We had one collaboration that involved schools in Kenya and New Jersey. Both schools were interested in water. They started with a project that used blogs. Students took pictures and analyzed questions about water: How far are you from a water source? Do you have to carry it? What about sanitation?
Then something really interesting happened. They kept the dialogue going after the water project ended. Students began discussing the upcoming elections. Kenyan students wanted to know about the possibility of what they saw as an African president in the United States.
Then the elections happened in Kenya, and the violence. That brought out a whole new set of issues. Students learned that there is a multiplicity of viewpoints, formed at least in part by where you live. So, here you began with a curriculum around global warming and water. Not only did you achieve those learning goals, but you also went on to see more communication about the issues and topics of the day. That's what twenty-first-century learning should be.
(Edutopia, 2008).
By allowing students internet access and the chance to connect globally, they took a project and moved beyond it to better understand another culture and group of students who live half a world away. In doing so, they opened up their eyes to another culture and lifestyle. They broadened their cultural horizons with a real-world experience they aren't likely to forget. I believe this to be the point of communicating on a global level. Promoting understanding from culture to culture and connecting to make a change on a larger scale.
Boss, Suzie. Global Learning: Connecting the World with ePals. Edutopia. July 21 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2014 from http://www.edutopia.org/epals-online-community-pen-pals
(Edutopia, 2008).
By allowing students internet access and the chance to connect globally, they took a project and moved beyond it to better understand another culture and group of students who live half a world away. In doing so, they opened up their eyes to another culture and lifestyle. They broadened their cultural horizons with a real-world experience they aren't likely to forget. I believe this to be the point of communicating on a global level. Promoting understanding from culture to culture and connecting to make a change on a larger scale.
Boss, Suzie. Global Learning: Connecting the World with ePals. Edutopia. July 21 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2014 from http://www.edutopia.org/epals-online-community-pen-pals
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI am really excited to learn how to use ePals this term. I agree with you that it is a great resource for allowing students to connect globally. What has surprised me so far is how differently educators are using it. I began to browse through the projects and some of them are incredibly interesting. It is great that todays students have opportunities to increase global awareness in such an authentic context. I also liked the clip from Boss (2008) about 21st century learning. That example clearly identifies why ePals is such an effective tool.
Reference
Boss, S. (2008, Jul 21). Global learning: Connecting the world with ePals. Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/epals-online-community-pen-pals
I love the reference from Edutopia, goes to show you what is possible by these global citizens. I went to a Tedx conference at SNHU a couple of weeks ago, and there was a girl who is a junior in HS, who started a project in middle school to invent a new way to purify water for people in indigent areas. She invented a system called photocatalytic water purification and is still working to get it into production. Here is more about her if you are interested: http://tedxamoskeagmillyard.org/2014/09/16/meet-deepika-kurup-2014-tedxamoskeagmillyard-speaker/
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