International and Interdisciplinary Project-Based Learning Opportunities:
Adventure Kids Learning is an international organization bringing the global water crisis into classrooms and fostering next generation water advocates via virtual (interactive videoconference) expeditions.
American Councils for International Studies (ACIS) connects participants with the societies they visit. They provide participants the opportunity to actively contribute to the local community in a significant way. The goal of each project is to educate and engage participants while at the same time help a community in need. Young Women’s and Youth Leadership Projects are also available.
Center for Global Education; International Studies Schools Network is an organization that partners with schools to provide professional development to create a global vision and culture, build students’ global competence, and develop and inform best practices for educators.
iEARN provides a teacher’s guide to online collaboration and global projects and a project book with examples.
Participate is an organization that focuses on learning without limits. It offers engaging collaboration/professional development, global education resources and it’s free.
Facing History and Ourselves provides many resources for a variety of historical topics. Study guides, lesson plans and curriculum materials are available for free. The Genocide and Eliminationism guide would be an excellent resource in our school’s global studies classes.
Kiva U: Educator Curriculum is an organization whose mission is to help build the next generation of leaders who think critically about sustainable and empowering solutions to poverty. Lessons include exploring poverty, examining motivation, fostering financial literacy, business development and taking action.
From Inquiry to Action: Civic Engagement with Project Based Learning in All Content Areas by Steven Zemelman--this book describes, with concrete examples, how classes in all subject areas and at all grade levels can engage in project-based learning.
The Take-Action Guide to World Class Learners: How to Make Personalization and Student Autonomy Happen by Yong Zhao--this book provides a framework for cultivating creative and entrepreneurial students. It is the 1st book in a series of three.
One World Education partners with schools to improve research, writing, and presentation skills through theme-based learning. It increases content knowledge and leverages student ideas and solutions about self-chosen topics to engage learners and advance skills critical for college and career success.
Primary Source through the National Endowment for the Humanities has opportunities for free seminars, workshops, online courses and international study tours for teachers. They also have free online resources for classroom activities and resource guides for K-12. Visit these sites for more information: primarysource.org, primarysource.org/primarysourceworld, primarysource.org/resourceguides, resources.primarysource.org/foreignexchanges.
The Pulitzer Center has opportunities for journalists to Skype into classes from all over the world to discuss current events. Visit pulitzercenter.org/ToEndAIDS to see some of the work they’ve been doing. They also have lesson plans and educational resources at pulitzercenter.org/builder. There are projects and partnerships and professional development. You can also visit [email protected].
Rotary International offers several opportunities. New Generation Service Exchange can be explored through your local rotary club. There is a service, leadership and action component. Find out more at rotary.org/rotaract. The Interact aspect fosters leadership skills, taking action and service above self while making new friends around the world. Visit rotary.org/interact.
If you’re interested in hosting or going on an exchange visit, find out more at [email protected].
IREX provides fellowship opportunities through Teachers for a Global Classroom. Please see me for more information about this incredible opportunity and experience.
Reach the World matches classrooms with a traveler in the world so that classrooms can follow that experience.
The Asia Society has so many resources for teachers. It has been one of the most useful resources for me throughout my fellowship.
World Savvy is another very useful source for teachers to transform their teaching to global education.
I have not been a classroom teacher for the last two years, but the project-based learning opportunities that I have come across are exciting. Also, in previous years, I have found them to be engaging for students. At our school, we have a Literacy Fair, an ELL Fair, Family and Consumer Science Fair, a 20% project for Digital Literacy and many hands-on classes in various departments. New this year is an interdisciplinary project based program which is being piloted. For example, biology and English I are being taught together using the same essential questions. As our district moves toward more project-based, interdisciplinary work, I will look forward to conversations with teachers and students to determine successes and opportunities for improvement and to examine how this can translate to supporting students with disabilities in our district.
Adventure Kids Learning is an international organization bringing the global water crisis into classrooms and fostering next generation water advocates via virtual (interactive videoconference) expeditions.
American Councils for International Studies (ACIS) connects participants with the societies they visit. They provide participants the opportunity to actively contribute to the local community in a significant way. The goal of each project is to educate and engage participants while at the same time help a community in need. Young Women’s and Youth Leadership Projects are also available.
Center for Global Education; International Studies Schools Network is an organization that partners with schools to provide professional development to create a global vision and culture, build students’ global competence, and develop and inform best practices for educators.
iEARN provides a teacher’s guide to online collaboration and global projects and a project book with examples.
Participate is an organization that focuses on learning without limits. It offers engaging collaboration/professional development, global education resources and it’s free.
Facing History and Ourselves provides many resources for a variety of historical topics. Study guides, lesson plans and curriculum materials are available for free. The Genocide and Eliminationism guide would be an excellent resource in our school’s global studies classes.
Kiva U: Educator Curriculum is an organization whose mission is to help build the next generation of leaders who think critically about sustainable and empowering solutions to poverty. Lessons include exploring poverty, examining motivation, fostering financial literacy, business development and taking action.
From Inquiry to Action: Civic Engagement with Project Based Learning in All Content Areas by Steven Zemelman--this book describes, with concrete examples, how classes in all subject areas and at all grade levels can engage in project-based learning.
The Take-Action Guide to World Class Learners: How to Make Personalization and Student Autonomy Happen by Yong Zhao--this book provides a framework for cultivating creative and entrepreneurial students. It is the 1st book in a series of three.
One World Education partners with schools to improve research, writing, and presentation skills through theme-based learning. It increases content knowledge and leverages student ideas and solutions about self-chosen topics to engage learners and advance skills critical for college and career success.
Primary Source through the National Endowment for the Humanities has opportunities for free seminars, workshops, online courses and international study tours for teachers. They also have free online resources for classroom activities and resource guides for K-12. Visit these sites for more information: primarysource.org, primarysource.org/primarysourceworld, primarysource.org/resourceguides, resources.primarysource.org/foreignexchanges.
The Pulitzer Center has opportunities for journalists to Skype into classes from all over the world to discuss current events. Visit pulitzercenter.org/ToEndAIDS to see some of the work they’ve been doing. They also have lesson plans and educational resources at pulitzercenter.org/builder. There are projects and partnerships and professional development. You can also visit [email protected].
Rotary International offers several opportunities. New Generation Service Exchange can be explored through your local rotary club. There is a service, leadership and action component. Find out more at rotary.org/rotaract. The Interact aspect fosters leadership skills, taking action and service above self while making new friends around the world. Visit rotary.org/interact.
If you’re interested in hosting or going on an exchange visit, find out more at [email protected].
IREX provides fellowship opportunities through Teachers for a Global Classroom. Please see me for more information about this incredible opportunity and experience.
Reach the World matches classrooms with a traveler in the world so that classrooms can follow that experience.
The Asia Society has so many resources for teachers. It has been one of the most useful resources for me throughout my fellowship.
World Savvy is another very useful source for teachers to transform their teaching to global education.
I have not been a classroom teacher for the last two years, but the project-based learning opportunities that I have come across are exciting. Also, in previous years, I have found them to be engaging for students. At our school, we have a Literacy Fair, an ELL Fair, Family and Consumer Science Fair, a 20% project for Digital Literacy and many hands-on classes in various departments. New this year is an interdisciplinary project based program which is being piloted. For example, biology and English I are being taught together using the same essential questions. As our district moves toward more project-based, interdisciplinary work, I will look forward to conversations with teachers and students to determine successes and opportunities for improvement and to examine how this can translate to supporting students with disabilities in our district.