WorldWise News
This page contains news items directly relating to running WorldWise. For news about schools involved in the programmes, go to the Project News section.
The WorldWise Transition Unit is now available. You can download it from our Resources page, or contact WorldWise to find out more and to obtain a printed copy: (01) 887 1257 or worldwise@leargas.ie
The WorldWise Programme (October 2011–March 2012) will continue to support activities including the rollout of the WorldWise Transition Unit, joint project activities in WorldWise schools and the Annual WorldWise Forum on Thursday 26 January 2012.
Due to a reduction in staff hours, support to teachers from the WorldWise office will be restricted to Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 to 17:00, from 01 October 2011. For more information contact us at worldwise@leargas.ie
WorldWise 2011 Final Report forms for both schools and networks are now available to download. The reports are due in to WorldWise by 15 June 2011.
Teachers' Conference
This was
held in Dublin on Friday 08 April, went very well. Our thanks to all the teachers who came (including partner teachers from Kenya, the Phillipines, Zambia and South Africa) and to their principals who managed without them for the day. To find our more about the day, clickWorldWise Teachers' Conference 2011.
Teachers' Conference
The WorldWise teachers' conference this year will be held on 08 April in Dublin. We're expecting 60 teachers (including at least 10 partner teachers) to attend for a day of learning and discussion. For more information, contact us at worldwise@leargas.ie
WorldWise Evaluation
Many thanks to all who contributed to the WorldWise evaluation that took place from January to March this year. As well as conducting an online survey of over 200 students and 40 teachers, the evaluator visited WorldWise schools, met both Irish and partner teachers and members of the development education sector throughout Ireland.
As part of the external evaluation of WorldWise, which is currently underway, we are asking students and teachers participating in the programme to complete the following online surveys to assist us in gathering data and feedback. They should take no more than 10-15 minutes to fill in.
Teacher Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WorldWiseEvaluationTeacherSurvey
Student Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WorldWiseEvaluationStudentQuestionnaire
If you have any questions about this process, please contact a member of the WorldWise team.
On Thursday 27 January, 2011, in Croke Park (Hogan Suite), over 530 students and teachers from 39 Irish schools, one Zambian school, one Basutho school, one Indian school and four Irish networks came together to celebrate WorldWise and share the learning from their partnership projects. The WorldWise dandelion logo provided the theme for this year’s Forum, which was “Seeds of Learning", focusing on the joint learning that has emerged from partnership between Irish and partner schools taking part in the programme. The Forum showcased how WorldWise projects grow and develop through different stages, and ultimately create opportunities for joint learning between partner schools about key development issues.
On 09 and 16 October, in Dublin and Cork respectively, WorldWise held Teacher Workshops for those teachers whose schools are in the early stages of their partnerships and who are planning Irish Teacher Visits this year. Further workshops were held in Cork and Dublin in November for those teachers whose partnerships are at later stages; particularly those planning to host Partner Teacher Visits this year and those who wished to consolidate their learning partnerships. WorldWise would like to thank all teachers who attended these Saturday workshops. A series of Student Workshops are also available from IDEA members and of course the Annual WorldWise Forum is coming up in January next year.
WorldWise Transition Unit: Linking and Learning
The new WorldWise year got off to a flying start with a workshop in August for those teachers who are running the pilot of our new Transition Unit, Linking and Learning, this year. Twenty-one teachers from 15 schools attended an initial day of training on 24 August. Since then these schools (plus one partner school) have been piloting the TU and an evaluation of the unit was held on January 14th 2011. A revised TU Descriptor has subsequently been submitted to the NCCA for approval, and the resource pack is being revised and updated based on teachers' feedback. We hope to have all finalised materials ready to share with teachers by the summer. In the meantime, if you would like a copy of the pilot TU and resource pack, please contact Mary McCarthy on mmccarthy@leargas.ie.
The WorldWise grants committee met after the March deadline and reviewed all the applications for funding. Forty-three schools and three networks were awarded funding for activities throughout the coming year.
Once again, the WorldWise team will provide a series of seminars and workshops to inform teachers about the programme and about how to apply for funding in advance of our next funding application deadline on March 22. The events will be held in different venues around the country. Click the link above for more information.
Mary McCarthy of WorldWise visited four schools in Vietnam and three schools in India, 5 of which are partnered with Irish schools through WorldWise. Her visit coincided with the visit of 4 students and 2 teachers from Roscommon Community School to their partner, Xuan Dinh High School in Hanoi, and she was able to view first-hand the impact of this visit. She also met with partners Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Vietnam to discuss how WorldWise and Cyber Bridges can work together to support Irish/Vietnamese school links. She attended a seminar of Loreto Principals in India in Kolkata, as well as a joint Irish/Indian student conference on human rights in Bratachari Secondary School, which took place during a visit by John Scottus Secondary School students to their partner schools in West Bengal. For more, read the summary report of the visit, or visit our gallery for photos of the visit.
Annual WorldWise Student Teacher Forum
The theme for the Student Teacher Forum in January 2010 was ' The Partnership Journey' . The venue was Croke Park and more than 400 students, 50 teachers and another 50 visitors and exhibitors attended and took part in workshops on the themes of Sharing Culture , Intergenerational Learning, Global Inequality etc. Presentation School Carlow won first prize for their demonstration at their stall of the learning from their school partnership with Kaoma Community School in Zambia. For pictures of the day click the link to ourWorldWise Forum Gallery
