Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:16:52 -0500
From: Chris Shepherd
Subject: PROG: New Semester Program in Thailand and Cambodia

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN), in collaboration with Payap University, is pleased to announce a new semester program for Fall 2010 in Thailand and Cambodia. Offered through The Thai and Southeast Asian Studies Program at Payap University (Chiang Mai, Thailand), this South East Asia Comparative (SEACS) Program will spend two months in Thailand and two months in Cambodia through a partnership with the University of Cambodia. Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most diverse regions in the world culturally, ethnically, religiously, and linguistically. This program offers students the unique opportunity to explore Thailand and Cambodia from both historical and contemporary standpoints.

The program is a 16 credit experience. All instruction is provided by Payap University Faculty/Professors in Chiang Mai, Thailand and courses will be co-taught in Cambodia by University of Cambodia and Payap University professors. Final grades will appear on a Payap University transcript.

The first two months of the course are spent in Chiang Mai, the cultural heart of Thailand. Students will enroll in “Buddhism and Thai Society,” “Sustainable Development, Environmental Justice, and Ethnic Minorities,” and “Thai Language.” During this time, students will have the unique opportunity to volunteer teach novice monks English or spend time at a local orphanage. Students will also enjoy many opportunities for cultural integration on the campus of Payap University.

The group will head to the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, for four weeks to continue studies. In Phnom Penh, students will study at the University of Cambodia and enroll in “Contemporary Cambodia: History and Society” and “Khmer Language.” This portion of the semester focuses on Cambodia’s recent history, including a focus on the Khmer Rouge. The final three weeks of the program are spent in Siem Reap, gateway to the remarkable ruins of Angkor Wat. While enrolled in “Hinduism and Khmer Civilization,” students have the opportunity to explore the sprawling Angkor complex.

In Cambodia, the group will travel together and will be accompanied by University of Cambodia and Payap University professors, as well as a staff member from Payap University.

Each location involves a number of off-campus excursions and experiences. Students live on-campus at Payap University and will live in off-campus apartments while in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Program Dates: August 13, 2010 – December 11, 2010

For Fall 2010 the Program Fee is USD$10,400. But, to celebrate our 15th year of serving the international education community, The Education Abroad Network is offering USD$1,500 grants to all Fall 2010 participants on this program so the total cost is USD$8,900. This fee includes all accommodation, airport transfers, arrival orientation, all program-required ground transportation, academic credit, various excursions and tours, entrance fees to National Parks, cultural centers, etc. and 10 meals per week while Thailand. Students will incur additional costs for international airfare, personal spending, additional meals in Thailand, all meals within Cambodia and extra travel.

For further information visit our website http://www.educationabroadnetwork.org/?id=223

Chris Shepherd
Executive Director
The Education Abroad Network
Study Asia/Study Australia/Study New Zealand
220 West Colfax Ave, Suite 600
South Bend, Indiana 46601 USA
Ph: 1.800.585.9658 (from within US only) or +1.574.271.9416
E-Fax: +1.509.357.9457
Email: chris.shepherd@educationabroadnetwork.org

A new Atlantic article is out about Teach for America. The question the article addresses is “what makes a good teacher?” Tough question. In one paragraph, the article points out that indicators like GPA don’t paint the whole picture of a “good” or “bad” teacher (not really a new, profound idea):

The most valuable educational credentials may be the ones that circle back to squishier traits like perseverance. Last summer, an internal Teach for America analysis found that an applicant’s college GPA alone is not as good a predictor as the GPA in the final two years of college. If an applicant starts out with mediocre grades and improves, in other words, that curve appears to be more revealing than getting straight A’s all along.

That’s good news: TFA looks not only at GPA, but also at individual semesters to see increases or decreases—a sign, the evaluators believe, of perseverance. But do they use any other indicator for perseverance, or just a close look at GPA?

Just as GPA cannot describe the whole picture of one’s college education, so too do peaks and valleys of GPAs not fully measure perseverance. It’s as if TFA wants us to believe that they use a mixed method approach—combining quantitative and qualitative data—but until we can see all “30 data points about a given candidate” we will be unsure if TFA is reifying qualities like perseverance and other “squishier traits” with one indicator like GPA.

I would be weary supporting this “proven model” like the Atlantic piece does until more research, preferably external research, is conducted. In other words, Teach for America is not the solution to public education. It may be a piece of the solution for particular classrooms—but it’s not the end-all solution as this article suggests.

