The Paris Attacks, ISIS, and Beyond

Here is a brief video about the formation of ISIS:



And our Powerpoint presentation from class today:

The Flipped Classroom

Here are a couple videos about the flipped classroom model. Take a look and be ready to talk about them in class.

New Ways of Teaching Math

America is testing a new method for teaching math as part of the Common Core (a unified set of standards for education ... something America hasn't really had before).

Watch the videos and think about the questions from class below.

Why are so many educators or administrators interested in other countries’ education systems?

How do they try to apply what they learn about other systems?

Have you heard of any successes?

What could be a better way to use what we learn about other systems?

Are Our Kids Tough Enough? A BBC Documentary

What would happen if a school in the UK replaced their teachers with teachers from China? Would the students be able to adjust to the different classroom culture? Would the teachers? Would it improve the students' performance? Or would it be a disaster?

The BBC embarked on an intriguing adventure by doing just that at a school in England. You can watch the trailer here and then read some articles about the results.



Article about the program

Article about the global response

What do you know about Africa?

Is Africa a country? A continent?

Is an awful, poor place where no one has food, water or electricity?

What have you heard about Africa before? What do you really know about this continent?

Africa has a total population of more than 1 billion living in 54 countries with diverse cultures, languages, governments,  and economies. Though there are still issues with poverty and human rights, Africa is home to several of the world's fastest growing economies and many of its leaders have been recognized with Nobel Peace Prizes.

Let's take a look and learn a little more about this often misunderstood and misrepresented continent.

What do you know about Africa?

Cultural Comparisons

As we proceed with our preparation for the International Festival, here are some things to consider. Each nation has its own unique culture or sometimes many cultures within its borders. It is important to understand the similarities and differences between ourselves and others. This way, we can avoid giving offence as well as try our best to cooperate with others. Take a look.

East Meets West

Strange Habits You Might Pick Up

Syrian Refugee Crisis