A PUBLICATION OF THE ALBERTA COUNCIL FOR GLOBAL COOPERATION
V O L U M E
FALL 2011
1
Educator Profile: Bill Robinson Bill Robinson is one of those fearless and motivated teachers that ACGC feels lucky to know! A teacher at St. James in Calgary, Bill is dedicated to share, not tim ing his knowledge, st fir e th r “ Fo questions and reare of the only are we aw flections surroundour planet at th ing global citizenship es su is paca e th with his students on ve ha faces, we e th a daily basis. e ak m ly bility to actual e ges; all w necessary chan Bill is an active user ht people of ACGC’s Develneed is the rig lobal G opment in a Box in g in participat program and one of to gs in th r Leadership fo his students sed. I believe ar rw fo lected along with 4 e ov m ed se e th t other students from an pl that if we y, across Alberta to da to ople with young pe participate in the of where the boundaries 2010 Change Your humanity World Youth Leadke ta ill w at th ership Tour to are limitless. ” Ethiopia, in connecon -Bill Robins tion to the program. Bill’s grade 9 Global Leadership Class in 2010 was also nominated by ACGC to represent one
unit of dedicated Albertan youth who are working both locally and globally to raise awareness about poverty, social justice, inequality and human rights issues for the Be Bold, Be Yourself, Be the Change International Development 2010 campaign. This year, Bill’s class is working on is a twinning project with a school in Grenada. As Bill partners with a teacher in Grenada, they are creating a cultural exchange where their students learn from each other. Students in Grenada share information about coastal and coral reef erosion, while students at St. James will share information about Alberta watersheds. The goal over the next two years will be to learn a great deal about and from each other through video conferencing and mutually developed Wiki's. The second stage to the project will be to identify ways the students can help and empower each other. This project is being supported by a grant from CIDA. By building this connection with
people in another country, Bill hopes to foster the perception that there are real people in developing nations and that they are hard working and proud; they don't need our charity, rather they need our collaboration to foster opportunity. Bill encourages his students to remain active in international development by motivating them become involved in global issues that are important to them and by providing them the opportunity to take this knowledge and translate it into real action through volunteering. Bill’s students are reminded daily to think about what it means to be a global citizen.
Development in a Box Designed to be an educational kit to be used by educators, Development in a Box free resource kits, aid in the incorporation of global issues into the curriculum and classroom for grades seven through twelve.
Kits include lesson plans, hands-on activities and supplies, as well as connections to local organizations (from the ACGC membership) who are working internationally. The kits are available to Alberta classrooms free of charge. Lessons address many global issues and are linked to curriculum objectives in the Alberta Program of Studies.
Do you teach Elementary? We’ve heard your desire for a kit as well! ACGC will be launching the elementary version of the kits for grade 1-6 early in the new year. Make sure you’re signed up to receive ACGC Teach to ensure you don’t miss the launch of the second phase of this incredible project!