Global collaboration is an opportunity to share ideas and goals with educators around the world. Due to all types of constraints, this opportunity should be maximized when/where possible. For this reason, a set of norms were put together and today we’ll discuss the first two: 1) Be Prepared and 2) Have a Purpose.
Norm 1: Be Prepared
Everyone’s time is valuable so be
considerate of other’s time. Being prepared means having all the tools needed
for the collaboration on standby and ready to go. This can be achieved by
reaching out to one of your PLN’s and discuss in advance what subject will be
discussed and what tools will be used. Do these tools need to be installed on
your computers? As a faculty member are you allowed to install software, or
does it require the approval of the IT department? Know these hurdles in
advance and overcome them long before your collaboration date. Consider time
zone differences and have a plan whereby one class is collaborating late in the
day and the other is early in the day.
Finalize the collaboration
experience by answering basic questions like who is this global project for?
How will they join to participate? What utility or method will be used to
connect?
For the past year, I’ve used Zoom.com for all video conferencing and find that it meets all my expectations. I can not only have a face-to-face meeting in groups or one-on-one but also share files and presentations with one another. Furthermore, it provides cloud storage of all your recordings so that you may visit them again and again.
Norm 2: Have a Purpose
We’ve prepared in advance and
covered all the points mentioned above but what will we talk about? Having a
purpose for collaboration is just as important as being prepared. Having all
global partners on the same page, with the same resolution and a set pedagogy
on how to achieve it will go a long way. If the collaboration has a clear-cut
message, it would be understood and learned by both sides of the collaboration
even if there are language barriers.
Discussing in advance with your
global partners what the end goal of the collaboration is, will determine how
much planning will be required. Having a clear purpose will make collaboration
easy and fun for all parties involved. This ensures the willingness to
collaborate again in the future.
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