Here are some resources for teachers to reference for ideas on project-based learning whether you are in the arts or if you teach a core subject. Project based learning is a hands-on approach to learning that really engages students and is an opportunity to include a “take action” component to help solve a problem within a community locally or globally. I recommend Epals to get started with as you can join in on a current project proposed by another teacher internationally, or you can initiate a project yourself for others to collaborate with you. I made it as far as familiarizing with the site (teachers participating from all over the world!) but did not have time to implement it last spring. I am planning to propose an art project to collaborate on this school year, perhaps the global portraits project. iearn seems to be a similiar program but they do charge a fee. I would also like to try TGC fellow Jodi Sabra's program globalvillageconnect.org which blends pen pals with a global community service project, this could be a great club activity. On art projects, I was planning to do the memory project to align with a unit on self portraits and global portraits, there is a fee involved for participating which prevented us from participating in the past, it is good to know that up front so you can maybe do a fundraising activity prior to when you plan to submit the portraits.
Epals
Epals is a great resource for teachers to collaborate with other teachers and students internationally by collaborating together on projects. You can initiate your own project for others to join, or you may join into a proposed project. It is free! Iearn
Iearn (International Education and Resource Network) enables teachers and students to collaborate on projects. There is a charge for this service which maybe your school would be willing to provide. Global SchoolNet:
A resource you can use to collaborate in the classroom that matches to the age and content area you want to focus on. People to People International’s School and Classroom Program:
Register for a partner class so your students can communicate, collaborate, and build friendships with students from another country and culture through pen-pal exchanges and projects participate in a global mural design contest! |
TGC Globally Minded Community Service Projects
A collection of information pertaining to interesting community service projects that are collaborative and global, working toward a shared cause
Students Rebuild.org
"In partnership with the Bezos Family Foundation, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has committed to serving displaced youth through our Healing Classrooms program in Iraq and Lebanon. Additionally, funds support work to enhance social and emotional learning components within the existing Healing Classrooms curriculum to improve children’s ability to survive conflict and succeed later in life".
Tererai Trent International
"We envision empowered rural communities where all children have universal access to quality education, regardless of their gender or socio-economic backgrounds".
Empty Bowls
"Our major project is the Empty Bowls Project, an international grassroots effort to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. This project represents what we do best—develop creative, exciting, and powerful models that are replicable and scalable by others wishing to work for social justice".
Memory Project
"The Memory Project is a charitable nonprofit organization that invites art teachers and their students to create portraits for youth around the world who have faced substantial challenges, such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents, violence, and extreme poverty".
An ISA Service-Learning community partner organization in Amman Jordan
"ISA Service-Learning community partner organization in Amman Jordan is collaborating on a project to use the art of felting to empower women"
Rwanda Healing Project
"Barefoot Artists team uses art as its main vehicle in its transformative work. Thus, in this multi-year, multi-dimensional Rwanda Healing Project, we expand the boundaries of art into life in healing and empowering individuals, families and community".
GlobalVillageConnect.org
Developed by TGC Fellow Jodi Sabra : facilitating meaningful classroom-to-classroom connections, service learning and global travel experiences. It's not big and famous, but the work has been transformative in my school and in Uganda, GVC has helped develop a grass-roots pen pal exchange into multiple civil, environmental & collaborative art exchanges.
"In partnership with the Bezos Family Foundation, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has committed to serving displaced youth through our Healing Classrooms program in Iraq and Lebanon. Additionally, funds support work to enhance social and emotional learning components within the existing Healing Classrooms curriculum to improve children’s ability to survive conflict and succeed later in life".
Tererai Trent International
"We envision empowered rural communities where all children have universal access to quality education, regardless of their gender or socio-economic backgrounds".
Empty Bowls
"Our major project is the Empty Bowls Project, an international grassroots effort to raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger. This project represents what we do best—develop creative, exciting, and powerful models that are replicable and scalable by others wishing to work for social justice".
Memory Project
"The Memory Project is a charitable nonprofit organization that invites art teachers and their students to create portraits for youth around the world who have faced substantial challenges, such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents, violence, and extreme poverty".
