Summer 2009 Newsletter

As we approach the start of the summer holidays, we have the opportunity to look back at some of the successful projects of this year and look forward to new opportunities from September.

Global Teenager Project GTP

iEARN UK recently hosted the annual conference of the Global Teenager Project in South Wales and was delighted when Jane Hutt Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Education, Children and Young People, agreed to deliver the keynote speech to launch the project in UK.

The Global Teenager project allows young people to work together on a structured programme to explore themes that affect us all.

The project runs twice a year, September to December and February to May.  During the project your group will be linked with their peers in up to a dozen countries, working together on-line .  You need to make a commitment of at least one hour per week for the whole project. 

For a leaflet giving more details, click here

Christmas Cards!!!

I know we're coming in to Summer but this was such a success last year that I encourage you to register quickly in September if you would like to participate. Click here for more details

Youngcast - Podcasting in Spanish

Secondary schools from UK and Spain communicated via podcasts to learn about daily life and the community in both countries. Podcasts were made in Spanish and English and the students "met up" using Skype to have a chat about this project and life in general. A great success!

We would like to run this again from October, so please email lynne@iearnuk.com to register your interest.

Teddy Bear Exchanges

There has been mixed success with some of the exchanges. While most teddies are treated to a glimpse of life in different countries, others languish on a shelf, forgotten as just another project. This is a fantastic opportunity for your pupils to learn about everyday life with their peers in other countries and really bring the world into their classroom. If you would like to participate next term, please think carefully about how you can develop this in your lesson plans and agree a way of working with your partner class so that neither of you is left disappointed. Find out more and enrol your class by clicking here

Connecting Classrooms

Connecting Classrooms is a flagship British Council (BC) project that brings together schools in the UK and those in a range of other countries.  iEARN UK is very proud to be the first non-LA organisation to be approved as a cluster coordinator for this project.  You may remember we asked for applications for partnerships with Bangladesh and Pakistan.  Despite the very short notice we were inundated with applications and put forward 2 applications to BC and were approved to form a cluster with schools from Pakistan.  The UK group is

• Hugh Gateskill Primary School, Leeds
• Southfields Community College, Wandsworth, London
• Coleg Gwent, Ebbw Vale.

To find out more about the project click here

The International Schools Award (ISA)

It's worth noting that 42 iEARN schools have achieved the full International Schools Award. This is a prestigious accreditation scheme, managed by the British Council. The Award recognises and celebrates schools that are committed to developing international partnerships which enrich the curriculum and help young learners to become global citizens http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-connecting-classrooms-international-school-award.htm.  Taking part in an iEARN project can help you achieve full ISA Accreditation and with over 150 different projects available, there should be something there for all interests! Click here to explore our project database

I hope you have a very enjoyable holiday and look forward to working with you in September.

Best Wishes

Mary Gowers