After 8 hours of testimony last night, a NYC panel voted to close 19 public schools. The panel was set up to have the final say in education matters—a check to the mayor. Problem is, the mayor appointed 8 of the 13 members. That’s a larger percent of votes than the Democrats have in the Senate! The New York Times reports:

When the State Legislature renewed the mayor’s control over city schools last year, it gave the panel the final word on closures in an effort to increase parents’ participation in the decisions. But in practical terms, the check on mayoral authority was minimal. Eight of the 13 panel members are appointed by the mayor and can be removed at his behest.

The final vote at 2:40 a.m. was 9 to 4 in favor of closing the “failed” schools. Some system we have.

Our friends at Caring for Cambodia are celebrating the seventh anniversary of their founding by proclaiming today to be International CFC Day. From their Facebook wall:

Today is International CFC Day! Wherever you are in the world, please take a moment to think about our students in Cambodia, your involvement with CFC, and how you can continue to help us bring a brighter future to the children of Cambodia.

CFC is a great organization doing the hard work of improving education in rural Cambodia. Founded by Lehigh graduate Bill Amelio ‘79 and his wife Jamie, Caring for Cambodia focuses its efforts in five areas: school construction, teacher training, innovative learning, student achievement, and student health and well-being. CFC currently operates five schools, four libraries, and provides nearly 35,000 meals each month to over 5,000 students. Recently the organization has begun working with a local secondary school, with the goal of providing students a clear path to employment. The Amelio School was the charity’s first school, founded in 2003. For the past two years the school has been ranked best in the nation by the Cambodian Ministry of Education. Another CFC school, the Kong Much School, is ranked second. CFC introduced the concepts of kindergarten and preschool to Cambodia. You can read about the COE’s growing involvement with the organization here, here and here.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who is looking forward to helping CFC improve and grow during my time at Lehigh. In the meantime however, we should take a minute and follow CFC’s advice above. Think about the children in Siem Reap and how you can help. More information on CFC day can be found here.

Spending Bill Contains Money for U.S.-Africa Partnerships

A federal spending bill for the 2010 fiscal year, signed into law in December, contains $15-million for partnerships between African and American universities. The funds will go to expand collaborations focused on strengthening higher education in sub-Saharan Africa as a way to develop the region’s economy. The U.S. Agency for International Development and a Washington-based group, Higher Education for International Development, last year announced an initial round of grants to 20 African and 20 American colleges for projects in crucial fields such as agriculture, health care, and teacher training.

http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Spending-Bill-Contains-Money/20460/?sid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Hi Everyone,

I know it’s been a busy holiday season, but please don’t forget Lehigh.Me .. we count on you to continue to post your thoughts and opinions going into 2010.

Best Regards,
Roger

They both seem to be saying that COP15 was a waste of time.

Jeff’s response can be found here. He’s angry:

Two years of climate change negotiations have now ended in a farce in Copenhagen. Rather than grappling with complex issues, President Barack Obama decided instead to declare victory with a vague statement of principles agreed with four other countries.

and

Obama’s decision to declare a phony negotiating victory undermines the UN process by signaling that rich countries will do what they want and must no longer listen to the “pesky” concerns of many smaller and poorer countries.

While Bill simply says what he always says (“poetic” spacing his, via Aid Watch):

Sorry to give the bad news evidence, but just think:

for several decades, we have had tons of international summits

almost all of them have failed to produce anything of value

Why do we keep setting our expectations so high?

Maybe we should try some other path of change besides the Big International Summit?

President Obama said today: “our nation’s buildings, our homes and our offices, consume almost 40% of the energy we use, and contribute almost 40% of the carbon pollution that we produce…Retrofitting these buildings to make them more energy efficient, installing new windows and doors, insulation, roofing [is the] fastest, easiest and cheapest things we can do to put Americans back to work, while saving money and reducing harmful emissions.” (watch here)

But I have one question, President Obama: Where is the double-sided printing in the White House?

Kristof writes about one of the Lost Boy’s attempt to build a school in his hometown in Sudan. Money quote (from Dave Eggers):

“What he’s accomplished in his hometown is astounding,” Eggers said. “A 14-structure educational complex built from scratch in one year. It boggles the mind.

“He’s succeeded where countless NGOs stumble, mainly because he knows the local business climate and can negotiate reasonable local prices for materials,” he added, referring to nongovernmental organizations. (my emphasis added)