Newsletter January 2007

New Teacher Workshops

Teachers at a workshop

IIE successfully completed its January 2007 teacher workshop entitled "Utilizing Culture as a Teaching Tool for Today's Diverse Classroom", using a partial grant from the Meadows Foundation. Area experts actively engaged primary and secondary school teachers in an interactive seminar. During this seminar, teachers created student-centered strategies integrating culture into their curriculums and created activities that balanced culture and learning. As an added benefit for attending the workshop, teachers received a resource manual and six hours of Professional Education Credits (CPE).

On April 21st, 2007, IIE will host its next teacher workshop entitled "Parental Involvement: The Key to Success in Your Classroom". Some event details are given below, and we encourage anyone interested in participating to contact Heather Theisen-Gandara for more information.

The Iraq Scholars and Leaders Program (ISLP)

The Iraq Scholars and Leaders Program (ISLP) is a competitive scholarship program for Iraqi students. It provides full scholarships to support graduate (Master's or Doctoral) and undergraduate studies for current and prospective students. Funded by a U.S. corporation and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the goal of the program is threefold. First, is to provide Iraqi scholarship recipients with the opportunity to pursue study at a U.S. college or university. Second, is to develop new leadership and cultural skills, and third, to build closer ties between the people within the U.S. and the future leaders of Iraq.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

Benjamin A Gilman Awards for International Study

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, awarded 777 scholarships to students participating in study abroad programs during the 2006-2007 academic year.

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Tyler Barth, a junior majoring in engineering at Rice University, was awarded a $5,000 Gilman Scholarship. He participated in a study abroad program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology during spring semester 2007. In his application, Tyler explained his reasons for wanting to study in Hong Kong:

"I want to study at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology both for myself and for my fellow students. For myself, I do it because it's an opportunity to explore a part of Asia I find interesting. For my fellow engineering students, I go to scout ahead. Few people from my department have been to any exchange program. I want to show that it can be done, and I want to come back with information that will make it easier for others to go. Spending time abroad can give people new perspectives, and I believe it is critical to a full college experience."

For further details, please visit the Gilman website or call our office at 713-621-6300.

If you are attending a conference or campus visit and would like to include brochures on the Gilman Scholarship, please contact Paetra Hauck at Paetra Hauck or 713-621-6300, extension 12.

Educational Initiatives

For several years, IIE has provided professional development workshops for K-12 teachers throughout the greater Houston area. In addition to the customary regional activities, IIE Houston is planning a variety of future programs in hopes of further engaging the K-12 community.

  • New Teacher Workshops:  As mentioned in the article above, IIE/Houston team offered a teacher workshop entitled "Utilizing Culture as a Teaching Tool for Today's Diverse Classroom" on January 20th. The event was a great success, and IIE will host its next teacher workshop, entitled "Parental Involvement: The Key to Success in Your Classroom", on Saturday, April 21st. This informative workshop will cover innovative strategies for increasing parental involvement and address Parental Involvement provisions in the Federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). For more information please contact Heather Theisen-Gandara.
  • The Cultural Navigators Project: The IIE mission of "Opening Minds to the World" is supported by introducing children to different regions of the world through providing teachers with cultural resources and classroom activities. In 2007, the project will continue to loan the World Discovery Trunks to teachers across the Houston metropolitan area; this innovative, hands-on program contains artifacts from specific countries with descriptive cards. IIE Houston is currently in possession of World Discovery Trunks from Egypt, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and China. Importantly, all trunk materials are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). For further details about the Cultural Navigators Project or to request a trunk, please contact Kumasi Adoma by email or at 713-621-6300, ext. 29.

  • IIE International Youth Leadership Summit: On Saturday, March 24th, IIE Houston is preparing a one-day colloquium to enhance global awareness among 10th grade students from local high schools. Participants will be selected through an application process aimed at reaching students who want to develop their leadership skills and knowledge of other cultures. The no-cost, one-day seminar will seeks to achieve a broad range of goals, including the following:

    • Enhance student awareness of current events and promote civic leadership;
    • Familiarize students with the availability and benefits of studying abroad during college;
    • Expose students to internationally-related careers in all sectors of the economy; and
    • Develop in participants the confidence and enthusiasm for studying foreign languages and learning about other cultures.

Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia Program

www.iie.org/aramco

The Aramco Educators to Saudi Arabia program is a unique professional development opportunity for educators. K-12 Social Studies Teachers and Library Media Specialist, who are passionate about sharing world cultures and international perspectives with their students, meeting educators in another part of the world, and experiencing the Middle East, are invited to apply for this scholarship opportunity. Sponsored by the Aramco Services Company, educators have the opportunity to complete a fully-funded, 10-day professional development program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This opportunity examines Saudi education, culture, history, industry and global relations through site visits, panel discussions, and cultural activities in Dhahran, Riyadh, and Jeddah. For further program information please visit the program website at www.iie.org/aramco.

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An account from an Aramco Program alumna:

A day in Saudi Arabia can encompass wearing a headscarf and abaya in Riyadh and then jet skiing in a bikini in Jeddah. It may involve the exploration of a souk in the historical part of Jeddah and then wondering around a mall that eclipses Houston's Galleria. Lorelei Clark, a November 2005 participant of the Aramco Teacher Exchange Program, quickly discovered Saudi Arabia is a country that embodies tremendous diversity. During the Aramco Teacher Exchange Program, this World Geography teacher experienced firsthand her lessons in the classroom as well as the exciting contrasts within Saudi Arabia. Ms. Clark learned about the Aramco program during an in-service organized by the World Affairs Council and from a couple of list serve subscriptions. Upon reflection about her adventure, Lorelei Clark stated, "I felt so fortunate to have been selected for this amazing program."