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CROSSWORLDS®

CrossWorlds program is currently being redeveloped to best meet the needs of educators who look to internationalize their school curriculum and environment. For more information on how the program is developing, see the article below:

CrossWorlds: From Knowing to Doing
By Lynne McClendon, CrossWorlds Director

“From knowing to doing” is the tag line I use to describe where we are in CrossWorlds development. Our previous program, Understanding Diversity by Design, while outstanding in its concepts and components, nonetheless, offered “ways of knowing” to help teachers and administrators cope with international issues with a slight focus on English language learners and thus much of the focus was “how to get along’’ to improve student performance.”

One year ago CASIE started exploring how the CrossWorlds program could include more “international” approaches as a way to incorporate the cultural understanding tenets we believe are so important. These tenets are key to sustaining good educational benefits for ALL students and strengthening the school environment. The updated program focuses on getting participants involved in a process that has real world application rather than learning “about” the topic or theme. When people are involved in the “doing,” the object is to work together to understand and provide plausible solutions. Of course, key to pursing this is a correlation to the school’s needs and curriculum.

In order to address the school’s needs, the CrossWorlds program will include an assessment tool by which schools will be able to gage their degree of “international” or “global” character. Upon evaluation of the results yielded by the assessment tool, CASIE will offer a variety of follow-up services specific to the needs of the school. While the assessment tool is being polished, the follow-up services are being realigned or developed.

Another key to success is correlation with curriculum. To address this aspect, the CrossWorlds program is developing one-day seminars on timely issues. The first topic will be Water with direct correlations to the Georgia Performance Standards on which schools develop curriculum. Student/teacher teams will be invited to participate in hands-on activities and to hear leading experts. The teams will share the information with their respective schools involving a wider audience to develop a project related to water. In turn, the projects will be submitted for competition and awarded prizes based on set criteria. We are most fortunate in the Atlanta area to have a wealth of expertise available.

CASIE is excited to move forward with the new CrossWorlds program. We are confident it will meet the needs of educators and administrators throughout the region. We look forward to our first Water Congress in the fall of 2007 and welcome any feedback you have on our programs.

2008 International Year of Languages