Egypt Forum Program 2009-2010

The Egypt Forum Program is a 12-month program of intensive learning, reflection and application to the classroom that is open to advanced K-12 teachers. The program works in three parts: Pre-travel class meetings at Harvard; travel to Egypt in April; and, post-travel class meeting during the summer and early fall, followed by implementation of new programs and projects in participants' classrooms and communities. Click here for a brochure.

Application

Application is due by Wednesday 9 December 2009

Application Steps

1. Fill out the on-line application. Include in the Workshop Goals section a response to the following three areas:

* Answers should be as specific as possible

· Motivation for participating in the program
· Prior Middle East region experience
· Contributions to public education and educational leadership on the Middle East region you plan to engage with if you are accepted into the program
· If requesting financial assistance, provide the amount and rationale [maximum %50]

2. Print out, fill out (using your name as it appears in your passport -- if you are accepted this name will be used on your airline ticket) the Waiver Form and the Participant Agreement Form, and one letter of reference from your direct report (direct superior) that explains why you would be a good candidate for the program and mail them to: Att: Egypt Forum, The Outreach Center, CMES, 38 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA. 02138. Include with the forms a check for US$ 100 made out to the "President and Fellows of Harvard College." The check will be placed in a separate account and will be used to make a deposit on airline tickets if you are accepted into the program. If accepted the check is non-refundable. If you are not accepted the check will be returned. 

Program Dates

· Preparation, February-April 2010
· Travel to Egypt, Friday 16 April - Sunday 25 April 2010
· Implementation, June – July - August 2010

Eligibility

K-12 educators teaching in public or private schools.

Cost

Estimated travel costs are between US$ 2,800 and US$ 3,200.

* The Outreach Center can provide scholarships. See the application process for them under the application steps.
** Travel costs are estimated as of 2 November 2009 and are changeable. In 2009, costs for the travel portion of the program were approximately $2,500 per person. With the rise and fall of airline tickets and the US Dollar a conservative price spread is important to consider.

 

Welcome to the Egypt Forum

“I welcome you to apply for the Egypt Forum program 2009-2010. During last year's program, we jointly studied Egyptian history, politics, and economics; education policies and social development as well as Egyptian culture and Arabic. It was an honor to work with the fellows from last year and I am sure they will continue to apply their learning in new ways in the classroom.” Paul Beran, Director, Outreach Center, Center for Middle Eastern Studies

 

2008-2009 Egypt Forum Participants

Ashburnham, MA
Sarah Bottomley, Geography, 7th grade, Overlook Middle School
Brett Duncan, Ancient Civilizations, 6th grade, Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District

Belmont, MA
Erin O’Bryan, Language Arts and Social Studies, 6th grade, Belmont Public Schools

Claremont, NH
Linda Beaulieu, English and American Studies, 9-12 grades, Stevens High School

East Boston, MA
Caitlin Moore, Ancient Civilizations and World History, 7-8 grades, Excel Academy Charter School

Hingham, MA
Deanne Moore, English, 10 - 12 grades, Hingham High School

Milton, MA
Kelly Connell, History and Geography, 6th grade, Milton Public Schools
Nicole McCarthy, World History, 8th grade, Pierce Middle School

Topsfield, MA
David Walsh, Modern World History II, US History and Modern Middle East, 9-12 grades, Masconomet Regional High School

Weston, MA
Michiko Kurata, World History, 9 - 10 grades, Weston High School

Taking Egypt into the Classroom

All of the teachers individually developed innovative ways to take their learning into their classrooms through:
· Creating an interactive blog
· Starting a joint journalism program with an Egyptian school
· Planning a new course segment on Middle East region literature with a focus on Egypt
· Developing a hands-on building project on the pyramids of Giza
· Starting an Egypt photo gallery in their school
· Creating a joint class book on Egypt based on geography standards
· Running a Model United Nations class with a focus on representing countries from the Middle East region including Egypt