Meet the Litter@sea Crew members, a group of engaged educators willing not only to support this cause, but also to share their knowledge and expertise with the rest of us.
Raihana is an elementary government school teacher in Bangladesh very committed to her work. She visited Japan under the "Japan International Cooperation Agency" (JICA) for a training on how to teach with technology and methodology, especially in Math’s & Science. She has been selected as best divisional teacher, that is why the Bangladesh Government rewarded her and arranged a training tour to Thailand. As best ICT teacher, the A2i (Ministry of government) gave her the chance for design (Bangladesh and Global Studies eBook). This year she has been select a best ICT content developer. As a British councils’ coordinator, her school was selected Full Award (ISA). As an MIE expert she attended the E2 in Singapore. She was the winner of the lesson Algorithmic Thinking. She is a National Geography Certified Teacher. Raihana is very passionate about her job. She loves project-based work and to meet new people and share what she knows.
Bernadine Reeb, Canada
Bernadine is an Elementary School teacher (ages 8-10). Skype in the Classroom, Flipgrid Educator, 21st Century Thinking, Life Long Learner. Interested in creating global awareness through Sustainable Goals projects and digital global collaborations.
Polyxeni Lianou, Greece
Polyxeni is a primary school teacher in Kastoria, Greece. Her passion is astronomy, hence her master's thesis in development, application and evaluation of a multimedia software for teaching elements of astronomy and astrophysics in elementary school. Since she has always been concerned about environmental issues, she undertook a BSc thesis titled "Green practices in major commercial ports in Greece" at the department of International Trade. She has participated with her students in the Litter@sea eTwinning project, in collaboration with other European teachers and students, aiming to raise awareness about marine pollution.
Elín Stefansdóttir, Iceland
Elín is a primary teacher in Iceland, with a B.ed (Bachelor of Education). She has been teaching for 30 years. She is also an eTwinning ambassador and has been awarded many times for her projects. She cares for the nature and likes to run and walk, and listen to the nature. She practices 'plogging' (picking up plastic while running). She and her students have participated in the Litter@sea eTwinning project, in collaboration with other European teachers.
Preeti Kanthake, India
Preeti is a primary teacher in a government school in Maharashtra state, India. She teaches English and Language to 6-8 grades. Science and Environmental Studies are her favourite subjects. She believes that experience teaches more than just sitting and learning in a classroom, so she always tries to give more live experiences to her students.
Mandeep Kaur Sukhija, India
Mandeep is in charge of Environment and Innovation, teaching Physics and STEM at Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, India. She has been collaborating with educators across the globe on various platforms like Twitter, Facebook and is an active member of Microsoft Educator Community. She adopts project-based learning as key instructional strategy. During her career of more than 23 years she has achieved many milestones. Mandeep was awarded with the State Teachers’ award by Directorate of Education in 2017 and the Pied Piper award by Springdales Education Society in 2017. Mandeep is in charge of the Environment Club and has worked on various environmental projects to create awareness and provide practical solutions on environmental issues such as protection, conservation, preservation, and restoration. «I believe in Empowering the Youth by helping them develop the skills required for 21st century learners. I feel learning STEM and Innovation is the need of the hour and we must provide our students with ‘hands-on, minds-on’ environment that will support and enrich the entire learning process.»
Cristiana Pivetta, Italy
Cristiana is a teacher of Italian language, History and Geography in the Comprehensive Institute "Don Milani" of Carbonia. She has been in charge of online training and in the presence of intelligent and strategic use of technologies in daily teaching. Her approach to the use of technology is simple: first, common sense, educational objectives and competences, then the use of the different instruments in a strategic key and strongly guided by a careful application of the correct methodology. She has been sensitizing her students for years on respect for the environment and on sustainable goals. Cristiana is passionate about creative writing. She writes a blog in which collects the contributions made with the students during the course of teaching activities. https://www.fantascrivendo.com/
Janeth Torres, Mexico
Janeth is graduated in History with a Master's Degree in Education. She is a primary school teacher and mother of a girl who also worries about pollution and its damage. Janeth tries to make every day count helping, promoting and making changes to take care of the environment.
Ania Leszczynska, Poland
Ania is an English and Ethics teacher from Poland, MIE Expert and Mystery Skype Master. She uses Skype as a tool for achieving the Sustainable Development goals by connecting her students with scientists, speakers and classrooms from all over the world. She combined English lessons with learning sustainable development, and showing problems appearing currently in the world. More from Ania: https://schoolthemes.wordpress.com/ https://sway.office.com/oujWMXkaNkWrG055?ref=Link
Rita Zurrapa, Portugal
Rita is an English teacher and a teacher trainer. She has taught from Preschool up to Secondary. Right now she teaches in one of the biggest schools in Sintra, by the sea. She thinks being a Language teacher is wonderful and privilege as anything fits the curriculum. For her the most important thing is getting kids to think for themselves and be active citizens. Her biggest challenge is to make them realize and believe that they have to make mistakes to learn. She was never just a teacher. She has experience as a headteacher, as a in-service teacher trainer, as a teacher trainer, as a Comenius teacher, as project manager, ... She is an eTwinner since 2006 and belonged to the National Support Service for 9 years and was the eTwinning National Coordinator of Portugal for 6 years. She feels this was a great adventure where she met the best teachers. Teachers that teach students and not curriculum. Teachers that matter in their students' lives. Nowadays her concern about environmental issues has grown and all her teaching is connected to these. She works with her students in projects that allow them to learn the language as well as learn to learn. The projects she has developed were on the issue of Plastic especially on its effect on the Ocean and Marine Life.
