Tag Archives: reflection

Exploring the World Online – Out of Eden Walk

Is globetrotting on your bucket list? Have you started it yet? If not, what are your considerations? Have you ever thought of virtually travel to countries online to get a brief idea to kick-off? Now, I want to introduce a project to you that you may find impressive and inspiring – Out of Eden Walk.

Paul Salopek, a journalist, is walking across to the globe following the footsteps of the ancestors to explore and re-discover the world differently. His journey started in Africa in January 2013 and will end in South America. The website records all his journeys that he is posting photos, videos, journal writing, and embedded map to share his experiences. People are welcome to visit his website and comment. In this blog post, I am going to share some of my thoughts on different milestones of the journey.

This is a picture of world map with the Pacific Ocean centered. This map is similar to the one shown in Out of Eden Walk website. This is a little game that asking readers if they are roughly outline the pat of Paul's journey.
This is the world map with the Pacific Ocean centered. After visiting Out of Eden Walk website, can you roughly outline the path of Paul’s journey?

Glance Back: 180,000 Syrian Refugees Flee Into Turkey is the most powerful post. I participated in refugee simulations before, which were held by a non-governmental organization. When I was in the room, with special decorating pretending to be the real environment of the places refugee were living in, and listening to the story of young refugee siblings, I could strongly relate to the story that I felt scared, helpless, and hopeless. I cannot imagine how Paul would feel when he was that close to refugees and places around. No one wants to experience difficult situations caused by war. Therefore, Paul’s project allows readers to reflect and get in touch with some topics that are too panic. I like the question he asked in his post that it is connected and related to his walk. This also brings people’s awareness that they need to consider their backgrounds and perspectives when collaborating with them in the future or on topics related.

“What happens when you become a war refugee? You walk.”

Paul Salopek, 2015

Global Bazaar Celebrates the Out of Eden Walk is the second post that I like. They are hosting international fairs to introduce Out of Eden Walk to students. Both people who are going to present ideas they are representing and people who are joining the event receiving information learned at the same time. They were not focusing only on pictures and the journey but also the culture, religions, and food of the countries Paul traveled. I think to host an event is a great idea that people are not waiting for others to visit and look for information online. Instead, they are actively doing something to grab others’ attention and teach. This also matches with what I learned from the textbook The Global Educator that how and what we can do to engage global collaborative learning. 

Finally, Drinking Women’s Lives is another post that caught my attention. People always love to eat and drink something good and tasty. However, have you ever thought of where does all this food comes from? What are the processes before displaying them in the supermarket for sale? Are we fair enough to people planting and growing crops? In this post, we all learned that women are the only people working in the tea tree planting industry. However, they only earn about USD$2.5 per day. At the same time, they have to face different difficulties, such as tea plants being destroyed by animals. What can we do to help? When comparing them to ourselves, what does it tell? Even though India is the world’s second-largest tea producer, there are still social problems that difficult to be treated. 

There is no limitation on issues or topics for global education and learning. When you are just sitting in the office, classroom, or wherever, you are limiting yourself to work on some areas. This is the time to think out of the box. Even you are not able to travel or join Paul as a partner, visit his website, actively engage, and interact with all the resources posted. What global collaborating learning is not only sharing personal experiences or draw global attention but also following, partnering, being inspired, or even developing something new. Finally, I enjoy reading his journal and explore various aspects of how our world is constructed. If this is your first time trying to virtually travel around the world online, I highly recommend Out of Eden Walk.

For more information about Out of Eden Walk, please visit their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thank you for visiting my blog, and please do not forget to follow me on Twitter for more related information and discussions.
Twitter: @PoYeeWong4

Explore Something Old – Google My Maps

Curiosity is one of the significant elements of learning. Learners should be curious about not only exploring something new but also re-exploring something you have known already. In this blog post, I am sharing my experiences of using Google Maps.

A picture of Google Maps icon, which is a Google feature I have known for a long time. In this blog post, I am going to re-explore different uses of this feature.
An icon of Google Maps.

