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There’s a wealth of resources for teachers who want to bring an international dimension to their classroom and those who would like to combine working abroad with boosting their professional development. Here’s some of what’s available.
International Education Week (IEW) takes place from 15 – 19 November 2004. This year, IEW is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of an international dimension at all levels of education, in both schools and preschool work. Find out more at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/educationoverview/Events/IEW
2004 is also the European Year of Education Through Sport. Sporting activity can be an effective medium for helping to increase the levels of language learning, ‘basic’ skills – communication, numeracy and ICT – and ‘soft’ skills – such as teamwork, learning to learn and problem solving. Visit: www.eyes-2004.info/254.0.html
The Global Gateway is a new international website developed by the British Council. It enables people involved in education across the world to engage in creative partnerships www.globalgateway.org.uk
The British Council also co-ordinates courses for teachers wanting to run effective international school partnerships – from a half-day workshop ‘Introduction to global school partnerships’, to a modular course of four days, starting in October 2004. Visit www.britishcouncil.org/globalschools for details.
Oxfam Education’s Cool Planet for Teachers site is primarily intended for teachers and their students who want to bring a global dimension to the classroom, using the concept of global citizenship. Find our more at: www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet
The Development Education Association (DEA) is a membership organisation that supports a large range of LEAs and schools on development education issues. These include: developing a globally focused curriculum; citizenship and environmental education; race equality and diversity issues; refugees and immigration. Visit: www.dea.org.uk
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is currently developing guidance and a new website for teachers, schools and LEAs to provide better support for new entrants to school in this country. Contact Jan Campbell at: campbellj@qca.org.uk or visit: www.qca.org.uk
Moving Here has the largest database of digitised photographs, maps, objects, documents and audio items from local and national archives, museums and libraries that record British migration experiences of the last 200 years. Find out more at: www.movinghere.org.uk
Runnymede Trust’s Real Histories website offers a database for schools to gain resources that enable them to draw on the diversity from their pupils. It’s available at: www.realhistories.org.uk
Global Nomads Group is an American site fostering dialogue and understanding between young people around the world. Visit: www.gng.org
Here are some resources to help your own professional development:
Teachers’ International Professional Development (TIPD) provides opportunities for teachers in England to develop their teaching skills, by experiencing best practice in a number of key themes through short-term international study visits. Visits also aim to create valuable international links between schools, facilitating international school partnerships and information sharing on a global level. There are 2,500 places available each year. To find out more, visit:
www.teachernet.gov.uk/tipd
www.britishcouncil.org/tipd
The League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers is a well established agency for providing teacher exchange opportunities, giving teachers the chance to swap salaries and homes. More information can be found at: www.lect.org.uk
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) is well known for its work in providing international opportunities for professional development. Research shows that VSO teachers are more likely to stay in the profession than other teachers. Find out more at: www.vso.org.uk
Link Community Development supports teachers to spend part of their summer holiday in sub-Saharan Africa, observing and sharing their expertise with recognised education development programmes. Contact: www.lcd.org.uk
Education International is a consortium of international teacher unions with a range of resource contacts for professional development, exchange, and teaching and learning opportunities. Visit: www.ei-ie.org/camp/english/wtd/2004/index.htm
The Employability Forum has established a Refugee Teachers’ Task Force to offer support and information to refugees with teaching skills that will encourage them to enter the teaching workforce here. It also aims to provide information to schools and LEAs. More information is available at: www.employabilityforum.co.uk/