Elena Shramkova, Russia
Elena is a teacher of English from the small town of Volokonovka, Belgorod region, Russia. She runs her own studio of English which is called "Smart Teens Studio" for students of different ages from 8 to 18. She is a MIEExpert and Skype Master Teacher. Elena thinks that "nowadays more and more people become aware about the ecological situation of their towns and villages. The problem is that people are using lots of plastic items in their everyday life which are quite harmful to the environment. To improve the situation we should all reduce the use of them or even completely stop implementing plastic to keep our planet suitable for living for future generations. We as teachers should teach our students how to take care of our nature: seas, oceans, lakes, rivers, forests. I believe that together we can change the situation and make our world a better place to live in. But if you want to change the world, start with yourself!"
Mira Milovic , Serbia
Mira has been teaching English for almost 30 years, and has been using Skype in the Classroom since 2015. She’s been running her own school of English, and her work day is too long, so she’s always seen nature as the best vent for her. She’s been mountain climbing for 17 years, and as all the members, she’s been trying to educate not just the young ones, but everyone who’s not aware, about the importance of keeping the mountains, rivers, oceans, nature in general clean for, if we don’t respect it, it will punish us and revenge to us. As an educator, Mira knows that students actually learn from what she does, not what she says. That’s why she thinks that she is a good role model for them. As a MIE Expert she believes that both her and her students can, via Skype, influence other students around the world. She’s also convinced that together, we can initiate some changes. Maybe not big, but if everyone makes a tiny change in their houses/enviroment, that may be a big step for the planet!
Sojeong Kim, South Korea
Sojeong is an English teacher in Neulpureun Elementary School, South Korea. She has been teaching for 9 years. She uses technology and Skype in her class, being one of the first innovative Skype teachers in South Korea. She believes that learning teachers make better learning students and so she is not afraid of trying new things for her students. She is working as a Korean education consultant in the international collaboration and exchange division. She coaches and helps other educators who want to be also innovative and leading in education. Her recent focus is on SDGs, especially the Skype Cleanup Brigade, Her students are passionately campaigning it.
Penchan Kongpet, Thailand
Penchan is an English teacher from Warinchamrap School, Thailand. She considers herself a global citizen, and is willing to do anything for as little as it is to protect our world.
Patcharin Wongchompoo, Thailand
Patcharin is a teacher from Surao Huamaknoi school, Bangkapi, Bangkok, Thailand. She teaches technology, art and craft, gardening to 10-12 years old students. She is very interested in teaching her students about the sustainable growth, raising awareness about resource use, protecting nature and the environment, as she believes that everything on this planet is connected. She loves to share experiences and ideas with other teachers around the world. She won a video clip video contest, “Wildlife should be in the wild”, by the World Animal Protection Thailand Organization.
Dean Whiteley, UK
Dean is an IT consultant and Educator working predominantly in Primary Schools. He feels privileged that his role enables him to work with students on a number of projects which combines IT and learning. He absolutely loves his job. Prior to this role he was in the British Police Force for just under ten years. He loves spending time outdoors in his spare time and uses this time to practice his photography skills. It was on one particular trip to a beach close to where he lives that ended up sparking his concern in the affect we are having on the environment we live in as he came across so much litter and plastic… and a dead seal! Like many people he ignored the issues that we are facing but from that day he became very concerned and wanted to make a difference in some way as if we don’t change our habits now then it will be catastrophic for the next generation. The small changes he has made now include using re-usable shopping bags and saying no to plastic whenever possible and picking up litter whenever he sees it. He also buys his fruit and vegetables from local greengrocers rather than supermarkets, and makes sure everything is recycled or even re-used. Some of the plastics he would have thrown away now come into school for use in his IT projects and to further educate the pupils he works with.
Stormy Daniels, U.S.A.
Stormy is currently a classroom teacher with a passion for Educational Technology that transforms the learning environments for the students she serves. As an Ambassador and Presenter for numerous Ed Tech companies, she continues to inspire her fellow educators to take the journey into Blended Learning. She truly believes that ALL students deserve to learn in such a way that prepares them for their future. As a life-long learner, Stormy recently completed a Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus in Educational Technology Leadership.