Level Up Village is the first organization to receive the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Seal of Alignment at the Proficiency Level. The seal has been awarded for Level Up Village's work in pioneering tools that bring students from around the world together. Virtual tools from Level Up Village help bridge the global gap in STEAM enrichment.

"The ISTE Seal of Alignment reviewers found that Level Up Village's Global Courses shared a consistent and effective approach to the use of technology to promote shared learning, problem-solving and work strategies, with a particular emphasis on the development of the cultural understanding necessary to work with international partners," according to a recent release.

"Reviewers found the courses to be interesting, engaging, challenging and highly professional in their design and implementation," said Mindy Frisbee, Director of Alignment for ISTE. 

The ISTE provided a detailed report in which they highlighted seven key ways Level Up Village was excelling at virtual and global STEAM enrichment. The seven areas that Level Up Village help students around the world include providing them the ability to become empowered learners, digital citizens, knowledge constructors, innovative designers, computational thinkers, creative communicators and global collaborators," all of which fall under ISTE's standards for students.

"Level Up Village's rapidly expanding global network includes more than 250 schools across the U.S. and more than 40 global partner organizations (schools and NGOs) in more than 20 countries, including Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Ukraine, Nicaragua, Honduras and Brazil," according to the release. 

"Schools receive with fully developed curriculum, trained global partners, teacher training, comprehensive management of the global collaboration process and ongoing support. U.S. school partners directly sponsor Global STEAM education in developing countries through LUV’s 'Take a Class, Give a Class' model."

With Level Up Village's courses, students have the ability to collaborate with students outside of their classrooms and their country for that matter. These cultural exchange expose students to different perspectives and teach them how to become informed and responsible digital citizens. 

Read the full release.

Article by Navindra Persaud, Education World Contributor.