Dear Reader,

We are almost upon a new year and it is certainly a time to both celebrate and reflect.

In this edition of the newsletter are wonderful examples of the work members of this Coalition continue to do---inspiring examples in which students and teachers are using technology to interconnect and learn.

The Washington State Coalition for International Education is now at a turning point. We are inviting you to take a survey. Shall we continue (can we continue?) as an informal organization doing what we can when we can, or would it benefit the community for the Coalition to take on a formal structure, in particular, to file to become a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization? What do you think?

We wish you peaceful holidays and a peaceful beginning to a new year.

This edition comes to you (in part) from Islamabad, Pakistan☺. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email our editor, Aysha Haq at intledwa@gmail.com.

You can read the background info or Start the Survey now.

Thank you!

Background

The Washington State Coalition for International Education is an affiliation of individuals and organizations committed to preparing all students for today's interconnected world. The Coalition was formed in Spring 2003, after Washington State sent a State Team to the States Institute for International Education in the Schools, held in Washington, DC in November 2002.

The Coalition is a true "flat world" organization-no bricks or mortar, just a website, email lists, and lots of volunteers willing to do their part to promote our belief that we Americans need to learn about the world with the world. We have been able to carry out a number of innovative projects, including organizing three International Education Summits, with the support of the Asia Society and Longview Foundation, who have awarded five State Innovations Grants to the Coalition (2003-2007). See About the Coalition > Projects for details.

Because the Coalition is not a formalized organization, we have depended on the support of other not-for-profit organizations to serve as fiscal agent for the grants. Many thanks to the Alliance for Education, Associates in Cultural Exchange, the World Affairs Council, and the International Trade Education Foundation for their support over the years.

We have now reached the point where it is important to ask, shall we continue as a Coalition? If so, how best can we continue? Please help us learn what you think and what you need. We welcome your ideas and support.

Complete the Survey now. 

Using the International Education and Resource Network (www.iearn.org) students are delving into the critical concepts of their curricula in collaboration with global peers. Online with
their peers around the world, they are using email, websites, digital images, video, and videoconferencing to understand important concepts in science, math, language arts, visual arts, world languages, social studies, economics, and citizenship.

(In the photo above, primary students read email and use geography books to locate countries of global peers.) Their learning is no longer only local but local and global---the experiences of their own communities are integrated continually with local communities of others around the world to develop knowledge and then use their knowledge to enhance the quality of life on the planet.

"What the teachers and students are doing is mainly interacting with the world using very simple technology but they are doing a great job and at the same time they are serving their communities in different ways," writes Dalia Khalil, iEARN Country Coordinator in Egypt, one of the many country coordinators around the world.

"In Egypt, it's very important for us to reach out into the world and to give a clearer picture of what Egypt is. Many students would like to show the real image of Egypt right now and the development of their country. On the same level of importance for them is to look out at other countries' experiences, to learn from them, to share ideas, solutions, and experiences and to look for future partnership with their colleagues.

More than any time in history and time of human life, right now getting together is vital."

In 1988, iEARN linked 12 schools in Moscow, Russia with 12 schools in New York state. Today...TO READ MORE

For teachers new to digital storytelling, incorporating its many aspects (photography, multi-media technology, narration, story development, sound recording, and teamwork) into an already full curriculum often requires skill development and classroom support. To implement a collaborative project with an international partner also requires special attention and facilitation.

Bridges to Understanding (www.bridges2understanding.org) engages students and teachers worldwide in direct, interactive learning and storytelling to build cross-cultural understanding. Bridges' Teacher Collaboration Project offers a teacher development model based on the idea that teachers know best what works in their classrooms, and that some of that knowledge can be generalized to all classrooms. The 15 Puget Sound region teachers who are working with Bridges this year are teaching and learning from each other how to adapt digital storytelling to the classroom setting. Bridges is providing the in-class coaching, photography lessons, and technology support as well as facilitating the exchange of stories and ideas between local classrooms and classrooms in their seven sites around the world (Tibetan Children's Village, Peru, Guatemala, South Africa, Israel, Canada and the West Bank).  

By June 2008, Bridges and the cohort of teachers will have a variety of completed projects and their collective wisdom to disseminate to even more teachers. For read more about the Teacher Collaboration Project please go to an overview of the project (pdf).

Date & Time: Thursday, January 10, 2008, from 5:30-8:30 pm (light refreshments)

Location: Olympia area - North Thurston School District, 305 College St NE  Lacey, WA 98516 (I-5 Exit #109 to Martin Way)

Cost: There is no cost to register, but donations are welcomed. Three free clock hours will be available to educators who need them.

The program will take an in-depth look at the resources and information available in the publication from Asia Society, "Creating a Chinese Language Program in Your School: An Introductory Guide." Members of the Chinese Language Core Team will facilitate small groups, as needed, to cover particular points of interest and help connect the suggestions in the Guide to the realities in Washington State. To register please go to the online registration form

Co-sponsored by the Chinese Language Core Team and Chinese Language Teachers Network, University of Washington East Asia Resource Center, Lakeside School, University Prep, and University of Puget Sound, with funding from the Longview Foundation through the State Innovations Grant to the Washington State Coalition for International Education. Many thanks to our sponsoring host, North Thurston Public Schools.

Date & Time: Saturday, February 2, 2008, from 9:00 am-12:00 pm (light refreshments)

Location: John Stanford International School, 4057 5th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Audience: Anyone who teaches students in a language that is not the native language spoken by the students-world language teachers, immersion teachers, ESL teachers, and regular classroom teachers who need to differentiate instruction for English language learners. While the focus is on elementary age students, the research and many of the techniques apply to students of all ages.

Cost: The workshop is free. Three clock hours will be provided for a small fee.

In this 3-hour workshop, presenters will share best practices and strategies that immersion language and regular English language teachers are using to help students learn the target language through academic content. 

For more information or to register please go to the online registration form.

Co-sponsored by Seattle Public Schools and John Stanford International School; funded by the State Innovations Grant from Longview Foundation to the Washington State Coalition for International Education.

For full details, visit the Calendar and Announcements pages on our website.