Obligatory "Why Are You Doing This?
A while ago, I realized that I wanted my students to do more than just learn science content. I wanted my students to actually do something with it. I wanted my kids to see that science was a way to learn about how the world actually works and then use that knowledge, through engineering and technology, to solve real problems facing the world. But, for my students to know the world, I need to know the world.
So, I applied for a fellowship that specialized in global education: Teachers for a Global Classroom. What followed was a rigorous "master's level" 10-week online course and a three-day symposium on global education. At the end of the course, the fellows traveled to another country for 2-3 weeks and taught in schools in the community. We shared our best practices with the staff and students, and learned the strategies they used in their own classrooms. I taught at Bicol Regional Science High School in Ligao, Philippines (which is how my website got its names). It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. I learned more about myself as an educator and gained skills from my international colleagues than I have in most workshops I’ve attended throughout all my years of teaching. Part of the fellowship requirements was to develop a resource that our own schools and districts could use as they globalize their own units and lessons. This site is that resource.
My blog will chronicle the connections I make as I travel the world for pleasure and work, and to inspire others to do the same. Because, there are connections to be made; wherever I go, I want to not just experience and learn about other cultures, but to observe their education system, and grow as a professional, as well as share the best strategies from my own school. This is the heart of global education: embracing the inter-connectivity of the world, and including it in my curriculum.
#Teacherhacks is a catch-all tab for any trick, tip, or strategy that just plain makes teaching life easier. The basic start will be Cornell Notes, Interactive Notebooks, Socratic Seminars, Philosophical Chairs, or glue sponges (seriously, try these.. they’re AMAZING). Eventually, it’ll grow to include far more.
Citizen Science will explore different ideas to include students in the scientific process outside of the classroom. Citizen Science is a kind of Service Learning. Students (really, anyone can do this) engage in scientific research and contribute to the greater body of scientific knowledge in the world. They don’t need to have any scientific knowledge about the concept they’re getting involved with, just a willingness to learn the protocols and a commitment to see it through. They learn the science through the experience of following the protocols. These are great ideas for jumping into inter-disciplinary units at a school.
Global Ed Resources is a section for articles and resources about global education. Want to know what the standards are for global education? How about a rationale for why it’s such a good idea? What about units or lesson ideas for a variety of content areas? Go there.
NGSS is page that details how to merge global education with the Next Generation Science Standards. Personally, I think the NGSS do an amazing job doing that already. But, it helps to have some unit plans, lesson ideas, and other resources on hand to make the way easier.
What I’ve Learned… this is a collection of my thoughts on my fellowship and overall travel experience along with my conclusions about any guiding questions I have as I travel and observe classrooms outside of my community. I’ll post reflections about my school, global ed resources that my state and town provide, and, just my thoughts and ideas about education in general.
My School....This tab describes the best school in the universe: Highlands Intermediate School. Go COLTS!
About Me will provide information about me, the creator of this site. Why anyone would be interested in this sort of thing, is beyond me. But, I’m told that people seem to not only expect this kind of information, but also, occasionally, are genuinely interested in such things.
Contact will tell you how to get a hold of me via social media, email, etc
Disclaimer: This is not an official U.S. Department of State site. The views and information presented are the grantee’s own and do not represent the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, IREX, or the U.S. Department of State.
So, I applied for a fellowship that specialized in global education: Teachers for a Global Classroom. What followed was a rigorous "master's level" 10-week online course and a three-day symposium on global education. At the end of the course, the fellows traveled to another country for 2-3 weeks and taught in schools in the community. We shared our best practices with the staff and students, and learned the strategies they used in their own classrooms. I taught at Bicol Regional Science High School in Ligao, Philippines (which is how my website got its names). It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. I learned more about myself as an educator and gained skills from my international colleagues than I have in most workshops I’ve attended throughout all my years of teaching. Part of the fellowship requirements was to develop a resource that our own schools and districts could use as they globalize their own units and lessons. This site is that resource.
My blog will chronicle the connections I make as I travel the world for pleasure and work, and to inspire others to do the same. Because, there are connections to be made; wherever I go, I want to not just experience and learn about other cultures, but to observe their education system, and grow as a professional, as well as share the best strategies from my own school. This is the heart of global education: embracing the inter-connectivity of the world, and including it in my curriculum.
#Teacherhacks is a catch-all tab for any trick, tip, or strategy that just plain makes teaching life easier. The basic start will be Cornell Notes, Interactive Notebooks, Socratic Seminars, Philosophical Chairs, or glue sponges (seriously, try these.. they’re AMAZING). Eventually, it’ll grow to include far more.
Citizen Science will explore different ideas to include students in the scientific process outside of the classroom. Citizen Science is a kind of Service Learning. Students (really, anyone can do this) engage in scientific research and contribute to the greater body of scientific knowledge in the world. They don’t need to have any scientific knowledge about the concept they’re getting involved with, just a willingness to learn the protocols and a commitment to see it through. They learn the science through the experience of following the protocols. These are great ideas for jumping into inter-disciplinary units at a school.
Global Ed Resources is a section for articles and resources about global education. Want to know what the standards are for global education? How about a rationale for why it’s such a good idea? What about units or lesson ideas for a variety of content areas? Go there.
NGSS is page that details how to merge global education with the Next Generation Science Standards. Personally, I think the NGSS do an amazing job doing that already. But, it helps to have some unit plans, lesson ideas, and other resources on hand to make the way easier.
What I’ve Learned… this is a collection of my thoughts on my fellowship and overall travel experience along with my conclusions about any guiding questions I have as I travel and observe classrooms outside of my community. I’ll post reflections about my school, global ed resources that my state and town provide, and, just my thoughts and ideas about education in general.
My School....This tab describes the best school in the universe: Highlands Intermediate School. Go COLTS!
About Me will provide information about me, the creator of this site. Why anyone would be interested in this sort of thing, is beyond me. But, I’m told that people seem to not only expect this kind of information, but also, occasionally, are genuinely interested in such things.
Contact will tell you how to get a hold of me via social media, email, etc
Disclaimer: This is not an official U.S. Department of State site. The views and information presented are the grantee’s own and do not represent the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, IREX, or the U.S. Department of State.