What did your week at the Advisor Institute consist of, and what do you feel you learned from these activities?
Our week consisted of both direct lessons on how Model U.N. works (the nuts and bolts, if you will) and the opportunity to participate in committee sessions. As someone who had no previous knowledge or experience of MUN before beginning the club at our school, the opportunity to learn from others who had experienced MUN as students was invaluable. Being able to go through a committee session myself– research an assigned country’s position on important topics, writing a position paper, presenting an opening speech, building blocs and creating resolutions– allowed me to step into the shoes of my students and to more fully understand what we ask of them. The experience was invaluable.
What sparked your interest in attending the Advisor Institute?
I was familiar with Best Delegate’s website, as it had always been the best resource for us as we prepared for conferences. I had three students sign up for their entry level summer camp and then learned of the Advisor Institute. It is the only professional development opportunity of it’s kind and as I knew we were hoping to grow our program, it was a great fit for my professional goals.
How do you see the Advisor Institute benefiting you and your club moving forward?
It’s transformed the way we run our Model U.N. program at school. I feel confident in my abilities to teach my students the skills they need for MUN and I can help guide them as they set their own goals for conferences. My students are more confident and prepared for conferences, but also in their other classes and activities. Those feelings carry over.
Would you recommend attending the Advisor Institute to other teachers/advisors? If so, why?
Absolutely! The Best Delegate Advisor Institute is some of the best professional development I’ve done in my almost two decades as an educator. Not only has it transformed the way we run our Model U.N. program, I also learned ways to connect these skills to any curriculum at multiple age levels. I can create MUN simulations for any topic we’re covering. Additionally, the community and connections we made at the Institute have continued to be helpful. I’ve stayed in touch with many of my cohorts and have been able to ask them for their insight and advice. As one of the only MUN programs in our area (and certainly the only MS level program), having connections with other educators is vital.