"The Institute experience has been inspirational, meaningful and empowering. The main impact of this program is in the way I approach teaching and learning. There have been many inputs on how to make learning "student-centered" by giving students a choice to own their learning and by listening to their voices and allowing them to share their voices in the products of their learning."
Iwan Syahril, Equal Bright School Bandung, Indonesia
"I just want to tell you how thankful our school is to have had the opportunity to host the two teachers from Thailand and the two teachers from Indonesia this week. One of the great highlights was when Iwan from Indonesia came to my Dance class and taught us the Thousand Hand Dance. It was so beautiful! My students and I have agreed to continue to practice it so that we can teach it to many more people at the Asian Festival we are having in the Spring...We are so fortunate to have had this opportunity to learn from these four wonderful teachers you sent to our school. I hope they enjoyed themselves as much as we enjoyed having them here."
S. Piccoli, Woodstock Union High School, Vermont
"This has been an excellent workshop for teachers teaching English as a foreign language. We can learn English through discussion, talking, sharing . . . among our groups. We can take some interesting "Best Practices" back home to apply in class [or] otherwise share with colleagues."
Weena Kanadpon, Thap Put Wittaya School Phang Nga, Thailand
"It was amazing to me how well [the teachers from Thailand and Indonesia] adjusted so quickly when their own lives are so different! Was a real learning experience both ways . . . for us and for them."
G. Johnson, Scarsdale High School, New York
"[The sessions have provided us] . . . with new ideas and knowledge/skills to implement best practice teaching strategies, and [making] sure that this does not just stop here, by having and knowing there [are] still connections in the future with others in other countries."
Setyaningsih Rachmania, Sekolah Dasar Laboratorium Bandung, Indonesia
"The [visiting teachers from Indonesia] are so interested in everything going on around here. We had an all day county teacher in-service yesterday and [we] filled their day with lots of more informal educational experiences. They joined a tour of the apple orchard and cider press with a group of preschool children, then a teacher expo where they talked to lots of educators. . . . [They also visited] an elementary, middle, and high school . . . and spoke at Walsh University to a cultural diversity class. We are having such a wonderful time! They prepared an Indonesian meal for us and we celebrated Senny's birthday with a "brownie cake" and ice cream. We've had a great time and the students and staff have fallen in love with them!"
N. Varian, East Canton, Ohio
"We [got] process and product assessment, and I will use both to really know the students' progress authentically. [The institute sessions] has showed me the theory and the application, so I have the procedural skill/knowledge to apply them in my classroom."
Bandi Subandi, SMP Negeri 1 Cibitung, Indonesia
"Our visit with the Thai and Indonesian teachers was fabulous. Each of us has been enriched by our time with them. Thank you for the opportunity to learn from them and to develop these new friendships."
S. Lester, Olympic High School, North Carolina
"[This Institute] opens my eyes to how important technology and primary resources are in teaching and learning. It is also a means of linking, partnership, and building mutual understanding among peoples in the world. Moreover, we as teachers can share ideas with one another around the world."
Edi Santoso, SMP Negeri 1 Bandar Mataram, Indonesia |
