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Course Title: Internationalizing Social Studies for the 21st Century
iEARN projects help students understand how
historical and geographical conditions interact to shape their lives.
This sharing of information with global peers helps instill in students
a deeper understanding of themselves, their family, their community,
and their world. This 8-week course enables participating educators and their
students to gain experience with global collaborative project work that
relates to Social Studies themes that they are already studying in
their classrooms. (Curriculum Standards Addressed in this Course)
Course Goals
- Identify the benefits of international collaboration and global project work
- Learn how to integrate collaborative project-based learning into your teaching practice while addressing local/national educational standards
- Develop a project plan to implement in your Social Studies class
- Learn how to prepare your students for online global project work and evaluate their learning
- Network with educators in the course and around the world
Facilitators:
Structure:
The course is asynchronous. This means participants work in their own time from home or school to complete weekly assignments. However, courses are very interactive and communication is continuous during the course period. Each course has 25 participants and two facilitators. You will communicate with one another through the iEARN discussion forums to discuss assignment and readings. You can expect frequent feedback from your facilitators and participants throughout the course period.
Each course is divided into eight modules (one lesson per week) with readings, discussions, individual and group assignments. Lessons and assignments take participants step-by-step through the process of integrating an online collaborative project into their classroom. Participants will select a project that matches their state/national standards and begin integrating the project into their classroom during the course period.
Participants can expect to commit 4-5 hours a week for a course.
Educators who successfully complete all the course requirements will receive a certificate from iEARN-USA with recognition as an iEARN Master Teacher.
Prerequisites
- Basic word processing, Internet and e-mailing skills
- Reliable access to a computer and Internet
- Availability to commit at least 5 hours a week to course activities
- A classroom/students whom you will be working with throughout the course period
- Working knowledge of English
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Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: II. Thematic Strands
- Culture-Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of culture and cultural diversity
- Time, Continuity, and Change – Social Studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ways human beings view themselves in and over time
- People, Places, and Environments – Social Studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments
- Individual Development and Identity – Social Studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of individual development and identity.
- Individuals, Groups, and Institutions - Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of interactions among individuals, groups, and institutions.
- Power, Authority, and Governance - Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance.
- Science, Technology, and Society - Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of relationships among science, technology, and society.
- Global Connections - Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of global connections and interdependence.
- Civic Ideals and Practices - Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic.
Civics Education Standards
[ reference: National Standards for Civics and Government from Center for Civic Education ]
- What is Government and What Should It Do?
- What are the Basic Values and Principles of American Democracy?
- How Does the Government Established by the Constitution Embody the Purposes, Values, and Principles of American Democracy?
- What is the Relationship of the United States to Other Nations and to World Affairs?
- What are the Roles of the Citizen in American Democracy?
ISTE NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) for Teachers
[reference ISTE ]
Effective teachers model and apply the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S) as they design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning; enrich professional practice; and provide positive models for
students, colleagues, and the community. All teachers should meet the following standards and performance indicators. Teachers:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:
a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:
a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
(NETS•S - National Educational Technology Standards) and Performance Indicators for Students
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making.
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:
a. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation.
b. plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project. c. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.
d. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions.
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:
a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
c. demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning.
Partnership for 21st Century Skills: Framework for 21st Century Learning
Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes
• Global Awareness
Learning and Innovation Skills
• Creativity and Innovation
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Communication and Collaboration
Information, Media and Technology Skills
• Information Literacy
• Media Literacy
• ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy
Life and Career Skills
• Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
• Productivity and Accountability
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