Participant Responsibilities
Thank you for joining GIA 2010: Environmental Challenge! Please read below for the responsibilities corresponding with your role.
There are three (3) roles in the Challenge.
There are three (3) roles in the Challenge.
As a leader within this initiative, teachers act as the official liaison between Empower Peace staff and his or her school team. Empower Peace will send each teacher a copy of the GIA application, which the teacher should then distribute to his or her students and other interested students within the school. Teachers will then work with Empower Peace in selecting their school's team of 5 - 20 students.
The teacher representing each school will also be responsible for advising students on their project, assisting student in scheduling Skype meetings with their counterparts abroad, and ensuring that team members are prepared and present for each videoconference. Teachers will be asked to submit a bi-weekly update, compiled by their team's co-captains, to Empower Peace regarding their team's recent meetings, actions and questions or concerns.
In addition, the teacher must be open to traveling on the cultural exchange if his or her school is on the winning team. The teacher is also responsible for selecting an alternative chaperon - another teacher from his or her school - who would be willing and able to accompany the students on the cultural exchange, should the team win. The details of the cultural exchange - its dates, length, and sample itinerary - are forthcoming. The anticipated time of travel is May or June 2011, and the anticipated length is 1-3 weeks.
The teacher representing each school will also be responsible for advising students on their project, assisting student in scheduling Skype meetings with their counterparts abroad, and ensuring that team members are prepared and present for each videoconference. Teachers will be asked to submit a bi-weekly update, compiled by their team's co-captains, to Empower Peace regarding their team's recent meetings, actions and questions or concerns.
In addition, the teacher must be open to traveling on the cultural exchange if his or her school is on the winning team. The teacher is also responsible for selecting an alternative chaperon - another teacher from his or her school - who would be willing and able to accompany the students on the cultural exchange, should the team win. The details of the cultural exchange - its dates, length, and sample itinerary - are forthcoming. The anticipated time of travel is May or June 2011, and the anticipated length is 1-3 weeks.
Each school will elect two team captains, so within each pair of schools, there will be a total of four co-captains. The team captains of each school will be the main point of contact for the teacher in scheduling team meetings, presentation preparation and Skype meetings with the team members abroad. Team captains will be asked to take attendance at each meeting to keep a record of active team members. Team captains must also complete a bi-weekly update regarding their team's recent meetings, actions and questions or concerns to be submitted to their teacher.
The most important responsibility of team captains is to create, update, and maintain a team Facebook page in collaboration with team captains abroad. This is an essential piece of the GIA initiative and will facilitate a simple means of communication between team members. Secondly, the Facebook page will be a key component in recruiting "fans" and volunteers to participate in each team's community service-learning project prior to Videoconference #3. More detailed information regarding the components of the Facebook page will be explained via email before Videoconference #1.
The most important responsibility of team captains is to create, update, and maintain a team Facebook page in collaboration with team captains abroad. This is an essential piece of the GIA initiative and will facilitate a simple means of communication between team members. Secondly, the Facebook page will be a key component in recruiting "fans" and volunteers to participate in each team's community service-learning project prior to Videoconference #3. More detailed information regarding the components of the Facebook page will be explained via email before Videoconference #1.
The team at each school will consist of anywhere from 5 - 20 students and will be paired with a partner school abroad. Those seeking to become team members at each school must be a first, second or third year student between the ages of 15 and 17, complete an application, and be selected by a GIA selection committee. After being selected as a team member, each member has the following responsibilities:
- Be present at each videoconference.
- Be present at bi-weekly team meetings and Skype conference calls.
- Participate in planning and presenting each "challenge" during videoconference 1, 2 and 3.
- Recruit as may friends, family and community members as possible to participate in the team community service-learning project.
- Recruit friends and classmates to join the team Facebook page.
- In the event that your team wins and you would like to be considered for the cultural exchange, you must have a valid passport in your possession no later than March 31, 2011.