February 2010
New
this month
Global Issue: International Year of Biodiversity
- Background: What is biodiversity, Why is it important? What are the main causes of biodiversity loss? Positive progress.
- Teaching activities:
- Biodiversity in sweet potatoes (UP): Students will demonstrate understanding of the importance of biodiversity based on a sweet potato project in Papua New Guinea
- Biodiversity basics (UP/LS): Students will develop an understanding that biodiversity is a complex, interdependent web which is necessary for our health, economy and culture.
- Biodiversity band (LP): Students will understand the importance of biodiversity loss through dramatisation of an interlinked machine.
- Discovering biodiversity (UP/LS): Students will develop an understanding that biodiversity is a complex, interdependent web of which we are all a part.
- Case Study: Sweet taste of sweet success, Sweet potato diversity in Papua New Guinea
Farmer involvement in sweet potato variety trials is giving them a wider choice to improve income as well as food security.
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/4120
Global Learning Quest: Taking plastic soup off the Pacific Ocean menu
Students take on the roles of Oceanographer, Pacific Islands Minister for Fisheries, Pacific Islands elder, Plastics manufacturing engineer and Marine ecologist to investigate the environmental, economic and social consequences of plastic use and waste for the Pacific Ocean and Islander communities.
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/4112
School Profiles
Global Journeys - Victoria
These reflections of teachers introducing a global perspective in their classrooms are the fourth and final instalment of the Global Journeys series:
Hungry Planet (2)
Medieval history teaches a global lesson
To climb or not to climb
Valuing our values
We thank them for their willingness to share their journey and hope they inspire other teachers to include a global perspective across the curriculum. A special thanks goes to Megan Bourke from the Global Education Project in Victoria for her guidance and inspiration.
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/1765
Global OzProjects
Be aware of biodiversity
This project aims to engage students from lower primary to lower secondary in a celebration of biodiversity and increase their understanding of this global issue in 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity using quizzes, information pieces and multimedia.
http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=127
People of the Pacific
This project is a place for students to develop knowledge and understanding of the Pacific people and their cultures. By collaborating online students will develop an appreciation of our responsibilities as global citizens and explore opportunities to take action.
http://www.ozprojects.edu.au/course/view.php?id=126
Calendar
World Wetlands Day
2 February
World Wetlands Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971. The theme for 2010 is "Wetlands, Biodiversity, and Climate Change," and its focus is on Caring for our wetlands - an answer to climate change. This was to coincide with the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity and in recognition of the likely impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems, and importantly, about the role of wetlands in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
http://www.environment.gov.au/water/topics/wetlands/world-wetlands-day/index.html
World Social Justice Day
20 February
World Social Justice Day recognizes that social development and social justice are indispensable to achieving peace. It calls on everyone to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/intldays/IntlJustice/
International Mother Language Day
21 February
Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our observable and unobservable heritage. The day is celebrated to promote mother tongues and encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education. Activities during the event aim to increase the awareness about linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/language/
Try the Global Learning Quest: Which language should we learn to be effective global citizens? http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/3728
Schools Clean Up Australia Day
5 March
Join the thousands of school students across Australia on the Friday before the National Clean Up Day. Registration provides you with an education kit.
http://www.cleanup.com.au
Read the Case study, The power of many, Waste management in Wewak, Papua New Guinea to find out about students in PNG cleaning up their environment and writing about it.
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/152
National Seaweek
1–7 March
Seaweek is the Marine Education Society of Australasia’s (MESA) major national public awareness campaign. In 2010, the theme is ‘Oceans of Life – ours to explore and conserve’ in recognition of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. Information and teaching resources are available at http://www.mesa.edu.au/seaweek2010/. Try the global education website’s Global Learning Quest, Prawns the global delicacy
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/2556
International Women's Day
8 March
On International Women’s Day, we can review the progress made towards equal rights, and equality of political and economic participation, for women. The UN CyberSchoolBus has accessible information on equality, discrimination, and access to education for women, and contains some useful links for the celebration of International Women’s Day.
http://www0.un.org/cyberschoolbus/womensday/index.asp
Choose activities from http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/1886 to help students explore the consequences of discrimination on the basis of gender and understand how the empowerment of women and girls leads to improved living conditions for all.
Commonwealth Day
9 March
The aim of commemorating Commonwealth Day is to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of the Commonwealth to improve the lives of its 2 billion citizens. The theme for 2010 is 'Science, Technology and Society'
http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/148532/commonwealth_day/
Harmony Day
21 March
Living in Harmony is an Australian Government initiative designed to promote community harmony, build relationships between people and address racism where it occurs in Australia. It coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and promotes the values of harmony, community, diversity, commitment, goodwill, and understanding. The theme for 2010 is ‘Express Yourself’.
