Comments on: Travel the backroads of World Learning http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/travel-the-backroads-of-world-learning/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:27:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Stephan http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/travel-the-backroads-of-world-learning/#comment-99 Stephan Thu, 22 May 2008 13:40:37 +0000 http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/?p=67#comment-99 The project is a great idea, also I dont like the camera focus. I guess is up to the director. However, I also miss the graduate studnets. What makes us unique is no longer the homestay, many other organization have been doing that, too. However, no other organization includes a graduate institue. I still dont understand the name replcaement for what has had an excellent reputation SIT. I would be very interested in seeing the longer version of the video. I would like to use it in a company viewing. The project is a great idea, also I dont like the camera focus. I guess is up to the director. However, I also miss the graduate studnets. What makes us unique is no longer the homestay, many other organization have been doing that, too. However, no other organization includes a graduate institue. I still dont understand the name replcaement for what has had an excellent reputation SIT. I would be very interested in seeing the longer version of the video. I would like to use it in a company viewing.

]]> By: Jess Doerr http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/travel-the-backroads-of-world-learning/#comment-94 Jess Doerr Mon, 19 May 2008 12:53:36 +0000 http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/?p=67#comment-94 Thanks for the replies, ladies (Boston's great, btw)! I appreciate your comment, Michaela, as the WLID work is broadly recognized as incredibly important and serves as many NGOs' informational gateway, if you will, into all the organization does to facilitate social change. During my time there we didn't have enough interaction with that arm of the organization and I especially appreciate the talk of SIT's (grad students) as a feeder for WLID, absolute common sense. As a grad alum and former employee, I'm heartened to know that this will be replaced with a video that respects all branches of the organization for which I and so many have a fierce, complicated love (especially now). The work of WL will always be important and challenging, yet we have to bear in mind that all branches depends upon one another. Thanks for the replies, ladies (Boston’s great, btw)!
I appreciate your comment, Michaela, as the WLID work is broadly recognized as incredibly important and serves as many NGOs’ informational gateway, if you will, into all the organization does to facilitate social change. During my time there we didn’t have enough interaction with that arm of the organization and I especially appreciate the talk of SIT’s (grad students) as a feeder for WLID, absolute common sense. As a grad alum and former employee, I’m heartened to know that this will be replaced with a video that respects all branches of the organization for which I and so many have a fierce, complicated love (especially now). The work of WL will always be important and challenging, yet we have to bear in mind that all branches depends upon one another.

]]> By: Michaela Hackner http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/travel-the-backroads-of-world-learning/#comment-86 Michaela Hackner Tue, 13 May 2008 18:45:41 +0000 http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/?p=67#comment-86 Hi Jess, You're definitely right, this was an oversight on our part and had mostly to do with a fast turnaround editing job by our production company who was focused more on making the 5 minute cut-off, rather than presenting the breadth of our organization. If you noticed, they also didn't include any coverage of our international development programs, which comprise half of World Learning's work! We are planning to replace this video with a two-part version of the 15-minute original film, which does include footage from interviews with our graduate students and international development program staff. We definitely view all program areas of World Learning equally, and I think it is the strength and uniqueness of each or our programs that makes this organization such a fascinating place to learn from and work for. Hi Jess,
You’re definitely right, this was an oversight on our part and had mostly to do with a fast turnaround editing job by our production company who was focused more on making the 5 minute cut-off, rather than presenting the breadth of our organization. If you noticed, they also didn’t include any coverage of our international development programs, which comprise half of World Learning’s work! We are planning to replace this video with a two-part version of the 15-minute original film, which does include footage from interviews with our graduate students and international development program staff. We definitely view all program areas of World Learning equally, and I think it is the strength and uniqueness of each or our programs that makes this organization such a fascinating place to learn from and work for.

]]> By: Alejandra Pallais http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/travel-the-backroads-of-world-learning/#comment-85 Alejandra Pallais Tue, 13 May 2008 16:07:06 +0000 http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/?p=67#comment-85 Hey Jess, (How's Boston treating you?) You make some great points. And, yes, I agree: SIT Grads make extraordinary contributions to social change. The unfortunate down side of working for an org that has 4 program units doing critical work is that we need to find ways to equally support and promote each program given limited (non-profit) resources. As you rightly point out, thats a tough challenge. However, please check out this months enews (coming soon to an inbox near you.) The focus of the enews is on WL's work on-the-ground, focusing on development w/ its community-based approach. The Alumni and their Impact section features only SIT Grad alums...alums doing the critical on-the-ground work that makes this organization what it is. SIT Grad alumni are prime examples of WL putting its beliefs into action and making a difference. They do make this org incredibly unique and we need to continue to feature Grad alums and their efforts. No question about it. Hey Jess, (How’s Boston treating you?)

You make some great points. And, yes, I agree: SIT Grads make extraordinary contributions to social change. The unfortunate down side of working for an org that has 4 program units doing critical work is that we need to find ways to equally support and promote each program given limited (non-profit) resources. As you rightly point out, thats a tough challenge.

However, please check out this months enews (coming soon to an inbox near you.) The focus of the enews is on WL’s work on-the-ground, focusing on development w/ its community-based approach. The Alumni and their Impact section features only SIT Grad alums…alums doing the critical on-the-ground work that makes this organization what it is. SIT Grad alumni are prime examples of WL putting its beliefs into action and making a difference. They do make this org incredibly unique and we need to continue to feature Grad alums and their efforts. No question about it.

