using technology to connect students worldwide k-12

Asia Society: Partnership for Global LearningUsing Technology to Connect Students Worldwide K-12

Christine Robinson, Global Nomads Group

foster dialogue and understanding among the world's youth. To serve as a vehicle for awareness, bridging the boundaries of

cultural misconception and instilling in our audience a heightened appreciation and comprehension of the world in

which we live.

MISSION

to engage and empower young people worldwide using media including; live-interactive videoconferencing, streaming video,

social networking, documentaries and participatory filmmaking. Through the use of these media tools, GNG creates opportunities

for global collaboration and communication.

STRATEGY

GNG PROGRAMS

Assist teachers by innovating their civics, geography, global studies, science and social studies curricula with interactive technologies and project-based learning lesson plans

Contribute to the cultural literacy and global awareness of young people, and are therefore an effective tool for 21st century teaching and learning

Address national and state educational standards in the teaching of geography, science and social studies

Increase students’ active interest in international affairs and empowers youth with the tools to create movements of change

Provide an educational framework in which students can become active global leaders in their own education

GNG THEMATIC PROGRAMS

• Arts, Culture and Media• Conflict and Human Rights• Earth Science• Environment and Climate Change• Faith and Society• Global Development• Global Politics• Health and Well-Being• HIV/AIDS• Sustainable Communities

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdOp65wML0s

• Highlights: Global Economic Crisishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuI-OYSEig&feature=channel_page

• CARE Afghanistan Programhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFrPW6NQWi4&feature=channel_page

• Inauguration Programhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRygzhwmNuk&feature=PlayList&p=9C33588A0C5275D7&index=14

• Antarctica Programhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mTYN_j1fj4&feature=PlayList&p=784AEFDDCC29470F&index=6

Christine Robinson

Partnership and Program Development Manager

Email: christine@gng.org

Website: www.gng.org

Using Technology to Connect

K-12 Students Worldwide:

ePals

Rita Oates, PhDVP, Education Markets

ePals Inc.roates@corp.epals.com

Web 0.0-> Web 1.0-> Web 2.0• Web 0.0: search for

information in a printed book

• Web 1.0: search for information online, webquests

• Web 2.0: contribute information, collaborate and interact

Sometimes….things are mixed!

• 60th Anniversary of Declaration of Human Rights

• Student viewpoints shared on ePals…contribute, rate work of others…web 2.0

• Selected student entries published in book by National Geographic with some photos…web 0.0

What collaborations do you have now?

• Within school?• Within district?• Within state?• Within U.S.?• Outside U.S. borders?

• How do you find partners?• How do you communicate?• Any ePals users here?

• Connecting 700,000 classrooms in 200 countries & territories

• 2,500 new schools/month

• Policy managed & Teacher supervised

• Trusted pipeline to the world’s classrooms

• TRUSTe certification

free – teachers and students locate, connect with and work collaboratively on projects with another class down the street and around the world.

free – a secure way for students, parents, teachers and administrators to communicate online, with instant translation in 58 languages. Allows administrators to establish school-safe usage policies, especially for children younger than age 13.

A virtual workspace supporting collaborative learning through social media tools, access to high-quality content, digital storage areas and ePals SchoolMail™, all with industry-leading safety and security needed for K-12 schools.

ePals Brings Next-Generation Solutions to Schools

Recent Partnerships National GeographicMicrosoft

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) (on all desktops, third world countries)Intel Classmate PC (designed for K-6 students, widely used in Portugal and other countries)

STEM eMentoring Platform (14K mentors / mentees), secondary activity funded by IBM Foundation

Ministry of Education, Kenya 6,000 classrooms in Thailand

Worldwide IB (starting July 2010)

¿Habla español?

• Eduteka joins ePals, bringing Spanish-language content and a Spanish-speaking community of 35,000 educators– Spanish teachers can have pen pals for their

classes: write emails and postcards, share podcasts, digital videos, artifacts.

– Do you want high school classes to collaborate with southern hemisphere classes? (in school from March-December)

– Many technology and business classes for high school, also ESL classes are available

We'd like you to meet our ePals from Brazil

Mrs. Russell's First GradeGlenwood Elementary

Vestal, NY

School: EMEIF "Terezinha do Menino Jesus Porto Wuó"Town: Santa BrancaState: Sao PaoloCountry: Brazil

Hello From Sao Paolo, Brazil

The School in Brazil

Our square is being rebuilt. See how our town is a hilly place!

Collaboration across the Digital Divide: New York Students and their ePals in Botswana

A story of global connections that transcend socio-economic status, culture and place.

Students from the Guangxi School,

China

A story that embraces shared language and cultural awareness.

Collaborating with Their California ePals………

These teachers have worked together for eight years….some projects are just a few weeks or months!

Check Projects on ePals

Clear Plan for Email Exchanges in the Project

Brief Lesson Plans

Examples hyperlinked to show sample outcome desired

Digital story from Senegal

http://www.epals.com/media/p/196629.aspx

Key Teaching Elements

Student Work Posted to Worldwide Audience

Great teacher-created projects

ePals Teacher

Ambassador Contest Winners

ePals Forums (also free)• Student Forums

– We mediate the forums, so you don’t have to read and approve postings.

– Your students can collaborate with other students safely, over the weekend.

– Your students can search and read student postings to see what others have said, a great way to practice authentic reading and writing!

• Project Forums make it easier to find matches for ePals projects

• Teacher Forums for topics you generate• Parent Forums to help parents learn from other parents• Adults can post in adult forums; students in Student

Forum

Student Forums

Student Forum: Social Issues

Student viewpoints: Turkey, USA

Additional resources on technology and global learning

• Global Education from ISTE

• The World is Open