Project CLASS Progress Report
Background on Project CLASS
Project CLASS launched in July 2005 as a joint effort by CLASS, NEALR/OSU,
GKE/COMWEB, and EEZ/NYIT with 5 carefully selected pilot schools from 5
strategically important states in the Northeast and Midwest. Project
CLASS began as a formal response, including a detailed implementation
plan, to an RFP issued by the National Security Education Program of DOD
for an additional National Flagship Language Initiative – “The Chinese
K-16 Pipeline Project”. Project CLASS uses a “systems approach” to
improve the ways Chinese language and culture is taught in U.S. It is
guided by a vision of a large-scale, nationwide learning community
supported by a fully articulated standards-based curriculum, by
performance-based (real world) pedagogy (Global Multi-Cultural Heritage
Projects/GMHP), by a modern technology infrastructure (Global
Classroom), by an intensive teacher professional development program
(Global CLASS-Net Academy) and by global resource outreach that links
CLASS teachers and their students with resources throughout the Far
East. The unique strength of Project CLASS is that it is a grassroots
(bottom up) effort organized by the largest national group of Chinese
language teachers in U.S., many with years of experience teaching
Chinese language and culture. The project team therefore made a
commitment up front that, even if Project CLASS was not funded by NSEP,
members would continue the project development effort. The following
“Progress Report” summarizes ongoing activities in the five states (NY,
NJ, OH, CT and MA) and on behalf of the Global Outreach Initiative.
Project CLASS - Ohio Initiative
(K-12 Chinese Flagship Program)
Despite the fact that Project CLASS was not awarded the original 2005
grant, all of the members of the project team joined forces again during
the summer of 2006 in support of team member National East Asia Language
Resource Center at Ohio State University (NEALRC/OSU) to propose an
additional flagship program to the National Security Education Program
of DOD. This new flagship had the major advantage of close proximity to
NEALRC in Columbus and also a useful statewide geographic focus: “Ohio
Statewide K-12 Chinese Flagship Program”. NSEP accepted the proposal
from NEALRC and the new Flagship began operation in December 2006. To
read more about Ohio’s Chinese Flagship Program in Ohio visit
http://k12chineseflagship.osu.edu. The goals of this flagship are to
create capacity to establish language programs in Ohio K-12 schools that
lead to solid communication skills in Mandarin Chinese (in both spoken
and written media) and to provide the means by which Ohio students can
operate effectively in both Chinese and American cultures and to prepare
themselves for the competitive global economy of the 21st century.
CLASS, GKE and the Ohio Department of Education are partners in this
effort. The specific project tasks on which CLASS is focused include
curriculum development and teacher training. GKE recommends classroom
technology, provides system integration services, and assists in the
design and development in China and Taiwan of appropriate study
materials. GKE is also involved in connecting Project CLASS with
government, corporate and educational partners in Chinese-speaking
countries.
Project CLASS - New
Jersey Initiative
CLASS President Lucy Lee and CLASS Member James Chang of GKE serve as
taskforce members on the New Jersey DOE International Education
Initiative. The responsibility of this Taskforce is to assist the New
Jersey Department of Education in the development of a “Statewide K-12
Chinese Language Learning Initiative”. In March 21, 2007, the New Jersey
DOE conducted its first statewide information session: “Fostering the
New Jersey/China Connection - Creating Chinese Language Programs” for
over 100 K-12 school administrators from over 55 New Jersey school
districts. In addition, CLASS is working closely with the World Language
Institute of Rutgers University throughout the development phase of an
“Accelerated Chinese Teacher Certification Program”. Project CLASS is
actively seeking to form strategic partnerships with New Jersey schools
and with non-profit organizations that can lend additional support to
Project CLASS New Jersey.
Project CLASS - New York State Initiative
Project CLASS New York is currently in the strategic planning phase.
