Preparing Students For Global Collaboration

"Now listen to a story all about how my life got flip-turned upside down.  I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there....... by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Listen up.  The world is still flat. Thomas Friedman was right back in 2004. Technology is disrupting geographical boundaries for us all.  For example, I currently live in Nebraska and bank at Bank of America.  There isn't even a Bank of America within three hours of my house.  That doesn't stop my access to money or my ability to pay my bills.  Technology is the enabler.  It doesn't stop there.  Look at the iPod on the left.  Steve Jobs said "What if you could hold 1000 songs in your pocket?" It sold me and millions of others.

---

Although the iPod itself was not disruptive, the iPod/iTunes combination provided the means for attaining and consuming music differently.  This was globally disruptive.  Today Apple Music, which is an evolution from the single song/album purchase model to now a subscription model, has reached more than 100 countries. It changes how we interact and consume music as a society.

The thought of conversation has changed because of technology.  Social media and the introduction of smart phones have affected all of our lives.  Just think about it for a second, how has your "circle of influence" changed because of social media?  I know personally, I keep up with old and new friends, distant and close relatives, through multiple social media channels.  It doesn't matter what the geographical boundaries are, many times we have constant communication through Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and Instagram.  I also have three teenage daughters that I interact with on social media. Social media isn't simply a way of life for our kids -- it's life itself. Our kids are swiping and scrolling, totally transfixed by screens of all sizes.  Many times we introduce them for all the right reasons, to keep in touch with them and give a level of security.  Welcome to the new frontier of digital parenting. 

Understanding Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy are so important with this influx of mobile devices and mediums, such as social media, to our kids.  In Omaha Public Schools, we have made it a priority to make sure we are putting our best foot forward in providing curriculum and practice around these strategies.  Keegan Korf, Lead Teacher of Digital Citizenship, works directly with our schools as we roll out devices to our schools to bring purpose to this initiative.  I can't wait until our mobile learning unit gets completed to do community engagement work around digital citizenship and literacy...but that's a whole other post, altogether.  I am so proud of the efforts of our district and receiving Common Sense Media District Level Certification for the first time this year.  

---

A direct effect of utilizing technology to communicate and operate as an individual, family unit, business, or school district, our "circle of influence" is massive now.  We are a part of a global community whether we like it or not.  We can choose to accept it, and take advantage of it, or deny it and deny the future it promises individually, as a family, or to our community.  Every time we post to twitter for example, we have to understand that it has the potential to be viewed by anyone, anywhere, on just about any connected device.  Next, I am going to discuss how we can be purposeful in taking advantage of all of this to bring learning experiences to another level for our students. 

Boundless Opportunities in the Classroom

There are times when I wish I had access to this kind of technology experience when I was in school.  Tools such as Skype in the Classroom bring experiences beyond the classroom walls into direct interaction with students.  These can be virtual visits to museums, mystery skype sessions (my favorite), and great avenues for project based learning activities.  My dear friend Dyane Smokorowski first introduced me to the power of this medium when in my previous district. We did a passion project that produced raising books for an African village and in return decorated our library with amazing African art. The commitment in that project made true connections between children and their world and it took a community to make it happen. Technology facilitates an opportunity to alter how children perceive their world and to leverage this tool takes community effort. Recently I was given the opportunity to mystery skype with my Partnership 4 Kids mentor classrooms while I was in New York City.  I loved being able to interact with those kids and I miss them already since school is out. 

​Below are two great examples of bringing opportunities for amazing global collaboration through Skype.  The first one was developed by our own Eileen Heller.  Recently we read the book LAUNCH, which introduces design thinking strategies so that students ​define themselves as makers, inventors and creators.  Special kudos to Eileen for making this possible.

---

Design Thinking & Global Day of Design Collaboration

Design Thinking is an approach to learning where teachers and students engage in hands-on design challenges that focus on developing empathy, promoting a bias toward action, encouraging ideation, developing metacognitive awareness and fostering active problem solving. This collaboration serves as a connection of classrooms using the Design Thinking process and builds on the awareness of The Global Day of Design.

The more I read books like BrandED, the more I think storytelling is important in education.  It is important for our students, our staff, our leadership.  Telling our story and understanding how to build the story stands the test of time for our knowledge delivery.  The Global Goals Skype Collaboration brings that to purpose in your classroom.  By building the classroom poster, or collaborating with a classroom abroad, you are exposing your students to cultural awareness and going beyond the geographical boundaries that we have always seen as barriers. 

Global Goals Skype Collaboration - #TeachSDGs

Teachers and students will collaborate on working toward achieving one of the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Goals include

Lastly, lets talk about purpose.  The new ISTE Standards give great indicators for teachers to effectively align these activities to outcomes.  These standards promote Future Ready Learning.  "The ISTE Standards for Students are designed to empower student voice and ensure that learning is a student-driven process of exploration, creativity and discovery no matter where they or their teachers are in the thoughtful integration of ed tech."

---

ISTE | Standards For Students

null