Since the beginning of the school year, we have been working with TakingItGlobal. The many assignments we completed soon earned us the position of TIG's "Pilot Class." During October/November we were first introduced to the ten Understanding topics. As a class, we thought that it was a great addition to the site to expand upon the main global issues of the world, but especially liked the flash intros. But who knew WE, the grade 8's of Macklin Public School, would be expanding on the ten issues even more, with a "Film Festival"?

The TIG Staff told us the news at the end of the year, and in the beginning of 2004, we were put into groups. Before we started on the films, we were assigned to research and know more about our topic that we were given. Facts, statistics, anything that would be useful to us. Then, with a few helpful lessons from certain TIG Staff Members, we learned( or should I say mastered) the use of Movie Maker and Flash. Day after day, we would spend 2-3 periods of class time working on this project that would be open to the public on May 20. We also learned some skills that other normal grade 8 classes wouldn't have the opportunity to achive. We wrote business style letters that were sent off to organizations that supported our topic, made business cards, and even brochures. But the most effort had to be put into our films. Producing, editing, exporting... Then finally the big night came... Everywhere you look, there was people, asking questions at our booths, taking pictures. When it was over, there was a great sigh of relief. The nervousness and anxiety was gone. In that one night, it was over.

In my opinion, I feel really greatful to have this oppotunity to be working with TakingItGlobal. It doesn't seem like we, a class of 13-14 year olds made a big difference by doing what we did in this project, but I knew we were expanding so much more. But it was really our teacher, Mrs. McDonald and our school's IT teacher, Ms. Roliff who really took their time and effort into pushing us so hard to make sure this project was finally completed. On behalf of 8M, thank you to all the members of TakingItGlobal who have helped us so much, for I truly belive that youth CAN change tomorrow.

Another Update on the TIG Pilot Class project:

We have less than 1 month before our films, brochures, and booths have to all be finished and set up on display for our first time film festival at our school. Every week the TIG staff has been able to come in and help us with finishing our films for our "premier" for grade 6, 7, and 8 students and then it's off to the "big screen" for our parents and educators. With my group, Social Justice & Human Rights, things have been going on very smoothy indeed... along with about 40 out takes from a single scene..:P! I don't know about everybody else in my class but I'm really glad to be at Macklin and having this opportunity with TIG.. Where else do you get to spend 2-4 periods of your school time missing math working on laptops for free?

Last.. *counts fingers* Wednesday three students (including myself) on behalf of the TIG pilot class and of course our ICT teacher were at a High School to listen about Equity, and host a workshop about TIG after. This gave us an opportunity to show other teachers and other educators about this great site and what we've done as a class - sending business letters to organizations, making invitations and business cards and viewing our half-finished films. This has been a very great experience for us. We also recieved a $10 gift card at a book store. THANKS!:)

Endless work... Business cards, brochures, booths, and most important of all, our films. What am I talking about? Our "Globalize This!" film festival or course, if you guys didn't already know!:) The pilot class of TIG are doing documentaries on the 10 Understandings and they will be all be shown on a very special night... Of course, we can hardly wait...:)

BTW, happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it!:P

I was bored, so I took a quiz for fun.

Virtues: You appreciate humor like none other. Puns might even spark laughter in you (TEHY R FUNNI). You seek adventure and connection with your surroundings. You seek friends who will not only share laughs with you but actually form a deep bond of trust and empathy beneath the surface. You look for adventure and courage in people, and variation is necessary to keep you under control. You see yourself as multi-faceted, so you need people who can see you in your many lights. You're constantly trying to figure yourself out while analyzing the people around you. Silly, silly people.

Aspirations: You can't decide what you want to be yet, but you know you want it to be adventures and interesting, with constant changes. You don't know what love will do for you yet, but it's competing with adventure for a place in your heart. An internal conflict has begun: can you be a successful worker, lover, and parent all at once?

Quirks: Noise of any sort is irritating when you're in the mood. Smacking gum, loud chewing, humming- it's about as pleasing as bodily noises. You dislike emaciated people because of jealousy and just plain disgust. You're a procrastinator but a hard worker, too.

Factors: You need constant attention and support. You're high-maintnence, but a great, reliable friend. Nature needs you and you need nature; it's helped thus far, so keep in touch with the outside world.

Future: Who knows! You absolutely need constant change, so vacationing is surely in the cards. Will you settle down or not? Love will find you eventually, as it does to everyone. Will you choose the sweet home life or the rewarding busy-bee life?

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Find your soul type at kelly.moranweb.com.