A NOTE TO OUR EDUCATORS

IDIA recognizes how hard our educators work to provide creative and challenging learning environments for our students in high school and middle school. Our programming covers a host of traditional educational topics, ranging from international relations to Congressional politics. At the same time, we put considerable effort into ensuring that participating students also learn life skills that will prove valuable to them as they begin their careers. While participating in our Model United Nations or Model Congress conferences for middle school and high school students, students learn how to undertake complicated research projects and to begin drawing conclusions from their own efforts. They will learn techniques of public speaking, ways of persuading their peers, and strategies for debate. All the while, they will be immersed in situations that call for conflict resolution, negotiation, and compromise.

IDIA: COMPLIMENTING YOUR CURRICULUM

The compelling part about IDIA programs is how closely they complement your efforts in the classroom. While you need to complete a specific curriculum by the end of the school year, our Model Congress and Model United Nations programs closely complements your efforts in the classroom. If you are discussing American history, the Rutgers Model Congress program will teach your students about the workings of the United States Congress, and during their preparation for the conference, they will learn a considerable amount about how the nation developed. Teachers of European and World History will find our Philadelphia and Rutgers Model United Nations programs to be specifically rewarding, as these programs address such important issues as post-colonialism, international development, and human rights. Moreover, historic committees at all of our conferences challenge students to take steps into the past and to relive important times in American and world history - but they will be called upon to make their own decisions and to anticipate the consequences.

HOW TO GET STARTED

If you’re new to the world of civic education and diplomacy simulations - or if you’re new to teaching in general - we can help you get started. IDIA is based at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, and is fueled by the passion of our volunteer undergraduate and graduate students. These students spend a full year preparing for each of our conferences, and most staff multiple conferences throughout their academic careers, making them a tremendous source of insight for teachers looking to maximize the Model UN experience for their students.

We proudly offer in-person training and outreach programs, where our undergraduate volunteers will travel to your school to provide practice and training to your students before they attend an IDIA conference. Outreaches can be tailored to match your students’ experience level - from total beginners to advanced delegates. IDIA makes this service available to schools attending or considering our conferences totally free of charge within our traversable area.

To request an outreach, please email info@idia.net with your name and the name of your school.

Regardless of your needs in the classroom, IDIA is committed to providing you, as the educator, with tools and skills to help teach your students about diplomacy, debate, and complex world issues.

 

Upcoming Conferences