ICT&E  /  The Richness Within 1 – 2006-2008

The Richness Within 1 – 2006-2008

The Richness Within 1

A project for multi cultural school populations  from September 2006 until June 2008.

Aim:
The project’s aim is to connect three secondary schools in the US and three secondary schools The Netherlands. The participating schools have a mixed and multi cultural school population. During the two-year project students and teachers will work and learn together in Twin-projects, as well as in collaborative setting in Learning Circles. The aim is to become aware of the richness within multi cultural (school) communities. The themes of the Learning Circles will be set by the participating schools within the domain of ‘a muliticultural society’, identifying and building respect for differences and similarities. All learning activities are connected to the formal learning in schools and informal learning outside schools. To create ownership of learning the details within the framework of the project will be set in close collaboration with the particiapting schools, teachers and students. This two-year project will be facilitated by ICT&E, Dieren, The Netherlands, in close cooperation with iEARN Netherlands / iEARN US and the Dutch Educational portal Kennisnet.(Click for the Wiki)

Short description of the project:
The project is set up in a way that it enables international collaborative learning between schools in The US and The Netherlands.
The virtual collaboration will take place via thematic Learning Circles focusing on the multi cultural aspects in and outside the schools.
To enhance the ownership and commitment two teacher exchanges are embedded.

Objectives:

• Develop understanding of multiculturalism in learning communities
• Enhance Student Learning. Students gain rich insights from the geographic diversity and cross-cultural exchanges
• Create cultural awareness. Students become aware of the fact that the diversity of their school community offers a rich learning environment
• Develops reading/writing skills. Students use written communication skills to exchange ideas and learn together with their Twinschool peers
• Enhance Teaching Curriculum. Learning Circle projects provide an exciting and innovative forum for teaching traditional subjects
• Stimulate Teacher Creativity. Teachers develop new instructional techniques by sharing project ideas with colleagues in the project
• Expand Teaching and Learning Horizons. Learning Circles take students beyond their classroom to draw on family and community resources for information, making them more aware of their social and physical surroundings
• Integrate Computer and Telecommunications Technology. Teachers and students learn and apply ICT knowledge and skills as they use the Internet to work collaboratively with their partners in distant locations
• Enhance overall learning skills
  developing a research strategy
  developing interviewing skills
  processing and summarizing and the results in presentations
  critical thinking.

Learning in a Learning Circle
Collaborative, formal and informal learning is meant to be reciprocal. There should be personal advantages for every participant. Participating classes have a high level of ownership in the Learning Circle process: they formulate individual questions (one per circle member) and research answers for all LC questions. They will process information and present newly created knowledge in Learning Circle summaries and presentations.

Participating schools

	United States
	TRW1 The Metropolitan Learning Center, Bloomfield, Connecticut participating teacher Mrs. Wendy Nelson-Kauffman
	TRW2 Baccalaureate School for Global Education, Astoria, NY participating teacher Mrs. Madeline Brownstone
	TRW3 The Metropolitan Learning Center, Bloomfield, Connecticut participating teacher Mr. Tom Wolverton
	The Netherlands
	TRW4 Oostvaarders College, Almere participating teacher Mrs. Thalysia Knoppel
	TRW5 Libanon Lyceum, Rotterdam participating teacher Mr. Hans van Buuren
	TRW6 Het College Vos, Vlaardingen participating teacher Mr. Tanne Hoff

Partners
The United States Embassy in The Hague

iEARN International
iEARN Netherlands
iEARN US