October 27th, 2010 by Mandeep Atwal

October 21st, 2010 by Sean Tierney

Now that we're about to move into a real action phase of the project, here's an idea worth considering.  Watch the video below - it's guaranteed to inspire you.  Where does Willie Smits' idea fit with DeforestAction?

Smits believes that to rebuild orangutan populations, we must first rebuild their forest habitat -- which means helping local people find options other than the short-term fix of harvesting forests to survive. His
Masarang Foundation raises money and awareness to restore habitat forests around the world -- and to empower local people. In 2007, Masarang opened a palm-sugar factory that uses thermal energy to turn sugar palms (fast-growing trees that thrive in degraded soils) into sugar and even ethanol, returning cash and power to the community and, with luck, starting the cycle toward a better future for people, trees and orangs.
 

October 20th, 2010 by Mandeep Atwal

Webinar DATES for your diaries!

Hi everyone!

Please find below a list of fortnightly webinar dates for your diaries:

Webinar 1: 15/07/2010

Webinar 2: 29/07/2010

Webinar 3: 12/08/2010

Webinar 4: 26/08/2010

Webinar 5: 09/09/2010

Webinar 6: 23/09/2010

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE: 07/10/2010

You will notice that the day has moved from Tuesday to a Thursday. Please note that the times have not changed and will remain the same as pervious webinars. Please refer to the below table for your reference:

I have proposed 8 webinar sessions between now and October. The webinar sessions may be replaced with virtual conferences when this is requested. I will email you every Monday to share with you the agenda of each webinar and confirmation of attendance.

Can’t wait to connect

July 22nd, 2010 by Mandeep Atwal

DeforestACTION Student Survey

We would appreciate it if you could take the time to complete a short student survey on your SHOUT: DeforestACTIONexperience. The responses from the survey will provide us with the necessary information to improve the programme and to provide you with vital support as your DeforestACTION project continues to grow.

Student survey link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DeforestACTIONstudentsurvey

Many thanks,

Mandeep Atwal

SHOUT Co-ordinator

July 19th, 2010 by Mandeep Atwal

DeforestACTION: Teacher survey

We would appreciate it if you could take the time to complete a short survey on your SHOUT: DeforestACTION experience. The responses from the survey will provide us with the necessary information to improve the programme and to provide you with vital support as your DeforestACTION project continues to grow.
 

Teacher survey link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DeforestACTION

Many thanks,

Mandeep Atwal
SHOUT Co-ordinator

May 31st, 2010 by Mandeep Atwal

DeforestACTION Experience

Hi All

Don't forget to upload your school's DeforestACTION experience...we want to see pictures, videos, blogs and discussions that will provide us and other's insight into you're exciting journey :-)

Lead students can use this main site to share what is happening in schools but we encourage everyone to participate in discussions and blogs :-)

May 27th, 2010 by sarahassan

Indonesia is going to stop deforestation for two years - check out this article from BBC!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10167038.stm

May 27th, 2010 by sarahassan

DeforestACTION Project Plans and Conference Presentation!

May 20th, 2010 by sarahassan

 SMART Project Goals

• Check out the sample SMART goals we created during the webinar;
• Take a look at some campaign, fundraising and project ideas in the Files section and in the Bookmarks section.
• Start a discussion thread to get feedback on your project goals!

May 18th, 2010 by sarahassan

Check out this Video on Deforestation!

Deforestation from Langston Ward on Vimeo.

May 18th, 2010 by sarahassan

What’s Happening in the DeforestACTION Community?  

Project Scope 

Project Planning - Creating SMART Goals

Discussions, Blog Posts and New DeforestACTION Presentations 

“Build Your Community” Competition  

Think about your DeforestACTION Presentation for June 4^th!

This is the beginning of our global movement! Remember – the trees will thank you! 

May 6th, 2010 by sarahassan

Watch the First DeforestACTION Video Conference!

If you would like to watch the first half-an-hour of the DeforestACTION Video Conference, click here, or watch below!

May 5th, 2010 by sarahassan

What's Happening in the SHOUT DeforstACTION Community?

• Check out what students in Dallas Primary School and Royal College have been saying about deforestation on the discussion boards! Join the conversation and share your thoughts and ideas!
• Meet our mentors! Browse through their blog posts, say hello and answer some of their interesting questions about deforestation – they are looking for your ideas!
• Students from Royal College have posted some really great pieces of writing on deforestation, as well as shared another presentation about the impact of deforestation in Sri Lanka! Take a look and post your comment!

