that she is a fellow Muslim (Morocco is predominantly Muslim) made the story that much more relevant to them. We had a lively discussion and students were allowed to keep the magazines I brought for them. My students in the US were following up their lesson with a "letter to Malala" activity, and I suggested the same to my Moroccan teacher partner. I took pictures (below) of the Moroccan students, which I was able to share with my American students upon my return.
Making Connections
One of the goals for my time in Moroccan schools was to bring my own learning experience back to my students in the United States. Any time a teacher travels internationally or even nationally, it provides one an exciting new teachable moment. For this reason, I usually post blogs which my students can read and then generate questions or responses. Students who will never have the opportunity to personally visit notorious sites of the Holocaust like the Majdanek, Treblinka and Auschwitz can read my blog and walk through these sites with me, seeing my photos and my commentary.
A Truly Amazing Global Lesson
Another way that I brought Morocco to my students was through a shared activity. I Skyped with my Moroccan host teacher to find out about the curriculum at his school and was very happy to learn of their Human Rights Club. In addition, they learn about NGO's in their English classes. I asked him if I might be able to teach a lesson related to these topics. The result was a paired lesson, implemented first in the US then in Morocco. My students had studied about Malala Yousafzai in our Social Studies class and in my O Ambassadors club. They knew some important facts about her: her religion (Islam), her nationality (Pakistani) and her initial campaign (education for all girls in Pakistan). Malala was a perfect way to connect schools.
In Morocco, none of the students had heard of Malala, but they were fascinated by her story. The fact that she is a fellow Muslim (Morocco is predominantly Muslim) made the story that much more relevant to them. We had a lively discussion and students were allowed to keep the magazines I brought for them. My students in the US were following up their lesson with a "letter to Malala" activity, and I suggested the same to my Moroccan teacher partner. I took pictures (below) of the Moroccan students, which I was able to share with my American students upon my return.
tgc_human_rights_pp.pptx | |
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File Type: | pptx |
Students in this photo are learning about Malala in Ain Aouda, Morocco (see powerpoint attached above). They are also sporting bracelets made for them by my students back in the US. The tags had the name and age of each bracelet-maker. The Moroccan students did not remove the tags to remember the name of the student who had made their gift. Upon my return from Morocco, my classes were thrilled to see the photos of their bracelets being worn!
Other Ways to Get Involved in Global Education
Teachers for Global Classrooms is but one of many outstanding international teacher programs designed to connect students globally.
Teachers Without Borders is one such example. The website is worth a look because they have many free materials, lessons and also online professional development through Johns Hopkins University and in-country placements.
- On my Global Education Pinterest board, I have included many other places that teachers can look to broaden their personal global education experience, TEDTalks, books, YouTube videos and teacher programs both here and abroad. I have encouraged my colleagues to utilize this board for their own professional knowledge.
- On my Global Human Rights Pinterest board, I have included numerous links of interest to teachers who want to expand their students (and their own) knowledge of human rights issues. My human rights club students have made their own Pinterest boards on this same topic!
- Global Nomads Group: GNG's mission is: is to foster dialogue and understanding amongst the world’s youth by bringing the world to the classroom via interactive technology. The website is worth examining as it has many tools for both students and teachers as well as travel and study opportunities.
- TEDTalks: My favorite TedTalk to date is one that speaks to the care with which we must approach global lessons and is by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie entitled "The Danger of a Single Story". This is one of a number of outstanding TedTalks which relate to global education. The students in my human rights club watched "The Danger of a Single Story" and had an interesting discussion of stereotyping and not having an accurate perception of people from other countries if one only relies on mass media.
- The Teach UNICEF website has a wealth of materials and instructional ideas for teachers. I found their information on refugee camps for Syrians to be outstanding and used the links provided to compare and contrast the state of Darfurian refugees in Chad with those of Syrians in Jordan and Turkey. In addition, when I wondered if there was anything my students could do to help with UNICEF initiatives, I found Trick or Treat for UNICEF materials...still around after all these years, and ordered 100 for my human rights club at our middle school!