Google Maps is one of the Google features that users can search for all locations around the world. Google Maps also support 3D satellite data and street views. Users can freely upload photos, leave comments, and search for point-to-point navigation. After logging in to your Google account, you can create your Map with different location tags. It is useful when you are planning to travel, and you want to mark down all “must-visit places.”

A tutorial video on Google My Maps. The video demonstrates how to create a specific map with all the features provided.

In my Web Tools class, I use Google My Maps to create my graduation travel plan to Japan. I visited Osaka during the past summer. I found it ineffective to write all the places and restaurants I wanted to visit on a piece of paper. It was inconvenient to write all YouTube links and websites on the paper. Therefore, I told myself to look for a useful tool next time planning my trip. Luckily, I got one now!

I only stayed in Osaka for a week last time, which I think is not enough to explore everything there. Therefore, I am planning to go again after graduation. I want to go to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. In my map, I pinned my “must-visit” list, and also included two transportation routes: from Tokyo to Kyoto, and from Kyoto to Osaka. I embedded pictures of some museums to my map and used different colored pins to indicate different locations from different regions. It is also useful to change to pin icons to differentiate eating places from visiting sites.

Below is the link to my map:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1oo0jjgW493QUhtiejGlIMoNw-EQLiIQ2&ll=35.16283236931343%2C137.59890229999996&z=8

Why I love using Google My Maps?

It is convenient, useful, and user-friendly. I can search for all locations around the world, pin locations, and edit anytime. Different layers allow me to organize my trip by locations, dates, or categories. Choosing to show or to hide different layers, I can easily manage my plan when traveling. It is clear in displaying. I also admire the function of sharing my map with others. People with the link, or being invited, can either view or edit my map. By saving my map in Google Drive, I can access my map with any devices, such as mobile, laptop, or tablet. Can you imagine how beneficial is it to, at the same time, check your plan, search for navigation, and visit websites at your fingertips?

Do you have any experiences using Google My Maps, and would like to share with me?

Finally, thank you for visiting my blog and please do not forget to follow me on Twitter for more related information and discussions.
Twitter: @PoYeeWong4

Explore Something New – Microsoft Educators Community

From the previous blog post, I reflected on my experiences using Twitter, how students can benefit from global learning, and the results of misusing social media. In this blog post, I am going to reflect on one of my new joining learning communities – Microsoft Educators Community (MEC).

The picture showing a Microsoft tablet. It shows a brief display of how the Window system looks like.
A picture showing a Microsoft tablet.

Microsoft Educators Community is an online platform allowing educators worldwide to learn new skills, discover classroom activities, and earn badges and certificates. This community provides different courses with various learning materials, such as PowerPoint, PDF, relevant websites, videos, etc. At the end of the course, there is a quiz that you need an 80% accuracy to pass and earn badges and/or certificates and points. The MEC teaches members not only tools provided by Microsoft and Window system but also how to collaborate with other possible learning tools, such as Skype and Minecraft. It is aiming to improve methods of learning and maximize the influences of learning.


Personal Experiences Taking Different Courses

Seventeen sustainable development goals are no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gener equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions; partnerships for the goals.
Seventeen sustainable development goals that are trying to be achieved by 2030.

The Teaching Sustainable Development Goals is my first course in the MEC. The course explains not only the aim and definition of sustainable development but also seventeen goals we all agree to achieve by 2030. There are also suggestions on what we can do to help with it, and how we can spread out the idea to protect our planet. I know what is sustainable development before I take this course, but I do not know there are so many goals for the whole project. Therefore, I learned more and am now be updated.

A picture shows students discussing in groups and with the use of different tools to search the answer for the Mystery Skype.
Students are enjoying and discussing in groups for the Mystery Skype.

Introduction to Skype in the Classroom is another course I took. It broadened my horizon that I was surprised at the functions of Skype. Besides guest speaker and general class discussion, the Virtual Field Trip and Mystery Skype are new to me but become my favorite at once. Experts go on live virtual field trips to museums, parks, historical landmarks, etc. with a class of students through Skype. Or students can play a game through Skype with another class, and guess where they are from by asking only Yes or No questions. I think these two are the significant features of introducing Skype in a classroom, helping students to learn better in different cultures, critical thinking, and communication skills. I also believe that relaxing and funny class time boosts students’ interest in learning.

