Terminou, Sexta-feira, dia 6 de Novembro, à meia-noite, em Salvador, o “Innovative Education Forum”, organizado pela Microsoft Corporation, para educadores do mundo inteiro.

O evento englobou quatro reuniões simultâneas:

a) Reunião das trinta escolas recentemente escolhidas como “Pathfinder Schools”, mais doze “Mentor Schools”, dentro do programa global “Innovative Schools”;

b) Reunião de sessenta e nova educadores, representando 35 países, que chegaram ao estágio final do concurso “Innovative Teachers”, dentro do programa global “Innovative Teachers”;

c) Reunião de cerca de vinte e cinco lideranças educacionais brasileiras, para discutir a necessidade de introduzir inovação no processo educacional, como parte do programa global Innovative Leaders;

d) Reunião do International Advisory Board da iniciativa global “Partners in Learning”, que engloba os três programas globais anteriormente mencionados. (Tenho o privilégio de participar desse seleto grupo de educadores desde 2003. Atualmente são 15 os membros, de toda parte do mundo).

No total, havia cerca de 450 participantes no Forum (cuja sigla é IEF).

O evento, que começou oficialmente no dia 3 de Novembro, Terça-feira, terminou com um magnífico jantar de gala na Sexta. Ali foram revelados os vencedores do concurso, em quatro categorias: Comunidade, Colaboração, Conteúdo, e Seleção dos Educadores. Concorriam 69 projetos, depois de seleções realizadas no nível nacional e regional (no caso do Brasil, a região é a América Latina).

Nas categorias Comunidade e Conteúdo projetos brasileiros terminaram em terceiro lugar – o que foi celebrado como uma grande vitória, dada a acirrada concorrência. O “Projeto Barreiro”, coordenado pelo Professor Lucrecio Filho de Oliveira, de uma escola agrícola rural da Fundação Brasdesco, ganhou na categoria Comunidade. O Projeto “Fontes de Energia”, do Professor Alex Vieira dos Santos, de Salvador, ganhou na categoria Conteúdo.

Na Sexta-feira, antes do jantar de gala, houve uma palestra de encerramento de Jean-François Rischard, ex-diretor do Banco Mundial, cujo livro High Noon se tornou um grande sucesso entre tomadores de decisão. Nesse livro ele lista vinte grandes problemas globais que os mecanismos de decisão política atuais (estados nacionais reunidos em algumas instituições internacionais, como a ONU, o IMF, o WEF, etc., não têm conseguido resolver). Segundo Rischard, não temos mais de vinte anos para resolver esses problemas. Se não o fizermos, corremos o risco de entrar em colapso como planeta. A solução desses problemas está a exigir duas coisas:

a) Uma metodologia para solução de problemas globais, que o livro High Noon fornece mas que lideranças globais ainda não reconheceram como necessária;

b) Um novo e inovador mindset, que apenas uma educação de qualidade poderá ajudar as pessoas a desenvolver.

Do ponto de vista cultural, a abertura, na Terça-feira, contou com a participação de um Grupo de Capoeira e uma apresentação do Olodum.

No jantar de gala da Sexta-feira, houve a participação, na chegada dos congressistas, do grupo Filho de Gandhi e, durante o jantar, da Orquestra Sinfônica Juvenil Dois de Julho, do Projeto Neojibá, regida pelo maestro e pianista Ricardo Castro. A orquestra, que na primeira parte do programa tocou música clássica, impressionou o público, pois tem apenas dois anos e seus cerca de 90 membros foram todos eles retirados de situação de risco. Na verdade, alguns de seus membros tinham apenas um ano de experiência com o seu intrumento – e a menina que tocava oboe tinha apenas 11 anos!

Mas o sucesso absoluto da orquestra ficou evidente na segunda parte do programa, depois do jantar e do anúncio dos ganhadores dos prêmios, quando literalmente levantou o público quando tocou músicas latinas. Ao tocar “Tico-Tico no Fubá”, todo mundo caiu na dança – e não parou de dançar mais.

