Journal # 7
Global Challenge: Save the World on Your Way to College by David Gibson and Susan Hull Grasso
Learning & Leading with Technology, November 2007

Meghna and Pranav , in Mumbai, India, have been meeting for the past few months on Skype (a free voice and file sharing application for synchronous meetings) and eFolio (an electronic portfolio application to create asynchronous collaborative artifacts). They have been discussing an innovative idea supported by a global business plan and analysis in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) content that discusses the global warming issue. Meghna’s part in the Global Challenge (http://www.globalchallengeaward.org) is partly funded by National Science Foundation ITEST (Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers) program, which is a global online competition for high school students. Country Teams can be formed in any country for the global challenge. The team must complete their challenge by April 30, 2008. The winning teams will be awarded $1,000 for each student.

How can teachers encourage students to participate in the Global Challenge?

Teachers should inform the students of the opportunities available and set up teams with other high school students to compete for the awards. The students are eligible to compete every year while they are in high school and it would be an excellent opportunity for them to gain experience in global business plans, STEM explorations and global teamwork.

How can the teaching units be used in the classroom?

The site has lessons and challenges in a number of topics in STEM sciences. The students can work on the same challenges without competing with other teams. There are also articles, web sites and STEM teaching materials which can be used in the classroom.