About the 2012 Global Classrooms: New York City Model UN Conference
This year's conference will be held at the City College of New York (CCNY), and will feature Opening and Closing Ceremonies in the Great Hall at CCNY. The conference is scheduled to be held on February 4, 2012 at the City College of New York. The conference has the capacity for 800 middle and high school students and feature eight committees, where debate focused on current and pressing international issues such as HIV and young people, women and development, and religious intolerance.
The Global Classrooms: New York City conference provided a greater opportunity for Global Classrooms students to participate in a professional conference setting and the chance to debate with hundreds of students from across the city
About Global Classrooms: New York CitySince its inception in 1999, students and teachers in the nation's largest school district have used Global Classrooms resources and curricular units to address topics in international affairs such as poverty, peace and conflict, and human rights. Students role-play as representatives from countries, interest groups and nongovernmental organizations in simulations of UN bodies. In addition to learning about international affairs and the world outside New York City, students cultivate consensus-building and negotiation skills as they work to resolve conflicts peaceably.
It is increasingly critical that students learn skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, how to analyze information, and how to write and communicate effectively. To that end, the Global Classrooms program offers Model UN as an engaging activity for developing these skills as well as a vehicle for bringing international education into the classroom.
Global Classrooms students are preparing for college as they develop life and leadership skills. They develop critical experience in research, comprehension, and have a firm base of global knowledge. We are developing a generation of young people who are engaged in the world and able to navigate in a global environment.
Based on the needs of the school and the vision of the administration, Global Classrooms curricula can be adapted to fit many different types of learning environments on the middle- and high-school levels. The diversity of the Global Classrooms schools reflects the adaptability of the program and its curricular resources, which have been implemented in such diverse settings as:
- A full-year credit-bearing social studies course;
- An alternative to traditional debate, mock trial or model congress electives;
- A co-curricular resource for world studies, civics and government, geography, English and economics;
- A 4H literacy curriculum;
- An alternative to traditional general educational development (GED) class content; and
- An English language learners (ELL) curriculum.
In addition to curricular and co-curricular resources, UNA-USA supports New York City teachers and students with experienced Model UN trainers throughout the city and professional development sessions that help teachers integrate the knowledge and skills learned through Global Classrooms into a larger educational context.
Photos from past Global Classrooms: NYC Conferences
Global Classrooms would like to thank all of the delegates, advisors, special guests, staff, and CCNY for another successful Global Classrooms: New York Conference. Please enjoy the photos from our 2011 conference, available on our Facebook Photo Gallery. We hope to see everyone again in 2012.
Facebook Photo Gallery
Quick Facts about the Global Classrooms Program
- Established in 1999;
- New York City Department of Education has worked with UNA-USA to implement the program locally;
- Teacher support through Model UN trainers and teacher professional development workshops;
- Serving 91 Schools in New York City;
- University students from Columbia University, Yale University, University of Bridgeport, New York University, CUNY Honors College, Pratt University, DeSales University, St. John's University, City College of New York, Seton Hall University and Trinity College have volunteered annually to serve as members of the Model UN conference staff.
Contact Us
Kelly Siegel
Program Associate, UNA Education
ksiegel@unausa.org
Michael Mahrer
Global Classrooms NYC Lead Teacher
mahrermun@gmail.com Are you a teacher? Join our Online Model UN Discussion Boards!
 UNA-USA's Model UN Discussion Boards are a great way to connect teachers, students, and Model UN enthusiast. The discussion boards are also a valuable resource for learning from the experience of fellow teachers and sharing ideas to better prepare for the conferences.
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