Transantlantic Educators Dialogue: sharing the experience Julie Gyftoula, MEd 3 rd Primary School of Zografou

What is TED? The Transatlantic Education Dialogue (T.E.D.) is an online platform for educators in the United States and the European Union to collaborate in an online format to explore and examine other countries, and in particular, their own country. The Transantlantic Educators Dialogue is sponsored by the European Union Center and the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 4 years of TED Elluminate/Blackboard Collaborate

Who can participate? Participants wanted for FREE on-line Transatlantic Educators Dialogue with US teachers! Are you interested in talking to other teachers in the US about educational issues beyond classroom management? If so, we invite you to join a free 12-week online program: “Transatlantic Educators Dialogue, 2013 ″. Please register online by January 25, Please contact TED coordinator Lucinda Morgan if you have questions about the program. For more information: TED/ TED/ Look for the ad on your e-Twinning desktop …

Topics of discussion EU Infrastructure & US Structure Impressions of the "Other" Approaches to Teaching Evaluation & Assessment Systems Youth Culture Immigration Rural & Urban Situations Opportunities for International Collaboration The Future: Where are the EU and US going? Meeting every Sunday from pm

Moments from our Sunday meeting

Discussion forum

Our Facebook group

Going back to … kindergarten!

Being a teacher in the States …. ………There are programs in place, nationally (Teach for America for example) that allow anyone with a university degree to join, 'teach'/intern during summer school, and be placed as a regular classroom teacher for the upcoming school year without any education background. These teachers participate in a cohort and are closely monitored and assisted. So, in effect, it is similar to a paid internship, which is another option available to teachers and replaces standard student teaching. Interns and teachers with Alternative Certification are held to the same requirements as a regular certified teacher. Certification/Highly Qualified status is obtained by passing whichever test your state chooses as acceptable, Praxis, for example.

The Praxis test

In US it depends on private or public school. To teach at a private school you do not need a teaching credential. Salary is low, benefits scarce, but you get smaller class sizes and parental involvement (sometimes excessive but oh wow). To teach at a public school, one needs a teaching credential, which you can get either by enrolling in the teacher prep program at a college/univeristy, or by just taking a test. System is bizarre. I have Master's from one of the leading universities in the US. In order to get in, one have to take GRE exams which requires some high level math, logic, and good knowledge of English. The teacher certification test is ridiculous, and I cannot figure our why they want me to take it since I clearly passed my GRE. Many foreigners who teach at US end up in this situation. The saying goes - if you cannot do anything with yourself, go teach. …. I wish there was a way to change the way teaching is perceived….. Masha Serttunc, US teacher says ….

Did you also know that …?

My gains New tools to be used while teaching Platforms/groups for teachers New friends abroad Some more history or geography …

1. The US Educational system 75 million students in school year million teachers from Kindergarten to college 878 billion $ a year School attendance is compulsory for students through age 16 K = Kindergarten at the age of 5 K1-K5 or 8 (depends on the State) Elementary school K9-K12 High School years of age 45- or 50-minute classes

2. The evaluation system mbedded&v=LoaidrMJ6wk#!

3. Hot potatoes worldwide … Family structure Racism The use/overuse of technology Immigration Global recession The future of education

4. New trends in the trade

Chances of international partnerships Looking for a partner from the States 1 …. And proposing a project Trying to fund a meeting of TED 2013 participants

Keep spirits high! Have a nice summer holiday! Thank you!