]]> By: Jess Doerr http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/travel-the-backroads-of-world-learning/#comment-81 Jess Doerr Fri, 09 May 2008 22:15:55 +0000 http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/?p=67#comment-81 Thanks for the reply, Michaela! I understand the restrictions thing, it can be a pain. But I need to take issue with one thing: you mention it's meant "mainly to introduce the organization," and to do recruiting for EIL and SSA. But it's never positioned as recruiting for EIL and SSA: it's looks like it's meant to just introduce WL, with heavy emphasis on those two programs. And trust me, I think they're fantastic and terribly important and talk them up to everyone with kids in that age bracket, but again, the grad programs come across as a serious afterthought, especially if there were 50+hours of video to choose from, which as you mention included grad students. Obviously, I have a preference here, and it's that the grad programs be considered equals in the organization. Period. I understand the constraints that the creative team works under, but I fear this reinforces the feeling that the grad programs are second-class to the youth programs (interviews with 2 SSAs and no grad students). I really do not mean to flame, but the impression is that the youth programs are the darlings of the organization. Thanks for letting me reply and not booting me! Thanks for the reply, Michaela!
I understand the restrictions thing, it can be a pain. But I need to take issue with one thing: you mention it’s meant “mainly to introduce the organization,” and to do recruiting for EIL and SSA. But it’s never positioned as recruiting for EIL and SSA: it’s looks like it’s meant to just introduce WL, with heavy emphasis on those two programs. And trust me, I think they’re fantastic and terribly important and talk them up to everyone with kids in that age bracket, but again, the grad programs come across as a serious afterthought, especially if there were 50+hours of video to choose from, which as you mention included grad students.
Obviously, I have a preference here, and it’s that the grad programs be considered equals in the organization. Period. I understand the constraints that the creative team works under, but I fear this reinforces the feeling that the grad programs are second-class to the youth programs (interviews with 2 SSAs and no grad students). I really do not mean to flame, but the impression is that the youth programs are the darlings of the organization. Thanks for letting me reply and not booting me!

]]> By: Michaela Hackner http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/travel-the-backroads-of-world-learning/#comment-80 Michaela Hackner Fri, 09 May 2008 19:07:00 +0000 http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/?p=67#comment-80 Hi Jess, thanks for your kind words about the video. Our graduate students do contribute amazing work in the field of social change, and truly make our organization one of the most unique non profits out there. As was mentioned above, we shot 50+ hours of video so a lot needed to be cut to get to 5 minutes, including interviews with SIT graduate students and several folks on our international development staff. There is a longer version, which we’d be happy to send to you, which we are using for broader recruiting. We're however unable to post it on YouTube due to their restrictions of 10 minutes or shorter. This short video was mainly meant to introduce the organization, and as a recruiting tool for the Experiment in International Living and SIT Study Abroad. From there we can introduce participants to our other programs. We’d also like to, time and budget allowing, cut shorter videos for each of the other programs. Hi Jess, thanks for your kind words about the video. Our graduate students do contribute amazing work in the field of social change, and truly make our organization one of the most unique non profits out there. As was mentioned above, we shot 50+ hours of video so a lot needed to be cut to get to 5 minutes, including interviews with SIT graduate students and several folks on our international development staff. There is a longer version, which we’d be happy to send to you, which we are using for broader recruiting. We’re however unable to post it on YouTube due to their restrictions of 10 minutes or shorter. This short video was mainly meant to introduce the organization, and as a recruiting tool for the Experiment in International Living and SIT Study Abroad. From there we can introduce participants to our other programs. We’d also like to, time and budget allowing, cut shorter videos for each of the other programs.

]]> By: Jess Doerr http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/travel-the-backroads-of-world-learning/#comment-78 Jess Doerr Fri, 09 May 2008 14:50:11 +0000 http://worldlearningnow.wordpress.com/?p=67#comment-78 It's a beautiful film, and I applaud the efforts that went into it and the contributions from the many included! It's mentioned at the end of the post that it's only scratching the surface of the programs, but why are no grad students interviewed? Between the fieldwork of the SSA and EIL students, we get a lot of activity happening 'out there' (which they of course then usually apply to their studies back at home) but the grad students are doing work in these fields less than a after starting their studies....I feel they deserve equal time to the participants in other programs. The grad programs DO make WL unique, they DO bring a lot to the WL portfolio of programs, and their alumni DO make extraordinary contributions to social change. Please remember them in your publicity efforts, as they bring a lot of rich experiences and talent to the organization. Thank you. It’s a beautiful film, and I applaud the efforts that went into it and the contributions from the many included!
It’s mentioned at the end of the post that it’s only scratching the surface of the programs, but why are no grad students interviewed? Between the fieldwork of the SSA and EIL students, we get a lot of activity happening ‘out there’ (which they of course then usually apply to their studies back at home) but the grad students are doing work in these fields less than a after starting their studies….I feel they deserve equal time to the participants in other programs. The grad programs DO make WL unique, they DO bring a lot to the WL portfolio of programs, and their alumni DO make extraordinary contributions to social change. Please remember them in your publicity efforts, as they bring a lot of rich experiences and talent to the organization. Thank you.

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