SWISS INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS' PROGRAM (SITP)

at the Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia.

INTRODUCTION

The Swiss International Teachers' Program is a custom designed three week

university-based international program for a select group of teachers from the
Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, South Africa, Brasil and possibly other countries.
It is a collaboratively designed program between the Ministry of Education
(Zurich University of Teacher Education), a group of private sponsors, and the
Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), Blacksburg,
Virginia (USA). The primary purpose of the program is to create integrated
learning experiences, which achieve the following Core Strands:

1. Provide a unique combination of business/economic/ecological education

and field experiences in a computer-based simulation called ECOSYS.
2. Provide time and opportunities for social interactions, communication, and
exchange of ideas in English. To converse in English with sufficient
proficiency to explain a process, assignment, or concept in mathematics,
science, social studies, literacy, art, and music.
3. Provide intensive exposure and immersion in the English language
through formal academic and informal/social activities. This includes oral
presentations, extensive conversation among participants, teachers from
southwest Florida schools, and community members.
4. Provide experience with methods of using technology in teaching,
learning, and for personal use.
5. Offer experiences with integrated curriculum and materials in science,
mathematics, social studies, literacy, art, and music.
6. Provide opportunities for partnerships between Swiss, American,
Canadian, South African, Brasiian and possibly from other countries
teachers
7. Focus on continuous quality improvement utilizing weekly feedback
sessions and a final evaluation in the final week of the program.

During this intensive three week program at Virginia Tech University students
improve their English language skills, study the relationship between ecological
and economic issues, improve their teaching techniques, develop lessons in an
integrated curriculum, learn the strategies of Quality team building and problem
solving, and learn to infuse technology into science, mathematics, English, social
studies, music, and art.

A particularly valuable aspect of the program is the exchange of ideas,

educational and cultural practices among the participants that leads to new
perspectives about education and different cultures.
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Objectives:

1. English

• To utilize the spoken language extensively throughout the program.

• To develop proficiency in oral and written communication through formal
presentations and informal interactions.
• English proficiency will be monitored in all formal and informal learning
activities with the expectation that “English Only” language use is a
requirement throughout the program.

2. Educational Technology

• To enable teachers to utilize technology as a learning and teaching tool

through experiential activities using a variety of software applications and
presentations.
• To include presentation enhancements, Internet and World Wide Web
usage, curriculum materials, email and web boards.
• To insure that teachers become proficient distance learners, users of
instructional technology, and effective communicators in the English
language.

3. Integrated Curriculum

• To enable teachers to blend several subjects and skill development into

lessons and units.
• Through formal instruction and development of lesson plans, teachers
learn to integrate economics and ecology into the curriculum.
• Through formal instruction and development of lesson plans, teachers will
learn to integrate learning experiences for children and youth in science,
mathematics, social studies, literacy, art, and music.

4. (Ecology and Economy) ECOSYS

• To study, discuss, and apply economic and ecological frameworks and

models as well as environmental sustainability standards.
• Through the use of case studies, discuss and demonstrate basic business
practices.
• To discuss and demonstrate the fundamental interdependencies and
delicate balance between economic and ecological issues.
• To learn to adapt knowledge and skills to the elementary and/or
secondary curricula.
• To provide a unique combination of business/economics/ecological
education and field experiences in a computer-based simulation called
ECOSYS. This unique program allows Swiss International Teachers'
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Program participants to play an active role in managing a fictitious country,

engage in problem solving, use critical thinking, and develop national
policy.

Specific Notes on ECOSYS

The participants are divided into action groups, who take over for 4 years
the role of WORLD BANK CONSULTANTS in the developing country
ECOLAND; the action groups are consultants for government, private
enterprises, public service business, households, trade unions and several
power groups in the social environment of ECOLAND.

Objectives:

Provide participants with an introduction to current ecological and environmental

standards used to assess “environmental stewardship” performance of
organizations. Area teachers and Virginia Tech University faculty serve as
facilitators and instructors for ECOSYS.

1. Provide participants with the basics of business management principles

and processes including case studies and team-based decision making
models.
2. Provide participants with information about and experience with case
studies that demonstrate the interdependencies between economic and
ecological issues.

Activities:

• Classroom based activities including presentations, discussions, and

lectures.
• Internet-based work in teams of participants in order to get current
information about specific macro-economic data and statistics.
• Field studies through interviews with community members, households,
business and government representatives.
• Use of a computer-based simulation of the country ECOLAND where
participants become decision-makers in solving critical economic and
environmental problems.
• Participants learn to apply the knowledge and skills gained in ECOLAND
to elementary and secondary school lessons to be used in their
classrooms.
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5. Quality Team Work and Projects

The challenges of the 21st century and global economy require everyone to work
interdependently with people of diverse backgrounds to solve problems and
complete complex projects. Participants begin to utilize the tools of modern
quality and the processes of continuous quality improvement. These methods
have been successfully used by students because it simulates internal motivation
and teamwork where they learn to solve problems and meet or exceed rigorous
performance standards. Participants learn quality strategies to employ when they
are team members. They also learn how to teach children to work in quality
teams and design and implement quality work teams.