Erin Towns

I am a high school educator with over 15 years of experience teaching geography, world history and contemporary global issues. I became interested in making education actually relevant for students and began a quest to bring the world directly into my classroom. I began applying for teaching fellowships and in 2008, was awarded a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholarship to study Japanese education systems and culture in Tokyo and Minamisoma Japan. In 2013, as a US Department of State Fellow, I participated in the Teachers For Global Classrooms Program, which took me to Kazakhstan to study and teach. Most recently, I traveled to China participating in the Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar with the National Committee on United States-China Relations studying Chinese culture, history and economic development. I connected directly into my classroom from each country affording my students a first hand look at people and things outside of the United States. Upon return from all travels, I designed a myriad of classroom units and technologically based activities for students to explore the rich history and culture of the countries I visited and encourage direct communication and collaboration with students from all over the globe. I travel and regularly present to local, national, and international audiences on topics involving uses of technology in education and educating for global competency. Recently I began a statewide partnership to support K-12 educators in Maine who are interested in using spatial technology, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to bring the world into their classrooms. I connect and collaborate with individuals and professionals invested in experiential learning and global education and technologically savvy high school educators.