Break out of your bubble

Posted At : April 29, 2010 8:42 PM | Posted By : Web 2010
Related Categories: Web 2.0

There's been a lot of buzz about global citizenship lately. But with tight budgets and time constraints, this critical concept can seem like a daunting one to incorporate into your curriculum. Thankfully new Web 2.0 tools make it simpler and more efficient than ever to connect and collaborate with students and schools around the world--for free.

Online tools like wikis and web conferencing enable students to engage in cross-cultural exchange without ever leaving the classroom. Students spark friendships with virtual pen pals, immerse themselves in foreign languages with native speakers, and trek through virtual field trips without leaving their desks.

When students interact with real people from real places in real time, it makes for a meaningful, authentic experience and adds new dimensions of understanding. Kids begin to make connections between their own lives and those of kids in different parts of the world. They begin to challenge stereotypes, break out of their bubbles, and really get what it means to be interconnected.

Where to begin?
Teachers can pick a topic of interest (or start one of your own) and easily locate another school somewhere in the world that's studying the same thing. You can go through a formal program like e-Pals or Sister Schools, or network through online ed communities.

Say you're studying the Mississippi River. You could connect with a school in South America that's studying the Amazon or a school in China that's studying the Yangtze. You could view each other's presentations online and have video chats. Or say you're studying global warming. You could connect with a couple different schools on a couple different continents, collaborate on research, compare findings and chat about them onscreen, face to face.

Skype: free overseas video conferencing
Looking for a cool, quick, cheap way to connect? Skype is just the ticket. The popular international video/voice service is free for schools. Students can connect with virtual pen pals, collaborate on joint projects and engage in video chats. The latest version of Skype allows you to view in full-screen mode, making it far more conducive to classroom use.

World Wide Wikis
Wikis are a fun and effective way to interact with students across the globe. In addition to exchanging ideas, students can upload and share podcasts, video clips, multimedia slideshows, and more. Wiki spaces are free and take just five minutes to set up. But once they're up and running, the possibilities are endless.

Go explore!
All of these Web 2.0 tools for cross-cultural learning have one thing in common: They encourage exploration and inquiry, promote global citizenship, and deepen knowledge and understanding. Check out the links below for ideas and inspiration.

Links:

ePals: "The Internet's largest global community of connected classrooms"

Sister Schools Toolkit / Sister Schools International

Skype

The Global Education Collaborative

Skype in Schools wiki