Global Blogs

Hello and welcome back to my LAST blog!

In this blog, I will be talking about several case studies that revolve around global learning and the Global Education Conference.

I hope you enjoy!

To start off let’s talk about the Global Education Conference!

What is it? It is a worldwide community initiative that involves students, educators and organizations at all levels.

Who invented it? Two people named Steve Hargadon and Lucy Gray created this conference.

What does it do? This conference was made to help increase the number of opportunities for connecting school classes while also teaching and raising awareness on diversity and educational access to all.

Why is this helpful? This Conference is helpful because it allows for students and educators to make connections with others while always being aware and taught on diversity and education access.

What do I think? I believe this conference is a great tool that every educator and student should be aware of. It is important to know about diversity because we encounter it every day! It’s also important to learn about education access as students may not understand that not everyone has access to education throughout the world.

Now let’s talk about some case studies and how this Global Education Conference can help!

Let’s focus mainly on one case study from “The Global Educator” book written by Julie Lindsay.

Case Study 4.3- this case study talked about the Think Global School, also known as TGS. This school travels around the world and their location is what their learning is based on. This means that they are using the fullest extenct of place-based learning. This school only has 60 students and 12 teachers… it’s relatively small. However, with it being such a small size it allows for them to relocate easier and change their lessons and goals quicker!

This school is also equipped with technology. Each student and teacher has a Macbook, iPad, and iPhone!

Key question:

DO I BELIEVE THAT THIS CASE SHOULD BE INVOLVED WITH THE GLOBAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE?

100% I believe that case study 4.3 should be involved with this conference. Since students and teaching are continuously traveling with the TGS they need to stay up to date and informed/educated on diversity especially in the areas they are traveling too! It is also important for students to know what other students around the world have access to when it comes to education. You don’t want them to make other students feel left out.

All in all, everyone who is involved in education or traveling should be involved with the Global Education Conference; however, this is just my opinion and not everyone is going to do this.

That’s it folks! I hope you enjoyed my last blog. 🙂

If you have any questions or just want to collaborate feel free to reach out on twitter! Have a great Holiday Season!

@RachelD98977467

Hello and welcome back to my weekly blog!

This week I will be talking about my experience and tools available to make your own digital story.

Digital stories are a great learning tool. Not only do they have illustrations and words to read off of, but some apps have the ability to take a voice recording; therefore, students will also have an audio version of the story.

As we know, there are many apps to create digital stories. However, I used an app called ShareAlike. ShareAlike is an app that you can download from the app store on apple products and upload images and text into. While this app makes a slideshow kind of story it does have its own unique traits. What separated Sharalike from other slideshow apps what its ability to share the stories and slides I had created. Usually, it is really hard to share content you made unless you download it into a pdf. However, Sharalike allows you to share your work with all social media platforms without changing the format of the project.

To give you a further understanding of the Sharalike app I have attached my own work and screenshots of what the app looks like!

When downloading the app, this is what you will be searching for in the app store.

Once you have downloaded the app, you will have to give the app access to your own photos (optional), then it will guide you through a step by step tutorial of how to use this app.

From here you will be uploading your own photos, adding music and effects to your slideshow. Once you added your final details you will then have to export this story/lesson to other databases.

The video I created is a short love story of two kids the grew up together and fell in love.

To see my video follow me on twitter at:

@RachelD98977467

Hope you enjoyed my weekly blog!

Good Evening! I hope you had a great week.

Hello and welcome back to my weekly blog! I hope you enjoy learning about norms!

Let’s start by reflecting! As mentioned in my previous blogs, there are several tools you can use for global collaboration. Some of these tools are online recesses such as twitter, Skype, messenger and more! However other tools like the use of a smart board in classes and other new technology being integrated in lessons helps global collaboration run more efficiently. In fact, there are more things that can help global collaboration run swiftly, in this case norms!

You are probably wondering what is a norm. A norm are common behaviors and processes that are practiced in certain ways when collaborating globally.

Two norms that I believe are the most important are having a purpose and being able to paraphrase:

Having a purpose: When students understand the lesson and understand its purpose it will lead students to success. For example understanding a project an dewy it is import will help students engage in collecting information and understanding it. Collaboration will lead to the amount of planning that goes into a lesson which them will lead into the lesson design. To sum up what having a purpose, students will understand the value in a lesson when you plan more to give a lesson purpose.

Being able to Paraphrase: This is key to understanding! When you are able to take a large amount of information and condense it into something smaller means that students understand the information and what is key. This also shows students that there is more than just one way to explain information!

All in all, I believe that norms are a great deal in education! I wish I had known more about them. If you would like to see how to use and/or implement them into your classroom there is a video down bellow. Have a great week!

Video: https://youtu.be/DzJPnlzAiDk

Follow me on twitter: @RachelD98977467

Always Reflecting! 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Welcome back to my weekly blog. 

Hello, and welcome back to my blog! Today’s blog will be a reflection of my google map adventure during my Global Learning class. I hope you enjoy!

When I first saw an assignment about google maps, I thought “hmmmmm what could this be?” I thought I would be using the regular google maps from birds’ eyes view and just looking at different areas of the world. However, I learned that there is so much more to do on google maps! 

