Your Name and Title: Lisa Martin, International Educator
School or Organization Name: At Large
Co-Presenter Name(s): Jingshen Zhao, David Taylor
Area of the World from Which You Will Present: Amman, Jordan, Austin, Texas and Singapore
Language in Which You Will Present: English
Target Audience(s): High School educators and students, administrators and extra-curricular specialists
Short Session Description (one line):
An overview of the world's first Model United Nation's program, delivered fully online
Full Session Description (as long as you would like):
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Online Model United Nations (O-MUN) is the first program of its kind to bring this role-playing simulation to a fully online environment. Borrowing off of the best practices of The Hague International Model United Nation's (THIMUN) rules and debate procedures, high school students assume the role of a country's representative, and then work collaboratively (through discussion and consensus) and through debate to discuss some of the most pressing global issues.
Using the community management tool, OrgSync, O-MUN students are able to become part of an online global community where they may choose to participate in bi-weekly debates, ranging from combating torture, to cyber warfare, to water policy in the Middle East. The O-MUN site allows clubs to create MUN club space for their exclusive use, provides individual students with an opportunity to engage in first rate debate, and ultimately will present experienced online delegates with opportunities to do outreach in communities around the globe who have never had access to this amazing educational simulation.
Model UN puts great emphasis on youth empowerment and leadership. All debates are held in Blackboard Collaborate and are run by four student moderators and their Assistant Directors (with a recent moderating team, for example, collaborating together from their respective homes in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, California and Tennessee). Recent high school grads are the organizational glue of the program, overseeing the student moderators and modeling best MUN practices. A core group of MUN Directors sit on a steering committee to help give direction and vision to the program.
Currently O-MUN is a free program to any high school’s MUN program or to individual students wishing to try their hand at online debating. New student orientation sessions are held for newcomers, and there are many leadership opportunities available for motivated students. Information on our program can be found by going to the O-MUN link below. Alternatively you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
O-MUN's Community Home, hosted by OrgSync: www.onlinemun.com
O-MUN Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/onlinemun
O-MUN Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/onlinemun/lists
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