Registre-se que a orquestra foi criada por um projeto do governo do Estado da Bahia, cujo governador, Jacques Wagner, honrou o congresso com sua presença, tanto na abertura como no fechamento (neste caso, acompanhado da Primeira Dama).

Em suma, o evento foi um sucesso total. Felizmente, para nós brasileiros, nada de errado aconteceu. A comida e a água não fizeram mal, ninguém se machucou seriamente (um pé torcido e uma topada numa placa foram os piores incidentes na área da saúde), não houve assaltos nem nada do gênero. Em suma, merecem parabéns os organizadores, capitaneados por Emílio Munaro e Adriana Siliano Pettengill.

Muitos dos participantes (como a Paloma e eu) ainda se encontram em Salvador, gozando do sol, do mar e da piscina do Hotel Pestana Bahia, onde o evento teve lugar.

Abaixo, dois Press Releases da Microsoft Corporation acerca do evento, disponíveis em:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/nov09/11-04IEF09PR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases 

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http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/microsoft-partners-in-learning-announces-2009-worldwide-innovative-teacher-awards,1033429.shtml

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Teachers and Schools Celebrate Success at 2009 Microsoft Worldwide Innovative Education Forum

Microsoft Partners in Learning expands global network for educators.

SALVADOR, Brazil — Nov. 4, 2009 — Today, at its fifth annual Worldwide Innovative Education Forum (IEF), Microsoft Corp. is celebrating the impressive work that teachers and school leaders from around the world are doing to help every student realize his or her full potential. In addition, Microsoft is announcing the launch one of the world’s largest networks for educators at http://www.partnersinlearningnetwork.com.

The network underscores Microsoft’s commitment to expand the power of education for all through personalized learning by connecting millions of teachers and school leaders around the world in a community of professional development.

Partners in Learning Network

Today’s launch of the Partners in Learning Network is the next generation of the Innovative Teachers Network (ITN), a global network expected to serve more than 2 millio
n teachers and school leaders by next year. The network has evolved to include advances in social networking technology that will help teachers and school leaders do their jobs better by connecting them with one another in professional development communities. The site is available today in English and Ukrainian, with more in the coming months. As new languages become available for the Partners in Learning Network, existing ITN users will automatically have access to the new, more powerful features that this version of the network provides.

Members of the Partners in Learning Network will be able to take advantage of new capabilities such as the following:

• Connecting with peers around the world based on professional interests, teaching subjects or location

• Creating communities dedicated to innovative teaching and learning, and professional development

• Finding new content and curricula such as peer coaching and the Innovative Schools Toolkit

• Becoming content creators by sharing the latest thinking, tips and tricks, lesson plans, recommended links, and more

At its core, the Partners in Learning Network helps promote practices that school leaders and teachers can use to improve students’ 21st-century skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, communication, contextual learning, creativity, and information and media literacy.

“The Partners in Learning Network provides a unique and powerful way to connect with educators around the world and offers them an accessible forum dedicated to the exchange of ideas, educational tools and collaboration,” said Michael Golden, corporate vice president of the Education Products Group at Microsoft. “The network demonstrates our continued focus on empowering educators to engage their students more deeply.”

Worldwide Innovative Teacher Awards

Each year, Microsoft Partners in Learning searches the world for teachers who have demonstrated an exemplary use of technology in the classroom. Thousands of teachers participate from around the world in country-level and regional competitions. After each competition, winners move to the next level, culminating each year at the Worldwide Innovative Education Forum, taking place this week in Salvador, Brazil. More than 250 regional winners from more than 60 countries are vying for 12 Worldwide Innovative Teacher Awards, to be announced at the end of the week.

“For me the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Forum is about recognizing an individual teacher’s practice that has had a real impact in the classroom. I believe that computer games have a huge amount of potential in the classroom so, for my project, I used an Xbox game as a contextual hub for learning and as a way to encourage the social interaction of children as they moved between primary and secondary school,” said Ollie Bray, deputy head teacher, Musselburgh Grammar School, Scotland. “My project was so well received that it was adopted and rolled out across all 47 schools in East Lothian, Scotland. I am pleased that Microsoft is recognizing this as an investment in learning and children as well as an innovative use of technology.”