A picture shows the displays of the Microsoft Windows 10 system built-in app, Paint 3D.
A display of the Paint 3D app from the Windows 10 system.

One of the exciting course I took is Introduction to Paint 3D, which is a built-in app in Windows 10. There are different tools, features, and figures inside, allowing you to create both 2D and 3D projects with as many details as you want. I think I would be useful one day when I become an Organizational Psychologist and trying to show my clients our office planning designs. Even, I can include some 3D images in my PowerPoint to make it more attractive and clear in expressing my ideas.


Above are only some valuable courses in MEC. I am still on my way learning as much as I can. Although I am not using the Windows system now, I believe most of the companies are making good use of this system. Therefore, I have a high probability of using all the tools mentioned in any courses. Even, I am not using these tools one day, I would, of course, have a chance to teach others. As aiming at working in the business setting Psychology field, I think taking more courses can provide me with diverse ideas on improving engagement. It is difficult to explain all the details and actual feelings taking courses and reaching a lot of resources from this platform. I highly recommend all of you to join. What you only need is to create a free account!

Finally, thank you for visiting my blog and please do not forget to follow me on Twitter for more related information and discussions.
Twitter: @PoYeeWong4

What Do You Think Of Twitter?

The Twitter logo
The Twitter logo.

Twitter is one of the main social media tools I am using for these few months. It is a pleasant experience that I have never thought of how beneficial it is before I try it out. I think more specialists are using Twitter than other social media tools, such as Facebook. Therefore, I am easier to find for professional sources by searching hashtags #edtech#psychology, and #edchat. As a Psychology major, I am surprised that many tweets are sharing various experiences and techniques in learning. Some learning methods and skills are typical and ordinarily used, but I learned how to apply them to different scenarios for tremendous and unexpected results. Therefore, using Twitter in learning to be a global educator and learner widens my horizon in how much I can learn from others. Twitter is a worldwide using tool that all people around the world can share, explain, and debate topics. Here is an excellent example that a sixth-grader expressed his purpose of school, which reminds me to reflect on my purpose of school. 

“The purpose of school is not just to learn, but become a better human being. Sure, you also need to know your math and history facts. But the point of school is to gain skills like, compassion, self-awareness, organization, and kindness. That is a teachers ultimate goal.”

A sixth-grader

It lighted up my mind that I also wanted to ask myself: what is my purpose going to school? What is education? What should I be ultimately learning from others? Now, my answers are critical thinking and perspective-taking. Can you imagine this is inspired by a six-grade student?

To be more specific, I usually search using #edtech and #edchat for more inspirations. As a Psychology major, I learned to apply learning methods shared by educators in the psychology field. I understood that learning and teaching methods are not limited to the education field but in any other acknowledged situation. 

During the past few weeks, I joined different Twitter chats that are related to psychology. There are more live conversations that people answer three to six questions and respond to others’ replies for educational chats. However, there are more weekly questions than live discussions for psychological chats. I am glad that I can share my relevant experiences with moderators and learn from people’s suggestions. I appreciate that Human Resources (HR) professionals share scientific articles and working skills on Twitter, which are useful for me to develop my Personal Learning Network and career plan being an Organizational Psychologist. However, there is one thing that I can do better in the future. Since I have not started my internship yet, I have no working practice as an HR staff. I am now mainly relying upon others’ sharing, imaginations, and case studies in class. I hope I can share more working experiences with different HR professionals so that they can give me more advice on how the HR office looks like.  

A YouTube video telling people why you should use Twitter.

Overall, I enjoy exploring on Twitter and be active in keeping conversations with learners, educators, and professionals. I think I will keep using Twitter as my primary learning tools to build my network. 

Thank you, everyone, for visiting my blog and please feel free to share your ideas and experiences with me.

Please do not forget to follow me on Twitter for more related information and discussions.
Twitter: @PoYeeWong4