Global Teenager Project "Today's learners are Tomorrow's leaders"

1. Global Teenager Project"Today's learners are Tomorrow's leaders" ABEL Summer Institute 2012 Presenters: Anita Townsend – Coordinator GTP Jasmin Shuster – Teacher – Ottawa Carleton Amy Scarpone – Teacher – Halton District School Board www.globalteenager.org

2. Vision of the 21st Century Classroom • Connected, collaborative, contribution, cooperative, creative, communication ……………… CHANGE • Integrated and interdisciplinary • Project-based & research driven • Relevant, rigorous and real-world curriculum • Student-centred • Technologies & multimedia • 21st Century skills

3. Structure of GTP • The Round Table Foundation in the Netherlands owns and coordinates the project globally • GTP Country Coordinators, support GTP schools and teachers in each country with organizational support • GTP is a partner with iEARN, the International Education and Resource Network

4. Goals of GTP • To support the transformation of education to an environment which supports 21 Century competencies; and • To promote intercultural awareness and sensitivity by opening up regular, lively classroom debates in a safe and structured environment

5. How does GTP achieve its goals? • Through the well-known and proven concept of Learning Circles. • A Learning Circle is a teaching methodology that supports inquiry based learning and collaborative process that groups an average of 12 classes in thematic learning. • Classes involved in Learning Circles sponsor a question and contribute to the project by doing research and answering questions of others

6. Examples of Learning Circles English Themes Age level 15-18  Communication based • Education in our country • Our Health • Our Community • Teen life • Travelling   • Research-based • HIV/AIDS • Gender Equality • Cultures of the World • Environmental Sustainability • Migration • Poverty and Hunger • Politics in my Country • Cultures of the World > Wiki Learning Circle The themes marked with a “*” are conducted on a wiki CC should have those printed on paper or point at them on the screen Age level: 9-12 Communication based • Family Stories • Games and Sports • Nature and World around us • History through Folklore and Myths • Cultures of the World (*) • Our Environment • Adventures Age level 12-15  Communication based • Education in our country • Games and Sports • History through Folklore& Myths • Our Health • Teenlife (*) • Traveling • Life values Research-based • Environmental issues • Children Rights and Responsibilities • Life values

7. Specific Objectives of Learning Circles The objectives of the Learning Circles are for students to: • Search, analyze and evaluate information • Organize the information • Find collaborative solutions • Enhance their collaborative skills • Acquire self-confidence • Develop individual and collaborative responsibility skills • Effectively use of ICT in collaborative projects

8. Learning Circle Overview After an introduction and preparation phase, every participating class: • Sponsors a project idea and presents it to the other members of the circle. • The learning circle participants research and answer every project proposed in the circle. This is followed by discussions amongst participants • Participants compile and analyze responses received and produce a final online summary. • The circle comes to an end and closes