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CurrentTrips: Welcome!
Welcome to the International Travel & Programs Blog for Study Abroad Opportunities. Participants in these trips will be regularly posting about their experiences. As a part of The Chicago School Community, you will have first-hand information from the participants themselves and be able to learn from their involvement in international psychology. Thus far, we have prepared blogs for the Puerto Rico, Thailand, Malta, and Sri Lanka. Stay tuned for future blogging in the next few days as students are preparing for Israel and the West Bank.
Labels: Israel and The West Bank, Malta, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, Thailand Friday, July 10 2009 Our final day of the conference was the most anticipated day of our stay in Malta—as we anxiously awaited our symposium presentation. Our presentation titled, "Getting to Know the Diversity of ISPA" focused on the history of ISPA, member profiles, the internal structure of the organization, and finally a detailed analysis of a member-wide survey. The presentation sparked an engaging conversation in which members voiced their perceptions of how the association is carrying out its mission, thus accomplishing the goal of educating attendees about the association and inspiring members to become more involved. Not only was this a great experience to present at a professional conference, but also a chance to understand the unique roles school psychologists play in their respective countries.  As we packed up our suitcases to unfortunately depart, we had time to reflect upon our journey throughout the Maltese islands. Each day was full of learning new public transportation systems, adjusting to the intense heat due to a greener lifestyle, and acquiring sayings from multiple languages that we will take home as personal souvenirs.From the red sanded beaches of Gozo, to the clear aqua waters of Camino, to the vibrantly colored buses of Malta, our trip has been remarkable. We hope that you have enjoyed this window into our Maltese experience.
 Ciao! Cheers! Goodbye! -Ashley, Caryn, Lauren, and Mandi Labels: Malta Thursday, July 9 2009 We began day three of the ISPA conference by attending the keynote lecture presented by Dr. Chris Forlin, a professor at the Hong Kong Institute of Education in China. As students who have been stressed at the possibility of servicing three schools in Chicago, we were quite shocked to learn that China currently has one psychologist servicing an average of seven schools at one time. Even more shocking is the fact that this number is an improvement from 2003 when the average was 30 schools per school psychologist!  After enjoying an informative day at the conference, it was time to play! We set out this afternoon to take in some historical sites in Malta. We chose to visit Mdina, an ancient walled city dating back to 1000 BC which throughout the centuries has been under Phoenician, Roman and Arab control. Mdina, also known as the silent city, is nestled in the center of the island and sits around 220 meters above sea level. This great height allows the walled city to boast a breathtaking view of the Maltese Islands. In addition to the spectacular views, Mdina enchants its visitors as they wind through narrow alleys lined with high stone walls and vibrant flowers.  Labels: Malta Wednesday, July 8 2009
After beginning our second day in Malta, we are truly starting to immerse ourselves in the Maltese culture. We have indulged in Pastizzi, a Maltese pastry made of mashed peas and cheese while interacting with local natives.
The second day of the conference began with keynote speaker Robert Sternberg of Tufts University. After learning about his theory of intelligence in both undergrad and graduate school, we were a little bit star-struck. Sternberg discussed the WICS (Wisdom, Intelligence, and Creativity Synthesized) model that he and his colleagues have developed for instruction and assessment purposes. This model not only looks at the traditional definition of intelligence (IQ tests), but also examines other areas of functioning and how it pertains to the overall well-being of the child. Moreover, this approach integrates the strengths of the varying degrees of assessment that we have learned in our classes at The Chicago School. So far we are enriching our education, connecting with future colleagues, and of course, having a great time. Until next time, Ashley, Caryn, Lauren, and Mandi
Pastizzi
Working at the ISPA booth Labels: Malta Tuesday, July 7 2009
We traveled to Malta to take part in the 31st International School Psychology Association Conference (ISPA). We embarked upon this journey not only to represent the association, but also to enhance our knowledge of diversity in international school psychology. The ISPA Central Office is located at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and was brought to the school by Dr. Bob Clark, Executive Secretary of ISPA.
This evening, we attended the opening ceremony in which delegates from over forty countries of the world were welcomed and recognized. In addition to explaining the importance of diversity to the theme of this year’s conference, Dr. Paul Bartolo, the chairman of the local organizing committee, touched upon the challenges of practicing school psychology in Malta. One of the challenges Dr. Bartolo mentioned was necessitating inclusion in Malta’s school system. We look forward to learning about the experience of school psychologists from around the globe. For more information about ISPA and the conference, please visit http://www.ispaweb.org/ Kindly enjoy the pictures below, Ashley, Caryn, Lauren, & Mandi
The Island of Gozo, one of the Maltese islands  Outside of the Dolmen Hotel in Malta Pictured from left to right: Ashley Wilson, Lauren Frey, Dr. Bob Clark, Caryn Paolini, Mandi Croft
The Blue Lagoon at the Island of Comino Labels: Malta Alarme! Held at historic Fort St Elmo, Alarme! is an hour-long re-enactment of the Napoleonic tenure in Malta (1798-1800). It is staged by the Historical Re-enactment Group of Malta on the third Sunday of most months from February until November. Alarme! tells the story of the landing of the French troops in their quest to conquer the island and the Maltese rebellion that forced the invaders to surrender. The re-enactment begins at 11am. Source: Whatsonwhen Labels: Malta |
