2004 INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

FIPSE GRANT ACTIVITIES BEGIN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC

STUDENTS HEADED FOR EUROPE....
In January 2004, the FIPSE consortium partners began their semester-long exchange. Each partner selected 9 nine students to travel to partner institutions on the opposite side of the Atlantic. Southeast sent the following students to Europe: Stranmillis University College, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - Kristy Burgess, Helen Schmidt, and Amy Mulhall; Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands - Kristin Ruhland, Elizabeth Crouch, and BrieAnn Langefeld; University of Leon, Leon, Spain - Kathryn Sullivan, Sara Schmidt, and Heidi Froemsdorf.

One SEMO student's reflections on her semester in Europe.....

"I feel this experience was one that will forever change my life. I have seen and done too much for me to go back to the way I was. This experience has helped me grow in so many ways I cannot express them all on paper. This has opened up my eyes to a world I had never known and people I would never have a chance to meet. Through this new world and group of people I have learned that this world is not as black and white as I once thought it was. They have shown me how to question things around me and have shown me how crazy some of my ideas were. I now think that I am much more willing to learn and soak in life. Some of my views have been greatly altered and now I am much more mature and can look at things more completely. I know I will continue to grow from this process as I settle back into life in America. More growth is still to come!"

STUDENTS ARRIVING AT SEMO....
Southeast also received the following students from Europe. Jennifer Hamilton, Joy Irwin, and Kathryn Strange from Stranmillis University College; Jenine Gutte, Annie Tahalea, and Marissa van der Linden from Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen; Elena Mata, Elena Infante, and Diana Gonzalez from the University of Leon.

Student teachers from Spain, the Netherlands, and Northern Ireland having "Dinner and a Seminar" at Dr. Timion's (University of Northern Iowa) house in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Students spent a week visiting a variety of educational facilities (Amish schools, Native American schools, residential facilities, alternative schools, year-round schools, and early childhood centers).

Touring the Meskwaki Indian Reservation School. PIC 1: In the media center. PIC 2: Students outside the school heading for the playground.

One European student's reflections on her semester at Southeast....

"I will remember so much. Because I saw and heard so many things I think I learned not only by reading about it, I also learned by experiencing it. As a teacher I want to know my students and I want them to know each other. I want to use the differences so that student respect each other and learn from each other. I know now that I cannot expect that all the students need to learn the same. Some need more attention, some don’t. I know that it is very important to know about the home situation to involve parents. So that the students get motivated and stimulated to do well at school.

In the last week we visited a lot of schools. The main thing I saw was that when the school culture was the same as the students’ culture, as result there were no cultural at risk students. At this schools the parents were involved. The school environment showed the culture etc. that will let the children learn about themselves. This is good thing because when a child knows his own culture, it can relate and accept differences. I will never forget the Amish school, Indian settlement school, African American school etc. Despite the fact that the schools are for one population, there are still differences, like the home environment, character, learning styles etc. I see it as my duty (and schools duty) to confront the student with all these differences, they have to recognize them, appreciate them and value them."

FACULTY ARRIVING AT SEMO....

Jean Benton, PI for the grant, received delegations of professors from two of the partner institutions during the spring semester. Profs. Bernadet Tijnagel and Arne Nusselder from the Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen and Profs. Jose Maria Santamarta and Jesus Gonzalez from the Unversity of Leon, made separate site visits to Southeast to know about the program first hand and to visit their students. They also spent time speaking with Southeast students and giving lectures about their countries.

RENAISSANCE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS CONTINUE......