NCHS Magnet

Technology Integration –BRINGING THE WORLD INTO THE CLASSROOM

As an international studies program, an important goal should be to create a global classroom for students. This is accomplished though both the integration of technology (online service learning and international discussion forums/blogs) and international travel.

1. iEARN-USA (www.iEARN-USA.org) is an international education and resource network that allows teachers and students to collaborate with other teachers and students from around the world. Teachers can join an active service project or they can opt to start their own. From IEARN:
“Whether it’s improving the quality of a stream or river, comparing proverbs and idioms, charting the migration of birds, or producing joint student newspapers, literary anthologies, or video documentaries to show in a global "film festival," participating classrooms are pioneering a new model of world-class, international education.”

2. Taking it Global (www.tiged.org and www.takingitglobal.org) is an online community that focuses on learning, collaboration, dialogue and action. From Taking it Global:
“Our mission is to provide opportunities for learning, capacity-building, cross-cultural awareness and self-development through the use of Information and Communication Technologies.”

Travel Integration –TAKING THE CLASSROOM INTO THE WORLD

Ideally, both trips (lower-class and upper-class) would occur over an extended spring break. This way students will be able to immediately apply what they learn after returning from their trip (it might also discourage questionable or bad behavior from students if they know there will be immediate consequences for their actions). Extended trips may need to be planned for the summer. Students can participate in individual fundraisers (meaning they get to use any funds they generate, much like how the cheerleaders can earn money to pay off their accounts) through the magnet program. Trip sponsors can be in charge of organizing fundraisers and collecting funds.

9th/10th Grade Trip focuses on Social Studies Curriculum. Students will travel to international locations that directly link to the Pre-AP World History, AP World History, and Honors World Literature curriculums. Students will have opportunities to explore places that they have studied (ie. Democracy in Greece, the Holocaust in Europe, or the Egyptian Kingdom). There are two companies that specialize in group travel for students (Explorica and Educational Tours). Both companies offer:

• free travel for chaperones (the ratio is 6:1)
• myriad travel options
• reasonable prices (on average $1200-$2500 for a 10 day trip) that include airfare, accommodations, two meals per day, a tour guide, sightseeing tours, and tickets for special attractions/museums
• fundraising opportunities and flexible payment plans
• curriculum materials related to tours
• liability coverage

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11/12th Trip focuses on Science Curriculum and service learning. Students will travel to locations that directly link with science topics. Global Explorers is an established company that travels to 6 different locations around the globe and offers different curriculum programs for each area. For example, students could go on an Arctic Exploration and study either whales or tundra conservation or students could go to the Yucatan and partake in tropical forest research or study sustainable development. All programs include Discovering Classroom Earth curriculum that students traveling complete prior to the trip, an international workshop (the actual trip), and a home community service project that allows students to apply what they learned here in our community. The comprehensive participant cost ranges from $1750-$2500 depending on the workshop destination. Cost includes:

• One free teacher for every 10 students
• 100% of the in-country costs (tips, transportation, lodging, and food)
• Global Explorer staff person along with local guides/translators
• Preparatory curriculum
• Books and travel guides
• T-shirts
• Travel insurance