An ISA Service-Learning community partner organization in Amman Jordan
"ISA Service-Learning community partner organization in Amman Jordan is collaborating on a project to use the art of felting to empower women"
Rwanda Healing Project
"Barefoot Artists team uses art as its main vehicle in its transformative work. Thus, in this multi-year, multi-dimensional Rwanda Healing Project, we expand the boundaries of art into life in healing and empowering individuals, families and community".
GlobalVillageConnect.org
Developed by TGC Fellow Jodi Sabra : facilitating meaningful classroom-to-classroom connections, service learning and global travel experiences. It's not big and famous, but the work has been transformative in my school and in Uganda, GVC has helped develop a grass-roots pen pal exchange into multiple civil, environmental & collaborative art exchanges.
Visual Art/Fine Art Resources
Travel Grants:
US Dept. of State sponsored Program
https://exchanges.state.gov/us/program/smartpower
smARTpowerSM sends American visual artists abroad to collaborate with local artists and young people around the world on the creation of community-based art projects. Focusing on direct community engagement that encourages dialogue, experimentation and creativity, this program is designed to stimulate discourse around local or global social issues including the environment, education, health, girls and women’s issues and freedom of expression.
American Arts Incubator
Calling innovative new media and digital artists who have a love of travel and passion for community-driven art!
https://exchanges.state.gov/us/program/american-arts-incubator
launched in 2014, uses new media and digital arts as a means for engaging youth, artists, and underserved community members in strategic regions around the world to advance U.S. foreign policy by addressing a local community issue, such as conflict resolution, social inclusion, the environment and women’s empowerment. Applications due in January. http://americanartsincubator.org/blog/apply-2017-18-american-arts-incubator
Visual Art Projects with Collaborative or Global Focus
Global art project India
The mission of the Global Art Project is to joyously create a culture of peace through art. The Project celebrates diversity and multi-culturalism while expressing the idea: We Are All One.
International Art projects
inspire and educate communities, individuals and leaders to be creative in and through art-making
The Rwanda Healing Project-Public Art
Lily Yeh, who works with communities around the world, designed the memorial and monument as a place for people to pour out their grief. The Rugerero Genocide Memorial Park, part of the Rwanda Healing Project
Pages for Peace
The Big Book: Pages for Peace travels the world to be seen by kids everywhere. We believe kids can make a difference in helping to create a more peaceful world.
US Dept. of State sponsored Program
https://exchanges.state.gov/us/program/smartpower
smARTpowerSM sends American visual artists abroad to collaborate with local artists and young people around the world on the creation of community-based art projects. Focusing on direct community engagement that encourages dialogue, experimentation and creativity, this program is designed to stimulate discourse around local or global social issues including the environment, education, health, girls and women’s issues and freedom of expression.
American Arts Incubator
Calling innovative new media and digital artists who have a love of travel and passion for community-driven art!
https://exchanges.state.gov/us/program/american-arts-incubator
launched in 2014, uses new media and digital arts as a means for engaging youth, artists, and underserved community members in strategic regions around the world to advance U.S. foreign policy by addressing a local community issue, such as conflict resolution, social inclusion, the environment and women’s empowerment. Applications due in January. http://americanartsincubator.org/blog/apply-2017-18-american-arts-incubator
Visual Art Projects with Collaborative or Global Focus
Global art project India
The mission of the Global Art Project is to joyously create a culture of peace through art. The Project celebrates diversity and multi-culturalism while expressing the idea: We Are All One.
International Art projects
inspire and educate communities, individuals and leaders to be creative in and through art-making
The Rwanda Healing Project-Public Art
Lily Yeh, who works with communities around the world, designed the memorial and monument as a place for people to pour out their grief. The Rugerero Genocide Memorial Park, part of the Rwanda Healing Project
Pages for Peace
The Big Book: Pages for Peace travels the world to be seen by kids everywhere. We believe kids can make a difference in helping to create a more peaceful world.
Disclaimer: This is not an official U.S. Department of State site. The views and information presented are the grantee’s own and do not represent the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, IREX, or the U.S. Department of State.