Reaching out
With ever increasing access to web technology, schools and teachers have several options available to establish connections with classrooms in other part of the world. There are challenges, of course, but as technology becomes more available for for less developed nations, there are more opportunities for video or phone interactions. There are still opportunities for snail mail as well, if you know where to look.
Listed below are some resources available to learn about and establish international classroom collaborations:
Listed below are some resources available to learn about and establish international classroom collaborations:
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US Dept of EducationThe Teacher's Guide to International Collaboration was developed to help teachers use the Internet to "reach out" globally. These materials were prepared as part of the Department of Education's International Education Initiative.
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Flat ConnectionsFlat Connections provides unique approaches to online global collaboration.
We ‘flatten’ the disconnected classroom to become a global learning environment of the future. |
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T.W.I.C.E.TWICE (Two Way Interactive Connections in Education) is a K-12 video conferencing organisation that supports collaborative communication between teachers, students and technology coordinators. Its great project, CAPspace enables classrooms across the globe to link up and learn together. Working as a social networking tool for videoconferencing, it allows teachers to upload potential projects or collaboration ideas and connect with other educators who think their classes have something in common or could work together on a particular topic.
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One World ClassroomOneWorld Classrooms is an organization that plans a global art exchange twice a year. Their first step is to collect student art from all over the world through snail mail, and disperse it across continents. The art is meant to be expressive of the students’ cultures and lives– a painting of a typical meal or celebration, for example. The second step is to organize virtual follow ups between the classes through email, Skype or Google Hangouts.
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People to People InternationalPeople to People may be one of the best known exchange programs, but have expanded into many more international programs. Their mission is to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural, and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures.
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