May 4th, 2010 by sarahassan

  Announcing the Winning SHOUT DeforestACTION Projects and Logo!

Thank you all for voting – with over 200 votes cast, it was a very close race! The winning logo is now the new logo for the SHOUT DeforestACTION collaboration classroom!

There were so many wonderful ideas, and with enthusiasm and dedication displayed by all students participating in this collaboration, TIG and Microsoft have decided to use the top three project ideas and work together with the SHOUT community to plan this DeforestACTION!

The top three project ideas are:

1) Silverton Primary School - Palm Oil and Deforestation;

2) Ngee Ann - Urban Jungle;

3) Tree Safe - Tree Sponsorship Program.

Before we begin our planning, we are going to take these three ideas and speak to industry experts, who will help us put them into one framework.  We will then announce how these three ideas can become one project!

To begin planning our project, TIG will be hosting weekly meeting for the teacher and student leadership teams of each school beginning Tuesday, May 11^th, 2010 in Microsoft Live Meeting.  Details will be sent out very shortly via email to lead teachers and students. 

These meetings will be to: 

1) Help students create a step-by-step action plan to implement this project in their local communities;

2) Work together as a global community of schools to protect existing rainforests. 

Imagine the possibilities! Not only will we educate our communities about deforestation, but we can also work together to save trees! Together, we can create a global movement and take DeforestACTION!

Remember – we will be presenting our final action plan to the world at the Kick-Off virtual conference on June 4^th!

Congratulations to the top three winners!

April 29th, 2010 by sarahassan

Only a Few Days Left to Vote!

Hey everyone! Thanks again for making the first DeforestACTION virtual conference a success! I'm really excited by all of the ideas present! There are only a few more days left to vote - the winner will be announced on May 3rd!

As a reminder, here is a breakdown of each of the proposals:

Good luck!

April 22nd, 2010 by sarahassan

Vote For DeforestACTION!

Congratulations to all schools for sharing their wonderful presentations and innovative ideas on how to take deforestACTION! To see all of the presentations once again, please check out the files section.

It's now time to vote! You will be voting both for the plan of action you think the SHOUT school community should take, as well as for your favourite logo to represent your action!

To vote for your favourite plan and logo, please click here.

Voting will be from April 22nd to May 3rd 2010.  We will announce the winning plan and logo on May 3rd! Good luck to all schools!

April 22nd, 2010 by sarahassan

THANK YOU!

Despite the techincal difficulties (due to the storms in New Zealand!), thank you students, mentors, and teachers for your participation, your inspiration, and most of all, your dedication.  As Amanda MacKenzie said in her speech, "the forests are the lungs of the world" - let's make this happen!

In friendship,

Sara, Terry and the Steering Committee of the DeforestACTION Collaboration

April 21st, 2010 by sarahassan

Watch and Participate in the Microsoft SHOUT DeforestACTION Broadcast Live!

Don't forget you can also participate in the conference by engaging in a live chat or sharing your thoughts on the discussion boards! Schools that are not able to participate in the video conference, but wish to observe, can watch the live feed of the video conference below:

April 18th, 2010 by sarahassan

Welcome to the Microsoft SHOUT DeforestACTION Collaboration!

The DeforestACTION Collaboration is a space for you to:

• Become INSPIRED by the wonders of the forest;
• Become INFORMED by understanding the causes, impacts and politics of deforestation at the local and global level;
• Become INVOLED with students from around the world in creating a global action plan against deforestation.

In this space, you can:

• Create a DeforestACTION blog for your school to share their ideas;
• Check out games, videos and websites about deforestation in bookmarks;
• Ask questions and share your thoughts with other students as well as answer assignment questions on the discussion boards;
• Post and comment on deforestation images, art work and pictures in the gallery;
• Upload and share your files and writing related to deforestation;
• Use the map to tell us where you are from; and
• Engage in real-time text and video chat.

Connect with eachother from around the world and take deforestACTION!

Educators: There are several activities listed in the Assignments section that can be conducted with your students.  Please note that activities marked with a P are for primary students, and S for secondary students.  For example, Activity P1 is the first activity for primary students, while S3 is the third activity for secondary students.