Organization of American States Department of<br />Human Development
"Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers with Web 2.0 Tools and 21st Century Skills"

Professional Development Scholarship Program

Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers with Web 2.0 Tools and 21st Century Skills [1] OAS/DHDEC/CIR.031/2012

1) Study venue: The course will be delivered entirely online (Internet) through the Virtual Classroom of iEARN-USA. Tel: (212) 870-2693. Webpage: http://us.iearn.org

2) Course Coordinator: Adriana Vilela, Specialist OAS Office of Education and Culture. Tel: (202) 458-6027. Fax: (202) 458-3167. E-Mail: [email protected]

3) Modality: Online

4) Start and end dates: October 4th – November 29th

5) Duration: 2 Months

6) Language: English

7) Objectives:

• Understand the foundations for 21st Century teaching and learning

• Experience hands-on integration of ICT and collaborative learning into your teaching practice

• Recognize the benefits of international collaboration and knowledge sharing

• Network with educators around the world who are using ICTs in their classrooms

• Develop the framework for a 21st century teaching course to use with future teachers.

8) Course Content: Detailed info on http://us.iearn.org/professional-development/online-courses/teachereducators

Pre-Course Week:

· Log into the course

· Create your iEARN Course Profile

· Meet facilitator (s)

· Review the Course Syllabus

· Become familiar with course navigation

· Complete the Pre-Course Survey

Week 1: 21st Century Learning: A Look at Model's and Standards

· Information and Communication Technologies in 21st Century Education

· National and international technology instructional standards for teachers

· Exploration of iEARN online collaborative projects, activities and forums

Week 2: Project Based, Technology Rich Pedagogy for 21st Century Educators

· 21st century skills and project based learning.

· The Role of Telecommunications in 21st Century Learning.

· Challenges of communication between Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives.

· Integrating ICT's and Project Based Learning in Teacher Education.

Week 3: Classroom 2040: Teaching Tools for a Digital Age

· Trends in 21st century education and examples of future classroom models

· Research on the changes needed to deliver the 21st century curriculum

· Exploration of collaborative writing tools

· Three technology tool categories which change teaching and learning

Week 4: Teacher Education for the 21st Century - Course Framework Development

· Objectives of 21st Century Education

· Course Wiki development with ideas to work with future teachers.

Week 5: Pedagogy for 21st Century Instruction

· Classroom models in digital age instruction

· Technology instructional strategies with iEARN project examples

· Recommendations for pedagogical content for the 21st century learning

Week 6: Digital Age Instructional Tools

· Further examples of instructional resources that facilitate the principles of 21st century skills.

· Matching learning goals and digital tools to address the learning needs of the student.

· Identification of experiences that will prepare future teachers to be able to integrate digital tools and processes into their instruction.

Week 7: Assessment in a Digital Age

· Reflection on the types of skills future teachers need to be able to implement technology driven assessments.

· Exploration of gaming and simulations as an alternative instructional and assessment strategy to enhance student achievement.

· Current research on the role of technology to increase student achievement.

Week 8: 21st Century Teacher Education: Prepared Teachers for 2040

· Plan for continued collaboration and implementation of the 21st century teacher education course.

· Final Reflections

· Post course survey

9) Requirements:

· Citizenship or permanent residence of an OAS Member State (Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brasil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba[2], Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, República Dominicana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela), with the exception of the United States since is the host country.

· The candidates must have, at least, a bachelor degree in Education, therefore must submit a copy of the transcripts and degree diploma

· At least 2 years of work experience as teachers’ trainer and be in charge of student teachers.

· High degree of discipline, responsibility, good time management, and verbal communication skills.

· Possess basic computer and internet skills.

· Have good command of English; applicants for whom English is not the first or native language should submit one of the following to verify English proficiency:

o An official transcript verifying completion of studies in an English speaking university in the last five years

o A test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 570 or higher for the paper based test, 230 for computer-based test or 89 for internet-based test; IELTS 6.5; Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) minimum score of B, or the equivalent.

· Be able to dedicate approximately 5 hours per week for course activities.

· Submission of completed application form by the deadline set by the National Liaison Organization (ONE).[3] It is the candidate’s responsibility to ascertain the deadline set by the ONE in his or her country of residence. http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/ones.aspx?culture=en&navid=282

10) OAS Scholarship Selection Criteria: In accordance with article 4.2 of the Manual of Procedures of the Scholarship and Training Programs of the OAS, OAS scholarships shall be granted based on the following criteria:

· The objectives and priorities established in the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development;

· The training priorities of the member states;

· The merits and overall credentials of the candidate, including his/her academic and professional background;

· The financial need of the candidate; and

· An extensive and equitable geographic distribution for the benefit of all member states and that takes into account the greater needs of the smaller and relatively less developed economies.

11) Benefits: The OAS Department of Human Developments, Education and Culture and iEARN-USA will cover the total of the tuition fees for the selected candidates.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS CORRESPONDING TO THE 2012 REGULAR BUDGET

12) Certification: Participants who successfully complete the course requirements will receive a certificate for the successful completion of the course.

13) Responsibilities of the Scholarship Recipients:

· The selected candidate must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship to DHDEC, allowing OAS to do the necessary arrangements to designate a new selected candidate in case of scholarship declinations.

· The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship by signing and returning to DHDEC their completed “form of acceptance of the scholarship award” that will be sent shortly to their e-mails; only after this has been done will the OAS precede with the necessary scholarship arrangements.

· If the selected candidate has accepted the scholarship, but for justified reasons can not participate in the course, he/she must notify immediately to DHDEC.

· If the selected candidate declines, cancels or ends the scholarship after the course has begun, without written authorization of DHDEC, he/she will have to reimburse GS/OAS the total amount spent in his/her scholarship.

· Access to technological hardware and connectivity (internet and email) costs are responsibility of the participant. Have unrestricted access to a computer with Internet.

14) Presentation of the candidacies:

1. Select the course

2. After having read the course information thoroughly, click “Continue/Continuar” at the end of the page.

3. Complete application form.

4. After completing application form click “Send / Enviar” at the end of the page 5.

5. A copy of the application form will be sent automatically to your e-mail account.

6. Print and sign application form e-mailed to your account.

7. Submit signed form and required documents with Professional Development Scholarships Forms & Documents http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/formspd.aspx?culture=en&navid=282 to the National Liaison Office (ONE) in your country http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/ones.aspx?culture=en&navid=282

Please Notice: If you were awarded an OAS Professional Development Scholarship in the past twelve (12) months or if you currently hold an OAS Scholarship for Academic Studies, you are not eligible to apply for another Professional Development Scholarship.

Any questions regarding submission of applications for this course should be sent to: [email protected]

OAS/DHDEC/Afarfan/Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers with Web 2.0 Tools and 21st Century Skills /USA/2012



[1] The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (“GS/OAS”) reserves the right to cancel this scholarship announcement at any time. Moreover, the OAS, GS/OAS, and its personnel are not liable for any actions taken in reliance on or otherwise based upon information in this announcement.

[2] On June 3, 2009, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas adopted resolution AG/RES. 2438 (XXXIX-O/09), which resolves that the 1962 Resolution that excluded the Government of Cuba from its participation in the inter-American system, ceases to have effect in the Organization of American States (OAS). The 2009 resolution states that the participation of the Republic of Cuba in the OAS will be the result of a process of dialogue initiated at the request of the Government of Cuba, and in accordance with the practices, purposes, and principles of the OAS.

[3] The deadline for presentation of applications to the (ONE) differs from country to country and should therefore be confirmed with the relevant ONE in the applicant's country of origin or permanent residence.