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Even though we are just beginning 2008, it is not too
early to start thinking of the summer! Many summer
programs have already been announced - see the
listings below. As always, email story ideas and
announcements to: hsingmaster@asiasociety.org
| State Spotlight: Ohio |
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The state board of education has made
education in the global economy one of the seven
priorities that will guide their work this year. This
includes, the Foreign Language Advisory Council,
which has recently completed Passport to the Future: Ohio's Plan for
World Languages. Recommendations in the
report include:
* Building a language pipeline K-16.
*Retaining capacity in commonly taught languages
while simultaneously building capacity in critical
languages.
*Granting world language credit based on
demonstration of proficiency.
For more information on the report and Ohio's
international education initiatives, please visit the new
website, Think Global
Ohio Web.
More information on state initiatives in International Education »
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| Curriculum Guide on Islam in Southeast Asia |
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In November 2007, Asia Society published a guide for
teachers and students entitled Interweaving
Cultures: Islam in Southeast Asia.
Supported by the National Endowment for the
Humanities, the project was initiated to respond to a
lack of teaching materials for U.S. high school
students on Southeast Asia in general, and the role of
Islam in the region. The materials, which are both in
print and web format, are intended to provide upper
middle, high school and introductory college teachers
of the humanities and social sciences with
background resources for their own knowledge as
well as guidance on teaching the topic; many of the
materials are also suitable for student use.
Interweaving Cultures includes background
essays by scholars, original maps created for the
project, visual materials and lesson plans. The print
version can be purchased via the Asia Society website.
Interweaving Cultures: Islam in Southeast Asia »
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| Summer Opportunities for Teachers and Students |
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Putting the World into World-Class Education:
A National Forum for Policymakers and
Practitioners will take place July 10 - 12, 2008 at
the Renaissance Hotel, Washington, D.C. Join
educators, decision-makers, and thought-leaders
from across the country for Asia Society's national
forum on the leading policy innovations and best
practices that will advance international knowledge
and skills as an essential component of a rigorous
21st century education. Click here for more information.
2008 Teaching East Asian Literature in the High
School: Indiana University's East Asian Studies
Center will host a weeklong workshop to provide a
broad overview of East Asian literature to high school
English and world literature teachers from July 13 - 19
in Bloomington, IN. Partial funding will be provided.
The deadline is March 8, 2008. For more information
visit:
http://www.indiana.edu/~easc/lit_workshop/index.htm
CARLA Summer Institutes 2008: The Center
for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition
(CARLA) at the University of Minnesota has sponsored
a summer institute program for second language
teachers since 1996. Click
here for information on the eleven institutes to
be offered in 2008.
Department of State Intensive Summer Language
Institutes for Chinese, Arabic and Russian
Teachers: is open to current K-12 teachers as
well as community college instructors of Chinese
(Mandarin). It is also open to students enrolled in
education programs intending to teach these
langauges. Please contact William Heaton,
Department of State, 202-453-8888 or
HeatonWE@state.gov
Challenge:TOMORROW: leads students ages
12-16 through a 21 day summer program that
provides cultural perspective, Mandarin language
instruction, leadership skill development,
teambuilding and problem solving skills, and
sustainable relationship development opportunities.
This program includes an extensive pre-travel
preparation study and post-travel support activities.
For more information, click here
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| Other Grants and Opportunities |
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IEPS International Education Forum: The U.S.
Department of Education's International Programs
Service (IEPS) is pleased to announce The IEPS
International Education Forum: Fostering Connection,
Collaboration, and Creative Ideas on Febraruy 22 -23.
Leading professionals from around the country will
convene in Washington, DC to discuss issues and
explore solutions to some of the key challenges facing
the international education community today. For more
information click
here.
iEARN Online Professional Development
Courses: will begin on February 11. You will learn
how to integrate collaborative project-based learning
into your curriculum and fulfill your curriculum
standards using technology. For more information
click
here.
Professional Development for Arts Educators
Program: This program supports the
implementation of professional development model
programs for arts educators and other instructional
staff K-12, in high-poverty schools. This could be
useful for integrating an international perspective into
arts education professional development. Click
here.
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| Does the American Education System Measure Up Globally? |
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No longer do Americans vie only with each other for
jobs; their competitors are located in countries around
the world. International comparisons in education are
increasingly important to understanding today's global
environment and the outlook for the next generation.
The latest results of the annual Programme for
International Student Assessments (PISA) were
announced in December. Now given in 57 countries,
making up close to 90 percent of the world economy
by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), the test showed that 15-year-
old American students continue to perform well below
average in science and mathematics. In relative
terms, the U.S. ranked 25th among the 30 OECD
member countries in mathematics, and 21st of 30 in
science. These weak rankings are not a result of U.S.
students performing at lower levels than in the past,
but a result of other students, including those from
Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, scoring higher.
An accompanying PISA report examines factors that
characterize successful education systems around
the world including:
*A shift in emphasis from control over
resources and content toward a focus on outcomes.
*High amibitions and universally high
standards.
*Concern for diversity and individualized
learning.
*Serious attention to equity.
*Devolved responsibility that combines
freedom and support.
*Access to best practices and quality
professional development in the schools.
For more information on PISA, please click below.
PISA
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