Building Apps Across Cultures – Virtual Exchange Program

About

Digital Promise’s Building Apps Across Cultures is a virtual exchange program designed in partnership with MAD-Learn and the International Education Association. The program aims to foster global competence and design thinking skills by connecting high school students in the United States and Lebanon through mobile app-building. We believe that by giving students opportunities to investigate the world, consider different perspectives, and take meaningful action through virtual exchange, we’re empowering the next generation of young people to succeed in the interconnected workforce of tomorrow.

Program Activities

Building Apps Across Cultures is a seven-week program, during which time students will:

• Form binational teams with peers in Lebanon.
• Utilize the design thinking process to asynchronously build apps together, addressing local and global challenges on MAD-Learn’s interactive platform.
• Participate in four live video exchanges to share their progress.
• Celebrate their work as part of the Digital Promise YouthMADE Festival.

Program Dates

Teacher training will constitute 3-4 online sessions in September 2024.

The program (with students) will last 7 weeks, from October to November 2024.

Future cohorts will also be offered in 2025 and 2026.

Teacher Honoraria

Upon completion of the program, participating teachers will receive a stipend of $400. Digital Promise will provide three to four pre-program training sessions focused on best practices for facilitating virtual exchanges. Digital Promise and program partners will offer continuous coaching and support throughout the seven-week program.

Building Apps Across Cultures is implemented by Digital Promise and is supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). JCSVEI is a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program administered by the Aspen Institute.

Application Criteria

We are currently looking for educators to participate in the Fall 2024 cohort. If the program fills up, teachers will be deferred to the Spring 2025 cohort.

Program Requirements

• Educators of students in grades 9-12, teaching any subject. Teachers opt into the program with their classrooms.
• Participating teachers and students must be from Title I Schools.
• Students must have reliable and consistent access to a computer or tablet. However, they do not need their own devices; they can be shared or used in a media center.
• Students should have full permission to use the MAD-Learn web-based app and Padlet.

Program Preferences

Schools located in the Eastern or Central time zones to maximize opportunities to connect with Lebanese classrooms.

Application Instructions

Please fill out and submit the interest form as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, August 2nd. We’ll be accepting participants on a rolling basis. 

Links

One-pager and FAQ.

Contact

veronica vazquez ugalde