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 For Adobe PDF version click HERE or for BRIDGE News Archive, click HERE.
April Events:
- April 7-9: iEARN Morocco prepares to train 130 teachers
- April 10: iEARN Lebanon hosts a YouthCaN Conference
- April 21-23: Global Youth Service Day, visit the BRIDGE GYSD site or for additional information click HERE.
Online Professional Development:
This Spring (February 2006) a total of 26 countries participated in iEARN's
online professional development courses. Countries representing BRIDGE include: Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco,
Nepal, Oman, Pakistan and the United States, with online course
facilitators from Pakistan and the United States. Courses were
given in Creative Arts, Creative Writing, Social Studies,
Science/Environment/Math, Moving Voices, Helping Students Cope with
Trauma in Schools and Learning Circles. Online courses provide
educators with a solid framework to learn, integrate and assess how
online collaborative projects work in the classroom. Participants
support each other's work and ideas, establishing a strong community of
dedicated and enthusiastic teachers.
To learn more about online courses click HERE.
"Bangladesh Observer" Spotlight Two Teachers' Work with iEARN:
On Friday, March 31st the highly circulated daily newspaper,
"Bangladesh Observer", printed an article two teachers wrote about
iEARN highlighting their work with the Teddy Bear Project. Written by Subrata Kumar Das and Tanzina Chowbury (a Master Trainer
Alum), the article provides a clear picture of how the iEARN network
works and the importance of online collaborative projects and its
impact on learning. Special emphasis is placed on
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In this Issue:
Global Connections Exchange Program
[GCE] is made possible through support and funding from the US State
Department's Bureau of Educational [DOS] and Cultural Affairs [ECA]. It
is a part of iEARN-USA's BRIDGE project which is committed to
connecting students and teachers in the US to those in countries with
significant Muslim populations. |
describing the
Teddy Bear Project, how students work on it, and the benefits of
learning. Kumar Das and Chowbury wrote: "Young people need both
knowledge and skills to succeed. They must learn civic responsibility
and master their new roles as global citizens... through iEARN teachers
are able to guide young students to engage in collaborative educational
projects via the Internet..."
Please read more of this wonderful article, by downloading the Adobe PDF HERE.
Egypt Youth Share their iEARN and Global Connections Experiences:
Every year schools, teachers and students gather to celebrate their
experiences at "iEARN Day". iEARN Egypt organized the event
giving participants  a
stage to share their iEARN projects, activities, stories of exchange,
and more. 53 schools attended from all the Egyptian districts,
with six schools sharing their achievements with iEARN projects.
iEARN Egypt, the US Embassy in Cairo and Oxford University Press awarded
those schools who participated in iEARN the previous academic year.
Egypt Youth Organize a Model United Nations: In
March, the Mansoura Secondary School for Girls organized a special
Model United Nations. Youth from 10 different schools from
Mansoura presented about the freedom of expression and religious
beliefs. The event was supported by Mr. Justin Siberll - Director
of the American Cultural Center in Alexandria, Ambassador Essam El Din
Hawas- Director of the Egyptian Association of the United Nations, Dr.
Ezzat Abdel Hamid Abou El Maati - Egyptian Association of the United
Nations, and Mrs. Dalia Khalil - iEARN Egypt Country Coordinator.
Pakistan Youth Prepare and Begin GYSD Events:
In March and April, iEARN Pakistan - with support and sponsorship from
the Public Affairs Office of the US Embassy, has worked with iEARN
schools to join and participate schools worldwide in Global Youth
Service Day. Preparations for GYSD began early March and today,
several activities have already taken place. iEARN Pakistan
designed events and projects to engage students in Peshwar and
Islamabad schools. In March, Peshwar schools completed their
community and service learning projects, and in April, Islamabad
schools will begin. All participating schools and students are
introduced to community service and volunteering as part of iEARN
Pakistan's BRIDGE Curriculum Enrichment Program.
 Schools
in the Peshawar region began their GYSD activities on March 18-March
27. Service project sites included a rehabilitation center for
women and an earthquake relief camp. Groups consisting of 10
students and two to three teachers each visited a site and engaged in a
variety of service learning or volunteer activities such as youth
teaching children painting, singing songs, dancing, community clean-up,
and reading and writing. A total of 40 students and approximately
10 teachers took part in service activities in Peshawar. (Pictured left:
Students of quake affected areas drawing, singing, dancing, playing cricket and more
as they engage in projects organized and facilitated by BRIDGE youth for GYSD community service and learning.)
Nepal Reaches 2,000 educators and students:
On March 3-4, iEARN schools Ankur Vidyashram and Valley View School
invited iEARN Nepal to celebrate students, teachers and schools'
project work. A total of 1,200 participants attended  Valley
View's celebration and 800 at Ankur's. During the celebrations,
iEARN conducted presentations about project based learning and the
importance of collaboration. Also this month, iEARN Nepal spoke
to parents of National Model Science School about how youth are
empowered when engaging in collaborative projects and using online
connectivity.
Two Jordan Public Schools host American Students:
In early March, iEARN Jordan completed the Global Connections Exchange
with Cardozo High School, Washington, DC. Beginning February 12,
four students and one teacher from Cardozo flew into Amman, Jordan for
their three week exchange. The students were hosted by two public
schools: Swefieh High School for Girls and Jamil Shaker High School for
Boys. Host and US students participated in a variety of
activities that promote both cultural and educational understanding
among American and Jordanian students. Students also met with officials
at the US Embassy in Amman and shared their experiences and views of
the program.
Banda Aceh Site for iEARN Workshop:
On March 11-12, iEARN Country Coordinator Hasnah Gasim facilitated an
introduction workshop on Learning Circles, an iEARN online
project. Principals and teacher coordinators from three schools
attended the workshop, including Principals Lukman from SMA 3,
Principal Yahya Bashir from SMA 6 and Principal Fachruati from SMA
7. Ms. Gasim also welcomed Mr. Anwar Muhammad, Chief of High
School Provincial Office in Banda Aceh, who - along with teachers and
principals - attended the workshop to learn about iEARN projects and
how to integrate project based learning in the classrooms.
 Lebanon Youth Collaborate in Bracelet and Teddy Bear Projects:
This month, primary students from Adma International School in Fatka,
Lebanon initiated a bracelet exchange with Sheridan Elementary School
in Washington, USA. Students make bead bracelets and exchange
them with their USA peers along with messages. Other
students from Hajj Bahaa' School and Tiffin Middle School in Ohio are
engaging online using the project's discussion forums. The Teddy
Bear from Lebanon finally reached the US on February 14th - a wonderful
Valentine's present. To visit or learn more about the Teddy Bear
Project click HERE.
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