How do teachers provide students an authentic global education? I’ve never written a blog but I have read many. Although I do feel enormous hesitation, OLTD has opened my eyes to so many new thoughts and ideas that writing a blog is just one more of those experiences. Our instruction was to synthesize our thoughts around what we are currently learning. One of our choices was to watch a recorded presentations from the Global Education Conference. Because I have an interest in blended learning, the first session that caught my attention was called Blended Learning Using 3D Interactive Learning Environments by Gord Holden M.Ed - Director of Immersive Technology. During the introduction, everyone listening was asked to plot on a map where they were joining in from. I got an immediate sense of how incredibly global online conferences could be. I found the presentation very engaging. Gord set the stage by pointing out how unfortunate it is when technology is used as glorified flash cards and worksheet practice. He went on to discuss the importance of play as a learning tool and introduced us to an exciting virtual world of play with Quest Atlantis and Wolfquest. As he spoke about what the students had experienced through the games he mentioned The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi. The name alone intrigued me and I immediately found it on YouTube. For anyone who hasn’t heard about it, it’s a must see. The simple takeaway is that there is never a single story. If you have only one, it is incomplete and the imminent danger is the creation of stereotyping. As I reflected on this idea, I could see how easily this happens to everyone – especially students in a classroom given only one story from teachers. How do we provide a more global education? The next speaker I chose provided an immediate solution. Global Education Technology for an Inquiry-Based Classroom with Julia Coburn, WorldVuze Co-Founder. Julia spoke to the very nature of this topic. We all make assumptions about other countries, the people, the economy the government, and the current issues. Her recommendation to support student learning is through a 5 step inquiry process. Students begin with learning how to formulate powerful questions. From there, they need to be able to gather and organize information using appropriate searches and filters. Analysis and interpretation of the information is the third step followed by investigating with an authentic audience and finally communication. The authentic audience is key. Julia provided many examples of inquiry questions her students had with assumed stereotypical answers formed because of a single story. Using the Worldvuse website, students were able to connect to other students in other countries to ask their questions and were stunned how wrong their assumptions had been. What a significant global learning opportunity we could offer students all over the world if we could connect and ask each other directly! The brilliant part is, the website Worldvuze, http://blog.worldvuze.com/ provides teachers a free and safe environment to sign up their classes. To me, this is 21st Century learning at its best.
Brad B
12/5/2015 11:48:11 am
I really enjoyed the Ted Talk link you shared. I also really liked her take on stereotypes. How they aren't bad because they are wrong, they are incomplete. How true this is for all of us. We see someone and we make a picture of their life. That is a similar thing, we don't have the whole story.
Lindsey
12/6/2015 09:01:53 pm
Thanks Brad, I felt the same way. I'd like to think I don't get caught in that trap, but I do. I loved the idea of how empowering it would be for students to learn this lesson in such a tangible way. I think it could open up an interesting dialogue for them to question many of their beliefs.
Randy
12/10/2015 09:52:05 am
Lindsey, I hope you enjoyed Gord's session. He is a respected leader in the VLE world, and is well connected as a BC online teacher. Glad you found some benefit in online sessions. There is a lot out there, be careful not to get lost in sampling and learning! 1/21/2016 12:41:53 pm
Hi Lindsey. So rewarding to see someone local appreciating the incredible possibilities and potential of Virtual Learning Environments (VLE). I'd encourage you to take this journey into the future. It's a path that is so consistent and accommodating regarding the direction being taken by new BCED Plan. I'm available for any consultation you may wish.
Lindsey
1/24/2016 07:33:06 am
Thank-you Gord. Those words - possibilities and potential, especially draw me in when I watch my daughter read her Gr. 7 social studies textbook trying to memorize the facts. I'm eager to learn more about Virtual Learning Environments and discover the learning opportunities they hold. Comments are closed.
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