The Australian Red Cross Y Challenge program provides teachers and parents with a resource manual and other materials to help young people learn the principles of respect and tolerance for other cultures. http://www.redcross.org.au/ourservices_acrossaustralia_youtheducation_programs_Ychallenge.htm
The website provides useful links to resources, classroom activities and lessons plans as well as free posters, button badges, Harmony Day temporary tattoos, stickers and balloons.
http://www.harmony.gov.au/harmony-day/
Resources
State of the World’s Children 2009
UNICEF’s annual publication, State of the World’s Children, focuses on the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The special edition provides detailed information about the progress in protecting children’s rights and work still to be done. There are also extensive collections of statistics for each country. There are photo essays, one minute videos and cartoons which demonstrate the CRC and its importance to young people.
http://www.unicef.org/rightsite/index.html
AusAID
update
Hot Topics
13 January Haiti earthquake: Australia increases assistance
6 January Solomon Islands earthquakes
24 December Aceh and Nias: Five years on from the tsunami
21 December Pacific AIDS report identifies diverse challenges
17 December Rebuilding Samoa
15 December Reducing emissions from deforestation in Kalimantan
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics
Media Releases
24 January Visit to Botswana and South Africa
24 January London Conference on Afghanistan
23 January Australian Air Traffic Controllers to assist in Haiti
19 January Retirement of Bob McMullan
19 January Australia increases emergency assistance to Haiti
6 January Australian assistance to Solomon Islands
20 December Australian Assistance to Fiji Floods
18 December Australia elected to United Nations Peacebuilding Commission
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/media/latest.cfm
Focus Online
Stories in Focus Online extend the range of the stories which appear in AusAID’s Focus magazine. They can include supporting video or audio clips, photo slideshows, maps, or other multimedia.
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/focusonline/
Global Education around Australia
New South Wales
Blueprint for a Better World
Caritas’ Blueprint for a better world is a travelling multimedia exhibition which gives a practical face to the eight Millennium Development Goals.
Martin Place, Sydney 16–25 February
Yamuloong, 71 Prospect Rd, Garden Suburb, Newcastle 4–13 March
Lismore Workers Club, 231–235 Keen St, Lismore 20 March – 3 April
http://www.blueprintforabetterworld.org/
HSC Examination Review
A review of the 2009 HSC Geography examination by experienced markers and teachers. Different presenters at each location will discuss issues such as megacities in developing countries, ecosystems at risk, ecological sustainable development and economic activity.
Santa Sabina College, Strathfield Tuesday 9 February 4pm – 6:30pm
St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong Thursday 11 February 4pm – 6:30pm
Merewether High School, Newcastle Monday 16 February 4pm – 6:30pm
Confidence with skills and the School Certificate
Research and fieldwork skills, review paper, exam question writing – integrating global education topics – Australia- Regional and Global links (aid, defence, culture, communication, migration, tourism, trade, sport). Issues in Australian and global environments including land, water and waste management and strategies Australia can adopt to address the challenges of a better future – human rights, reconciliation, refugees
PTC Conference Room, Leichhardt Monday 1 March 8:30am – 3:30pm
Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth Tuesday 9 March 8:30am – 3:30pm
Council Chambers, Wagga Wagga Tuesday 4 May 8:30am – 3:30pm
Charles Sturt University, Bathurst Friday 21 May 8:30am – 3:30pm
Making a difference by teaching about water in geography
These workshops are in the Sydney Water region of Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra for the Water for Life project. They are focussed on case studies of local water efficiency projects and fieldwork (guest speaker) opportunities. Each workshop will include a practical session or inspection of a water project and global connections.
Coastal Environment Centre, Narrabeen Wednesday 3 March 8:30am – 3:30pm
Centennial Parklands Learning Centre Tuesday 23 March 8:30am – 3:30pm
Australia’s Industry World, Port Kembla Wednesday 31 March 8:30am – 3:30pm
Georges River Environmental Education Centre Wednesday 21 April 8:30am – 3:30pm
Using contemporary resources in global geography
This series will have a focus on quality teaching using contemporary resources in the classroom. The resources used will have applications from Years 7-12. A central feature of these workshops is the DVD: The Burning Season, which is a documentary on climate change, threatened habitats and land degradation. The movie uses a case study on rainforest burning in Indonesia to investigate these issues and what can be done to change it. Teachers attending the workshop will receive a copy of the DVD, included in the registration fee.
Glenbrook Theatre Thursday 11 March 8:30am – 3:30pm
Quality Inn and Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Thursday 18 March 4:30pm - 6:30pm and Friday 19 March 8:30am – 3:30pm
For registration details: http://www.gtansw.org.au/
South Australia
Learning for Life
Adelaide 19-21 February 2010
The Social Educators’ Association of Australia (SEAA) biennial conference includes Key note speakers: Professor Rob Gilbert, UQ and Professor Cathie Holden University of Exeter and over 60 workshops/papers/fieldtrips. The full program and registration is on the website.
http://www.seaa.org.au/
Western Australia
Thinking Globally
2 March
This workshop will be based on “Thinking Globally”, an Australian resource designed to help teachers bring a global perspective to their early years classroom. It offers 130 pages of great ideas for early childhood teachers. All who attend will receive a copy of the book.
When: 4:00pm – 6:00pm Tuesday, March 2nd
Where: One World Centre, 5 King William St, Bayswater
Who: Early childhood teachers and student teachers
For details see http://www.oneworldcentre.org.au or contact Kylie Hosking: 9371 9133 education@oneworldcentre.org.au
Global Issues in Geography
3 March
In this workshop, participants will:
• Explore the principles of global education and opportunities for learning about global issues across units 2&3
• Consider some of the potential pitfalls when learning about other countries/cultures
• Discover case studies that tell powerful stories of active citizenship
• Explore real data mapping techniques that can reveal underlying values and social issues.
• Participate in engaging learning activities for use in the classroom
When: 4:00pm – 6:00pm Wednesday, March 3
Where: One World Centre, 5 King William St, Bayswater
Who: Upper and lower secondary Geography teachers
For details see http://www.oneworldcentre.org.au or contact Nuella Flynn: 9371 9133 secondaryed@oneworldcentre.org.au
|
Support and Networks 
Print View