Innovative Schools Program

Microsoft is expanding its Partners in Learning Innovative Schools program from a pilot program to a full-scale global program, with the addition of 30 new Pathfinder Schools and 12 Mentor Schools, representing 35 countries. Leaders from all 42 schools are gathering in Salvador for a four-day workshop to begin a journey of transformation in their school communities. Over the next 12 months, these school leaders will go back to their home communities with a mission to transform the way their schools operate. They will be encouraged to rethink all aspects of school life, from the structure of the day and the use of technology in the curriculum to ensuring that teachers have the space and time to bring innovative practices to the classroom. Microsoft is working in close partnership with local ministries of education to implement this program and ensure its success.

The schools chosen to participate in the Pathfinder Program were selected from more than 110 applicants from around the world. Each school in the program has demonstrated strong school leadership with a proven record of innovation and successful change implementation. The Pathfinder Schools have been chosen because of their vision for learning and have already started on the road to reform and improvement.

“By working hand in hand with Microsoft Innovative Schools program, the education community can gain an improved understanding of what students need to advance in a global economy,” said Bo Kristoffersson, principal of Viktor Rydberg Gymnasium in Sweden, a 2009 Innovative Schools Pathfinder school. “The Innovative Schools Program gives us the resources we need to provide the best education available, and we look forward to working with Microsoft and other schools in the program to identify the ways in which we can equip our students with knowledge, a drive for innovation, and a passion for technological discovery.”

The Pathfinder Schools will work with 12 regional Mentor Schools, chosen primarily among participants in the Innovative Schools Pilot Program, which ran over the last two years. The Mentor Schools will be honored at the event because they have achieved a level of change within their education systems and are viewed as leaders in their countries and regions. Their innovations have a global interest and are replicable models that other schools can follow. Some Pathfinder Schools will have the opportunity to share the knowledge they gain as Mentor Schools in the future.

Partners in Learning

The Worldwide Innovative Education Forum is hosted by Microsoft Partners in Learning, a 10-year, nearly $500 million commitment by Microsoft to transform education systems around the world. Announced in 2003, Partners in Learning helps schools and teachers more effectively use technology to advance teaching and learning, provides leadership and change management information to school leaders, works to strengthen teachers’ capacity to use technology effectively in the classroom, and provides greater access to technology for teachers and students.

About Microsoft Education

We believe that technology can expand the power of education and unlock the potential of students, educators and schools. Microsoft partners with education communities around the world to deliver relevant solutions, services and programs that focus on improved personalized learning outcomes.

About Unlimited Potential

Microsoft, through its Unlimited Potential vision, is committed to making technology more affordable, relevant and accessible for the 5 billion people around the world who do not yet enjoy its benefits. The company aims to do so by helping to transform education and foster a culture of innovation, and through these means enable better jobs and opportunities. By working with governments, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations and industry partners, Microsoft hopes to reach its first major milestone — to reach the next 1 billion people who are not yet realizing the benefits of technology — by 2015.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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SALVADOR, Brazil, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — After three days of seminars, teacher exhibitions and judging by an internationally renowned panel of education
experts, today Microsoft Partners in Learning announced the winners of the 2009 Worldwide Innovative Teacher Awards at the Worldwide Innovative Education Forum. Partners in Learning recognizes and rewards teachers who demonstrate exemplary use of technology in the classroom to improve student learning. The 14 winning teachers — awarded first, second and third place in four categories — were chosen from among the 250 at the Forum representing more than 60 countries.

The Best Practice winners in the four main competition categories are Mandeep Atwal of England, Innovation in Community; Mark Sparvell of Australia, Innovation in Collaboration; Autumne Streeval and Harriet Armstrong of the United States, Innovation in Content; and Moliehi Sekese of Lesotho, Educators Choice. The 2009 Worldwide IEF award ceremony, held tonight in Salvador, Brazil, was attended by 400 educators, school leaders, government officials and others from more than 60 countries.

