Caffeinate then Educate

Norm 1: Be Prepared

• Is it clear who the global project is for?
• Is it clear how participants will join?
• Is it clear how participants will connect?
• What common tools will be used?
• What time zones will participants be working in?

Global collaboration involves taking individuals from all walks of life and connecting through a passion for education. This allows new classrooms to connect and interact in order to strengthen lessons. By engaging with other students, educators or professionals, we are expanding our perspectives and opening ourselves to ideas we may have never otherwise heard. As a future teacher, I am aware that I need to use these platforms to find like-minded partners to reinforce bonds with. It is my responsibility to find the resources I would like to interact with and learn how to properly use them. Once I establish how I would like to benefit from this technology, I can begin to associate myself with others who have the same intentions. From this I have a global collaboration that not only will I profit from, but my students will profit from as well. The best steps to determine a plan for action include:

• Decide what communication activities will take place between student and teacher.
• Work out student communication protocols for students to agree upon.
• Determine expectations for communication during collaboration.

Norm 2: Have a Purpose

• Is the purpose of the project clear?
• Is the length of the collaboration clear?
• What are the shared inputs from the participant?
• What are the shared outcomes?
• Will there be co-creation of outcomes?

Students can not use this resources if they don’t understand the purpose of using them. As an educator, you must first have a clear understanding and convey the reasoning, as well as how to use such tools, onto your students. This will allow for clear communication and help them feel more inclined to use such products. It will help guide individual and group projects by providing a platform for research to be conducted and laid out for an audience. Global collaboration is more engaging with other individuals worldwide, however, if that is not attainable, it also will help the students collaborate with other classmates. Websites such as Google Classroom, Google Docs and Skype can be used to increase their confidence in communicating with others.