It is part of the overall Fulbright Program, which promotes mutual understanding among people of the U.S. and other ?countries.
The Global Teacher Programs Division of the Institute of International Education awarded $224,036 to the Center for International Education, Development and Research at the IU School of Education for its first time running the program. The Fulbright grant awarded to IU was the only one given in the U.S. this year.
Remya Iyer is a ?biotechnology teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Guwahati Assam, India. She has been teaching for more than eight years.
Q What has your experience been like as a Fulbright Distinguished Teacher?
A The Fulbright experience has been very enriching and rewarding, both personally and professionally, so far. Every moment your learning curve grows, and it opens up new horizons.
It has helped me to rediscover and celebrate myself. Coming back to the United States as a Fulbrighter after 10 years when I left the United States as a student makes it a full, complete circle. I have traveled from researcher to teacher, back to researcher.
Q How does living in the United States and Indiana differ from India?
A Living in both countries are fun as each has its own unique charms and in terms of warmth, love and affection bestowed upon you.
I have felt this belongingness here, whether it was coming from a person driving the shuttle of Reserve on Third, or a passerby offering to take your snaps or a student helping you figure out maps without asking help from him or her.
My Bloomington host family, Joanne and Deb, have made me feel at home. The CIEDR team led by Dr. Kubow has been exceptionally good to each one of us, taking care of every small need. Dr. Kubow helped to lift our suitcases along the stairs when we moved to Bloomington, unheard of a professor of her stature doing it.
The hardest thing has been staying from my family, especially my kids. I have never stayed away from my small kids, aged 6 and 8, until now, but all these people, along with my roommates and my Indian compatriot, have made my stay memorable.
Q How do American students differ from the ones you are accustomed to teaching?
A American students have more flexibility and freedom, but I have seen that in both countries, students are focused and hardworking. Here, project-based or new technology schools are a great option which we lack in India. Similarly, the American students get to have deeper perspectives of various aspects of educational philosophies at the higher level.
Q What is the focus of your research project?
A My project is to create a small difference in the awareness level of students. I am looking for the different instructional pedagogies in classroom transactions through which this happens in U.S. classrooms and how it can be implemented to Indian conditions. Physical nature cannot be disconnected with human nature. We cannot be disconnected from the environment, as it’s part of holistic learning and development. Moreover, equipping students to be global citizens is the need of today, and my project helps do that through its various facets .
