National Council on Economic Education The National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) is a national nonprofit
organization dedicated to promoting economic and financial literacy. Its mission
is to help students develop economic ways of thinking and problem-solving that
they can use in their lives as consumers, savers, investors, members of the workforce,
responsible citizens, and effective participants in the global economy. The National
Council on Economic Education and its nationwide network of affiliated state
councils and university-based centers on economic education deliver these programs
to the nation’s schools and work with a growing number of international
partners
Cooperative Education Exchange Program (CEEP) provides
funding for the NCEE international program. CEEP-funded programs are administered
through the United States Department of Education and carried out in coordination
with the United States Department of State. Through CEEP, NCEE helps international
partners undergoing the transition to a democratic market economy reform
their educational systems through professional development, materials development,
translation and adaptation, conferences, study tours, and organizational
development. Through CEEP, NCEE brings together U.S. economic educators with
their counterparts from emerging market economies. Since 1995, the National
Council on Economic Education EconomicsInternational program has been responsible
for conducting the economic education component of the CEEP. The CEEP also supports
major activities in the area of civic education.
Program Overview
With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the NCEE is seeking qualified
applicants to participate in a study tour to the Republic of South Africa for
12 K-12 U.S. educators who teach economics or incorporate significant economic
content coverage in history, social studies, and other courses. One goal of
the study tour to South Africa is to provide participants with an exceptional
opportunity for professional development through observation of both the educational
reforms underway and the realities people who live in countries undergoing economic
transition face in their everyday lives. Another goal of the study tour is for
participants to gain knowledge that will be communicated in their professional
work when they return to the United States, through lessons and other educational
activities for students, colleagues, and other community members.
The study tour will focus on participation in and observation of economic
education activities and will include school visits, observations of teacher
training activities, and meetings with provincial department of education officials
and other leaders in education. Participants will meet with teachers, share
ideas and experiences in economic education, and observe South African educators
creatively delivering lessons in economics to students in elementary and secondary
schools. U.S. participants will learn about educational reforms, training and
delivery systems, curriculum and materials development, standards, and assessment
in South Africa. Activities showcasing South Africa's culture will also be included.
Please note: Due to the full agenda of the study tour, participation in this
study tour will require physical stamina and will involve long flights between
the U.S. and South Africa, several hours of walking and remaining on your feet
daily, taking part in walking tours, and carrying one’s own luggage. Each
day begins early, and activities extend into the evening.
Program activities will begin with a two-day pre-departure orientation in
Washington, D.C. The agenda for the orientation includes the following components:
History and structure of NCEE;
Tour objectives and expectations;
A Who's Who of key players;
Trip logistics;
Cultural sensitivity exercises and information;
South Africa’s educational
system; and
Post-tour follow-up projects and
reports; and
Ongoing involvement with
NCEE and its affiliated network of centers and councils
Arrive in Washington, D.C.
By noon, Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Pre-departure orientation
4:00 – 8:00 PM, Wednesday, July 23
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thursday,
July 24, 2008
Capitol Hill event and departure from Washington, D.C. to South Africa
Friday, March 7, 2008
Study Tour Program
July 26 – August 3, 2008
Departure to U.S.
Monday, August 4 , 2008
Arrive in U.S.A.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
NCEE will cover the cost of accommodations (double-room occupancy) and meals
during the study tour as well as international and in-country travel expenses.
The study tour will be led by a U.S. economic educator and an NCEE program coordinator.
These individuals are experienced in leading study tours and other educational
programs in transition economies.
NOTE: Applicants must possess a U.S. passport valid through February 9,
2009 , with at least two blank pages at the time of application submission – no
exceptions can be considered.
Professional Development Objectives Upon returning to the United States, participants will be required to
share their new-found knowledge in the following ways:
Write a report to NCEE that highlights impressions of South Africa, focusing
particularly on economic education. (Report form will be provided by
NCEE.) Reports are due no later than August 29, 2008;
Work with their
local NCEE-affiliated centers for economic education and/or state
councils, both before and after the study tour, in an effort to share
NCEE's work with other teachers in the state or community;
Conduct presentations
to teachers or educational, community, civic, or business groups
on education or economic education in South Africa;
Conduct a lesson
or develop educational materials focusing on South Africa for their
students.
Submit a progress report on proposed presentations and activities
by December 5, 2008 and a final report by March 2, 2009.
Selection Criteria
Preference will be given to U.S. citizens who:
Are currently involved in K-12 economic education;
Are actively involved
in programs conducted by an NCEE-affiliated council or center (letter
of recommendation from a council or center director is highly advised);
Commit
to engage in innovative outreach to promote the program such as attracting
local media coverage, writing an article for school newsletter or professional
journal, newsletter or other forums for outreach;
Offer creative ideas
for incorporating knowledge gained from the study tour into post-tour
products;
Possess demonstrated diplomatic skills and cultural sensitivity;
Are experienced
working in teams and groups;
Are at least moderately experienced travelers
who can effectively cope with the stress, uncertainty, and physical
demands associated with overseas travel.
NCEE may conduct telephone interviews with some applicants. Those
applicants who are selected to participate will be notified by e-mail
on or before April 15, 2008. For
more information about NCEE: http://www.ncee.net/.
Instructions for
Application Submission
For your application to be accepted, the following application instructions
must be followed.
All applications must be typed. Handwritten applications will not be
accepted. Please type your name on the top of each document.
Application must be submitted by email. Each email should may include
two or three attachments.
a single WORD document representing pages 3 through 7 of the application
form. Do not submit each page as a separate WORD document.
a
scanned copy of the signature page (page 7) of the application,
if you have professional responsibilities at school during the
summer.
a scanned copy of the signature and photo pages of your
passport.
3. Scan documents to a manageable file size. Attachments larger than one
megabyte will not be accepted.
Letters of recommendation from council or center directors may be submitted
separately (by email, fax, or by mail), but must be received by the application
deadline.
Because of the volume of study tour applications submitted, NCEE cannot respond
to individual email or phone inquiries regarding receipt or status of applications.
Applicants wishing to verify receipt by NCEE of application documents or of
letters of recommendation should utilize mailbox management functions available
on email accounts, such as read confirmation and delivery confirmation.
Applicants without access to a scanner may submit clear, readable photocopies
of the signature page and passport photo/signature page by fax. Fax to: Svetlana
Smerdinskaya: +1-212-768-7894 or +1-212-730-1793.
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATION:
March 31, 2008
EXTENDED TO APRIL 7, 2008 5:00 EDT
Late applications will not be considered
Download:
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS NCEE STUDY TOUR TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
National Council on Economic Education
1140 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Contact:
Svetlana Smerdinskaya: 212 730-6587 or
Barbara DeVita: 212 730-6703
Email:
southafircatour08@ncee.net