Professor Stan Silverman, Director of the Technology-based Learning
Systems at New York institute of Technology (NYIT), is leading the
effort. Professor Silverman also serves as the Chairman of the New York
State Teacher Training Centers and as Executive Director of the
Education Enterprise Zone (EEZ). As a first task, CLASS is working with
EEZ/NYIT on the development of the Global Teacher Certificate Training
Program that will be an integral part of the Global CLASS-Net Academy
Program and is designed to further the goals of the US Partnership for
21st Century Learning Skills Initiative.
Project
CLASS - Massachusetts Initiative
Dr. Yu-Lan Lin, Executive Director of CLASS and Director of the World
Language Program for Boston Public Schools, has helped prepare the
foundation among the Massachusetts K-12 school districts for a Chinese
Language Learning Community in Massachusetts. Activities include success
in capturing best practices and the creation of digital media. Also, the
Massachusetts Commissioner of Education is the author of a white paper
entitled “Global Education in Massachusetts Schools – The Case for
Urgency”. These efforts set the stage for the global leaning initiative.
The Project CLASS team is planning to accelerate planning activities
during the academic year of 2008.
Project CLASS - Connecticut Initiative
Connecticut is the home state of Senator Joseph Lieberman, who initiated
the United States-China Cultural Engagement Act proposing that the U.S.
Government authorize $1.3 billion in federal funds over 5 years to
provide for Chinese language instruction in American schools. In
addition, Project CLASS supporter Ms. Christine Brown, Assistant
Superintendent, and Ms. Rita Oleksak, ACTFL President, both work in the
Glastonbury Public Schools, the designated Project CLASS pilot site.
Project CLASS - Global Outreach Initiative
During the past two years the project team has worked diligently to
secure the support of the governments and corporations of both China and
Taiwan for the Project CLASS Initiative. Team members have helped
organize numerous high level Chinese Language Forums and public
seminars. Team members have also been invited by government and
education institutions to participate in strategic planning sessions
concerning the Chinese language learning initiatives in U.S. and
worldwide. As of today, CLASS are well-position as a brand recognition
in the China & Taiwan Government, Industry as well as Education
Communities.
Project CLASS - GKE Global Multicultural Heritage Project
The Global Knowledge Exchange has designed and implemented new programs
which focus on the international initiatives of Chinese Language &
Culture learning. China school systems are well-positioned to become
effective global education project partners, functioning as an important
Chinese Language & Culture content collaboration center or “Hub” in the
growing worldwide digital content and e-learning industries. The Global
Multicultural Heritage Project and 2 Cities – 1 Classroom programs can
assist Chinese companies, academic institutions and K-12 schools to
participate in the Chinese Language & Culture project in the US. The
goal of this project is to achieve large-scale collaborative educational
activities of 2 Cities – 1 Classroom, utilizing the foundational
implementation of the Global Multicultural Heritage Project.
Through the Global Multicultural Heritage Project (GMHP), students and
teachers create online media showcases defining local Chinese culture,
collaborate and apply interpersonal communication skills with students
and teachers in selected States (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Massachusetts and Ohio) in the United States. This project represents a
unique integration of language teaching, performance (project) based
learning pedagogy, and educational technology. Teachers and students
collaborate utilizing internet and videoconferencing technologies, while
working as partners on project activities.
Currently we have GMHP program embedded in 4 separate FLAP projects
include Ohio CDE, New York Oneida BOCES, Orange-Ulster BOCES and
Montvale-Rivervale School District in New Jersey.
Two Cities One Classroom International Learning program is designed to
bring together K-12 schools located in cities in the US and China. It
addresses the localization needs as well as the international
involvement. Rather than one school at a time, it serves as a framework
by providing large pools of K-12 schools from cities in United States,
such as New York, Boston or Columbus, and cities in China, such as
Beijing, Qingdao, and Shanghai. This program is the natural expansion
learning program of Global Multicultural Heritage project.
During 2007, we have launced pilot phase program at Taipei & Kaoshung
City, and in the development phase for the QingDao, Xiamen and Shengzhen
Cities.
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