Illinois - Romania Classroom Partnership

Students in Illinois and in Romania are busy learning economics by cooperatively studying issues in each of these countries. Through the International Classroom Partnership program, four Illinois schools are paired with four schools in Romania for a year of cooperative learning activities and study tour exchanges. The program was initiated through a visit by ICEE staff members Terry Borg and Joanne Dempsey and four U.S. teachers to the four partner schools in Romania in October 2004. The partner teachers developed plans for cooperative learning projects to be carried out during the academic year. The program will culminate with the visit of the Romanian partners to the U.S. in April 2005.

Participating partner schools and teachers for this program are: Chicago Dunbar Vocational Academy (Matt King) and Sibiu Grupul Scolar Energetic (Florin Tedorescu); Machesney Park Harlem High School (Brad Sweet) and Bucharest Liceul Tudor Vladimirescu (Mihai Nazdravan); Maple Park Kaneland High School (David Travis) and Sibiu Colegiul National Samuel von Brukenthal (Octavian Pop); and Bloomington High School (Amanda Van Allen) and Bucharest Scoala Centrala (Maria Lacatus). The Romanian program is being directed by Paul Lacatus, Executive Director of the Center for Romanian Economic Education (CREE).

Each partnership has designed its own project. Two projects include the identification and prioritization of economic problems experienced by each partner country, cooperative development of lesson plans by the partner teachers, identification by students of potential solutions to the economic problems (using the economic way of thinking), and sharing of these solutions with educational and political leaders in the schools' respective community/region. The other two partnerships have implemented a project which focuses on issues related to economic development, land use and planning within cities. The outcomes of their investigations will also be shared with leaders in their communities.

An essential part of each partnership is the exchange of information through use of technology, including the Internet. In addition to the use of e-mail, the Council has created a website for the partner classrooms to share projects and resources. The International Classroom website can be viewed at www.internationalclassroom.net. Other technologies being utilized are web cams and the telephone.

Plans are underway for the visit by the Romanian partner teachers to our Illinois schools. The Romanian team is scheduled to arrive on April 9th and will stay in the United States through April 22nd. Their visit will include participation in classroom activities at each of the Illinois partner schools, attendance at professional development sessions for economic educators, and tours of local manufacturing, financial and agricultural enterprises. The visit will culminate with visits in Washington, DC to share their experiences in the project with Congressional leaders.

ICEE and Romania are piloting this program for the National Council on Economic Education. The program is funded by NCEE through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education in coordination with the U.S. Department of State.