1.What were we assigned on google maps- 

First thing first, I had to understand that I could make my own map, with my own points, and my own key on google! This was amazing, I didn’t understand how I never knew of this before. Our assessment was to create our own map, with landmarks that interested us. I added to my map which of these land marks I wanted to also go to and which I have already seen. 

2.My map-

My map that I made was about the ocean and different bodies of water there are on earth. I created 3 sections: oceans, seas, and places I want to go! As you can tell I love the water. 

3. My first impression- 

When I first started to create my map, I was skeptical. I thought the points I plot wouldn’t be clear and it will be hard to use and navigate. I was also overwhelmed with all the different options there were to creating points. However, I’m very glad I learned how to use it.

4. In the end- 

After using the making my own map tool on google, I really enjoyed it. There were a few steps that I was confused about, but the website makes adding layers and changing the labels and points very easy. Plus, there are tons of online videos to help you understand more about making your own map. In conclusions, I would say that I had a positive experience and would defiantly use this tool again! 

I hope you enjoyed my reflection blog! To learn more about google maps, google it! 

My map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1iN_-pYQahXlybO39Ot7w01rQlD28eJdZ&ll=4.883274795090593%2C0&z=2

Follow me for more on twitter:        

  @RachelD98977467

Reflect, Reflect, Reflect! 

Hi there! Welcome back to my weekly blog. 

Hello, and walk back to my blog! Today’s blog will be a reflection of information I have learned during our Global Learning class. I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy my blog!

When this class first started, I was a little confused. I didn’t understand what global learning was, what to do for global learning and who could be involved with it. However, I now feel like I am becoming very involved in global learning and finally partaking in global learning. One thing I would like to reflect on, which I find is one of the most important things about this class is what tools you can use and who is involved with global learning. Let’s get into things! 

1. What is global learning- 

First thing first, we have to understand what global learning was. At first, I thought that meant learning about all cultures in the classroom, however it is so much more. Global learning is a way to teach and learn from each other’s throughout the globe. There are several methods. For examples, it could be two students from different areas of the world discussing their government systems to two teachers sharing their different lesson plans or holding a conference. There is so much you can do with global learning I suggest that everyone looking into it. 

• What do you use for global learning- As mentioned above you are communicating with people from throughout the globe therefore you have to be able to acquire certain technology. A laptop, desktop, tablet or smart phone will work. Once you obtain a piece of technology for communicating you must then create a social media account. It can be Facebook, twitter, Instagram or even snap chat! Then you have to get involved, you have to put yourself out there. Global learning is all based on your involvement. If you aren’t involved, you really aren’t learning. 

• Who is involved? – Everyone who wants to be involved and is willing to put in the work to get involved is involved. J Global learning is for everyone. Everyone is allowed to learn globally, and learn new things! 

All in all, I think that the main thing that really surprised me is what global learning truly is. It’s a whole other world of networking and making connections and it’s not just for educators. It’s for everyone! I wish that more people were educated on what global learning is and how people use it. I personally believe if everyone was involved in global learning there would be more known connections between different areas of the world and that can spark all kinds of goodness! 

I hope you enjoyed my reflection blog! To learn more about global learning this is a video link bellow and my contact information! 

Video: https://vimeo.com/95113745

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twitter:          @RachelD98977467

“Inspire Students” 

ello there, welcome back to my blog!

Hello, welcome back to my fourth blog. This blog will inform you on how to inspire students. As a current student I know how important inspiration in the classroom is. It can make a class more entertaining and enjoyable. As you continue reading you will find ways to inspire your students!

Inspiration in the classroom will make learning fun and easy. But how can we make sure we are keeping it safe and on track with what we are learning? Below are a few ways on how to inspire students. 

1. Teach them what inspiration is-

Have all your students define what inspiration is. Once they have all shared what they think it is, they can come up with one definition of what inspiration is, why is it important and why they should care. This will allow for students to learn what inspires them! 

• Interact safely– 

Allow for students to look up things that may inspire them. For example, if you are learning about dinosaur fossils let them find a scientist who inspires them. Teach them the correct websites to use and to never talk to strangers online. They can use twitter to talk to experts and get other opinions depending on the age of your class. 

• Have them find outside examples– 

Let students find people who inspire them in the topic you may be discussing in class. This makes students read about their subject to find what is interesting to them. It also helps the teacher understand what students are interested in which could help with future lesson plans. 

• Lastly, let them define why they are inspirational-

Whether you let your students define their selves or each other, this will be a confidence booster for all. It will show them how much people look up to them and how much more they have to grow. 

All in all, I believe that inspiration is a key in students’ growth. Dianne (@dshapp), a primary teacher I the US loves to inspire her kids and make them believe that they are going to change the world. Its teachers like these that we need more off. Below is a link that shows you how to use inspiration in a classroom and how it can benefit students. It also will teach you “truth” behind inspiration!

I hope you enjoyed! 

Link to inspiration blog: https://blog.100mentors.com/how-to-bring-inspiration-into-the-classroom/

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twitter:          @RachelD98977467