"The Innovative Teacher Awards exemplify the dedication and imagination of the world’s most forward-thinking educators," said Michael Golden, corporate vice president of Education at Microsoft. "The energy and entrepreneurism of the winning teachers demonstrate the infinite possibilities that technology can create to improve learning opportunities and inspire future generations toward greater academic achievement. Microsoft remains committed to supporting the community in this quest. I’d like to extend warm congratulations to everyone who participated in this and the regional events that led up to today’s celebration."

The following are the top three finalists in each category, in finishing order:

Innovation in Community

• Best Practice: Mandeep Atwal (England), "Young Voices"
• First Runner-Up: Ollie Bray (Scotland), "Thinking outside the XBOX"
• Second Runner-Up: Lucrecio Filho de Oliveira (Brazil), Projeto "Barreiro"

Innovation in Collaboration

• Best Practice: Mark Sparvell (Australia), "Connecting Hearts Heads and Hands"
• First Runner-Up: Karina Batat (Israel), "The Traveling Mascot"
• Second Runner-Up (Tie): Myreia Gussinye (Mexico), "Tolerant"
• Second Runner-Up (Tie): Xiaoyong Tang (China), "Exploration of Ant Behavior"

Innovation in Content

• Best Practice: Autumne Streeval and Harriet Armstrong (United States), "US Industrial Revolution Tic Tac Toe"
• First Runner-Up: Damien Lebegue (France), "Differentiated/adapted Teaching in PE"
• Second Runner-Up: Alex Vieira dos Santos (Brazil), "Fontes De Energia"

Educators Choice

• Best Practice: Moliehi Sekese (Lesotho), "Indigenous Plants"
• First Runner-Up: Janjira Phongchoo (Thailand), "MS Excel Game Building Techniques"
• Second Runner-Up: Isabel Schapdryver (Belgium), "Secondhandshop"

"Winning the Educators Choice award is certainly a great honor," said Moliehi Sekese of Lesotho who won for her project Indigenous Plants. "Just being here and seeing how teachers from all over the world are enriching the lives of students is ultimately even more rewarding."

Since 2003, the Partners in Learning award competition has been recognizing individuals with the Worldwide Innovative Education Awards for excellence in teaching. Teachers participate in country-level and regional events. Winners move up to the Worldwide competition.

The judging community includes education experts from all over the world. At the event 36 judges representing 23 countries spend nearly 20 hours talking to the teachers and learning about their projects; then in a private room they discuss, debate and share with one another until the winners are finally selected.

"Every year the submissions seem to get better and better, and this year is no exception," said Judge Eduardo Chaves of Brazil. "The level of sophistication of these entries shows that teachers are continuing to innovate and expand the ways they use technology to help students all over the world realize their potential."

Next year’s Innovative Teacher Awards results will be announced at the 2010 Worldwide IEF, which will take place in Cape Town, South Africa. Country- and regional-level competitions will take place beginning in November 2009. Interested teachers should contact their local Microsoft office for more information or look online at

http://www.microsoft.com/education/pil/partnersInLearning.aspx.

At the event, school leaders from 12 Mentor and 30 Pathfinder Schools also participated in a three-day workshop and were recognized for their leadership in driving system-level educational reform.

About the Innovative Education Forum

The Innovative Education Forum is an annual worldwide event. Regional forums are held around the world to create communities of teachers who can share ideas and best practices with their peers and facilitate the creation of collective knowledge. Subsets of regional forum participants are selected to represent their country at the Worldwide Innovative Education Forum.

About Microsoft Education

We believe that technology can expand the power of education and unlock the potential of students, educators and schools. Microsoft partners with education communities around the world to deliver relevant solutions, services and programs that focus on improved personalized learning outcomes.

About Unlimited Potential

Microsoft, through its Unlimited Potential vision, is committed to making technology more affordable, relevant and accessible for the 5 billion people around the world who do not yet enjoy its benefits. The company aims to do so by helping to transform education and foster a culture of innovation, and through these means enable better jobs and opportunities. By working with governments, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations and industry partners, Microsoft hopes to reach its first major milestone — to reach the next 1 billion people who are not yet realizing the benefits of technology — by 2015.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Em Salvador, 8 de Novembro de 2009