About the Author and the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program
My name is Doug Banwart, and I teach in rural Illinois. I am a 10-year teaching veteran, and have taught in Illinois and Southern California. I have a wonderful wife, 3 children, and an amazing job that allows me to impart my love of history and travel to my students. During my career, I've acquired a masters degree in history from Western Illinois University and a second masters in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University. I was so blessed to have received the opportunity of a lifetime to engage in a yearlong fellowship with Teachers for Global Classrooms. This fellowship culminated in my first international teacher travel experience to Indonesia in July/August 2017.
The Teachers for Global Classrooms Program is administered by IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board), whose mission is committed to international education in academic research, professional training and technical assistance. It is sponsored by the US Department of State. Every year, approximately 500 teachers apply to the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. Of the applicants, around 75 are selected for the year-long fellowship. The fellowship is designed to develop teacher leaders in global education, and consists of 3 stages.
1) Online Global Education Course. Teachers take a 10-week online course in the fall of their fellowship year. They learn what global education is, how to prepare globally-focused lessons, and discuss global competencies.
2) Global Education Symposium in Washington, DC. Teachers attend a 2-day conference in Washington, where they meet fellow educators in the program and prepare for their international travel experience. They meet other teachers in their summer traveling cohort (there are 6 countries that will be visited in Spring or Summer 2017).
3) Travel Experience. Teachers travel to one country with approximately 10-15 other teachers in the spring or summer of 2017. Participating countries in 2017 include Senegal, Morocco, Colombia, Indonesia, Philippines, and India. While traveling, teachers interact with educators in the host country, learn more about the educational system, and answer research questions that have been prepared prior to travel. Upon completion of the travel experience, teachers create a blog and lesson plans to share with their school and community.
The Teachers for Global Classrooms Program is administered by IREX (International Research and Exchanges Board), whose mission is committed to international education in academic research, professional training and technical assistance. It is sponsored by the US Department of State. Every year, approximately 500 teachers apply to the Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. Of the applicants, around 75 are selected for the year-long fellowship. The fellowship is designed to develop teacher leaders in global education, and consists of 3 stages.
1) Online Global Education Course. Teachers take a 10-week online course in the fall of their fellowship year. They learn what global education is, how to prepare globally-focused lessons, and discuss global competencies.
2) Global Education Symposium in Washington, DC. Teachers attend a 2-day conference in Washington, where they meet fellow educators in the program and prepare for their international travel experience. They meet other teachers in their summer traveling cohort (there are 6 countries that will be visited in Spring or Summer 2017).
3) Travel Experience. Teachers travel to one country with approximately 10-15 other teachers in the spring or summer of 2017. Participating countries in 2017 include Senegal, Morocco, Colombia, Indonesia, Philippines, and India. While traveling, teachers interact with educators in the host country, learn more about the educational system, and answer research questions that have been prepared prior to travel. Upon completion of the travel experience, teachers create a blog and lesson plans to share with their school and community.