On our Community page, please discuss some of the resources from the two chapters this week. Even if you don't have any personal experience with some of them, which are you interested in trying? Consider online global programs, wikis, global books, films, television shows, blogs, and news outlets that may be used in schools.
Currently, I rely mostly on literature to incorporate global connections into my English classroom. I also try to supplement the reading with additional information including videos, articles, TED Talks, and news reports. (The New York Times is one of my best sources and I use it frequently.) The resources for this week gave me ideas to extend the learning options for my students.
I was looking through the global resources on edutopia and I found a unit plan on child soldiers. Coincidentally, my students are just beginning to read A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, which is a memoir of his experiences as a child soldier and his subsequent rehabilitation. I gained several new supplemental resources which will fit in perfectly with my unit.
In her chapter entitled, “The Globally Connected Educator: Talking to the World - Not Just About the World,” Sylvia Tolisano discusses the Student Blogging Challenge. Since my students write a lot, I am interested to learn more about the blogging challenge. In fact, I’ve decided to research this resource for my microtalk. I believe that students will be more motivated to produce quality writing if they have a real audience. If I can work it into my curriculum, I would like to participate in the challenge this year.
Google Classroom provides a way for my students to share their writing in a limited way - to their peers. It’s a start, and I would like to provide more opportunities for students to post reflections and respond to each other. Perhaps then we can branch out to larger audiences. I’m thinking of possible book reviews that could be posted on a library website as another step towards going “global.” I would also like to find a classroom in another part of the world to share responses to a common text.
I want to keep my eyes open to the possibility of Skyping others or having guest speakers. A few years ago I was able to have a Holocaust survivor speak to my classes. We also had a Skype session with my brother who works in Rome for the United Nations Department of Agriculture. I don’t have a lot of experience with Twitter, but it seems like that may provide some leads. As I expand my horizons through the IT&DML program, I hope to extend my personal learning network and make some connections.
