A Two Part Videoconference Series

General Description: A high school interactive course providing an international focus on the concept of globalization and its effect on democratic systems.

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Videoconference Dates:
Tuesday, April 17, 10:30-12:00 EDT -
Globalization: Threat or Opportunity to workers and jobs?

Friday, May 11, 12-1:30 EDT -
Building Sustainable Democracies: The Lessons of Iraq

Length of Program: 1 ½ hours

Grade level: Grade 10-12

Cost: $200

Background Resources: Yes. Tons of electronic resources supported by web based communication with both teachers and students.

Do tentative registration/inquiry here: [email protected].

Background on Presenter:
Rick Grier-Reynolds is a graduate of Trinity College (B.A. History) and Harvard University (M.ED). He has more than 30 years teaching experience and is currently the Chairman of the History/Social Science Department, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Coordinator at Wilmington Friends School, Wilmington, DE (USA). He is the developer and instructor for a full curriculum on global studies that support UNESCO’s educational emphasis for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace.

Detailed Description of Program:
The purpose of this three part series is to connect high school students and teachers from around the world in an interactive discussion on topics facing today’s interdependent world. Each of the three sessions will be formatted around a short presentation from either a panel of experts on the topic, a case study relevant to the topic or student presentations. Student participants will then have the opportunity to question the presenters in an open forum. To get ready for each session, teacher and students will have access to on line teaching resources.

These teaching materials are from the pedagogical work of Grant Wiggins and the “Planning Backwards” model. In this model, “Essential Understandings” are clearly defined for each of the topical sessions. From these are derived “Essential Questions” that frame the path to under-standing. The various readings, videos, Internet sources, and activities found on the site will provide resources to help answer some of the questions, with the panels of experts also providing real world anecdotes and answers.

The goal of this series is to prepare students to be intelligently engaged in diagnostic analysis and discussion on selected topics and to become empowered and prescriptive problem solvers on some of the challenges facing their world.

The topics and dates for the “Globalization and Democracy” series are:

• Tuesday, April 17, 10:30-12:00 EDT  Globalization: Threat or Opportunity to workers and jobs?

• Monday, May 11, 12-1:30 EDT  Building Sustainable Democracies: The Lessons of Iraq

The focus of each session would be students interacting with other students as they seek answers to the "Essential Understandings". This means that teachers need to have students prepared with questions and comments on the session topic to maximize the learning for all participants.

All of these session topics directly impact all students from every country. One of the interesting elements of this program will be to see the similarities and differences in their perspectives.

The materials are teacher and student friendly to enable ease of preparation for each session. In addition, we will email to you the same materials that will be posted.