Madalyn Steiner

Imagine going to school and being able to spend each semester in a new location with new scenery, new history, new environmental factors, and a new culture to learn out. It sounds like an unrealistic thought, but THINK Global School (TGS) has brought this idea to life for their students. This school allows all 60 students from grades 9-12 accompanied by 12 teachers to experience global learning firsthand where you live in four countries per year.

Every semester the students and teachers relocate to a new global destination where lesson plans are custom built around their location. With the help of host country schools, TGS students are able to collaborate and learn through interaction with learners around the world at the same age. TGS is also a heavily technology-reliant school. In 2010, they implemented a 3:1 mobile program where each learner, students AND teachers, all receive an iPad, iPhone, and MacBook. These factors come together to make the school global in both concept and practice, but surprisingly the school isn’t noted as more “advanced” than any other school. Many believe the playing field for global learning is flat, no matter which method of global learning you use.

From a personal standpoint, I know I would’ve loved attending a school like this in my high school years. Not only do I have a strong passion for traveling, but I’m definitely more of a hands-on learner. For instance, if I were to be learning about animals in a class by looking at pictures on a projector, I know I wouldn’t retain that information. It wouldn’t grasp my attention as much as if I was at a zoo standing in front of a zebra sanctuary learning about the species. I’m way more eager and excited to learn when I’m in an environment that supports what I’m learning. Not to say the methods of global learning I’ve experienced haven’t been effective, TGS just takes the whole experience to another level.

If you want to learn more about TGS click here for their website.

Using virtual reality technology inside of the classroom allows learning to expand outside of the four walls of the classroom while promoting curiosity, wonder, and engagement to students. Virtual reality headsets retail from anywhere between $10 to the high hundreds, made out of anything from cardboard to durable high tech intricate designs, depending on what kind of experience you’re seeking. If you’re looking for the cheapest alternative, you can make your own from household materials that’ll be compatible with your smartphone by following this video.

A great free application for smartphone virtual reality to use in the classroom is Google Expeditions. This application allows students to take a trip out of the classroom without leaving the classroom. All you have to do is choose where you want to go on the globe, and the app takes you. From there you’re able to explore on your own through a serious of 360-degree scenes. Additionally, you’re able to bring 3D images to life wherever you are. This could be a really awesome feature for science classes, bringing larger science experiments to life through the use of virtual reality. The exploration feature could be a great addition to history classrooms, revisiting historical sights that may be too far for a field trip. This video provides a tutorial for how to use Google Expeditions as a teacher.

For my freshman seminar at the beginning of my college experience, I took an instructional technology course and we had an entire unit based on virtual reality and augmented reality. Our professor introduced the unit to us by bringing in headsets for us to play with and allowing us to explore games, videos, and other apps on our own. We were then encouraged to download the Ikea shopping app that offers a feature where you can use virtual reality to place furniture in rooms of your own house to see how it looks before purchasing it. Our professor used the Ikea app to demonstrate that virtual reality can be useful in many scenarios.

Digital storytelling allows people to share stories online using photos, videos, text, and so many more elements. If you think this term is foreign to you, it’s probably not if you’re active in the realm of social media. I utilize digital storytelling all the time through Instagram stories and Snapchat stories, as well as other apps I use on a daily basis.

When I use storytelling on my Instagram, I typically use the highlight feature to post pictures and videos of my favorite memories, separated into different categories, like friends, family, travel, etc. The Instagram story feature allows you to add text captions and graphics over your images manually before you post them, but I came across an app that makes your stories exponentially more visually appealing.

Steller

You can download Steller in the App Store. Once you create a FREE, you heard me, FREE account you can begin your journey to visual storytelling. When you first open the app, you’re inundated with a plethora of inspiration templates and designs you can scroll through at your leisure for ideas. Once you’re ready to create you can click on the little + symbol at the bottom center of your screen and start assembling your story. I found the most effective way to do this was to import one photo at a time and chronologically go through one at a time to adjust them to your liking. For example, choose the photo you want to be displayed as the first and import it. Design according to your story contents and add a title that describes what your story will be representing.

I used Steller to make a collaboration of photos I’ve taken on a few of my favorite vacations. With that being said, I chose an aerial view of clouds I took from an airplane window to introduce my topic. The app actually had a template that I could import my photo into and make it look like the viewer is seeing through an airplane window, just like I was when I took the photo. Pretty dang cool. I then added my title, “Reminiscing on my happiest travels”, and from here on out, I provided a sequence of photos and location pins from where they were taken. What I like about this app is that it’s so easy to use. It provides a tutorial, of course, for beginners but it was enough of a breeze for me that was able to skip through it. The app can also be used for a number of platforms accompanied by any story you may need to tell, no matter who you are. I could see this app being used in social media marketing, business advertisements, honestly anywhere.

My Steller Story

National Geographic has devoted a chunk of their website to digital storytelling, and it’s pretty dang cool. In 2013 a man named Paul Salopek walked the same paths of the first people whom migrated out of Africa in the Stone Age and shifted the world to be ours. Luckily for us, he documented this journey through photo, video and audio and we get to walk along with him.

The site begins the adventure in Ethiopia in chapter 1, described as one of the world’s oldest human fossil sites. This is where Salopek begins his trek out of Africa. The site displays a timeline for the viewer to follow, which is mostly made up of photographs and captions. The shots pictures are raw and unfiltered, displaying the landscape, culture, and elements. One photo that specifically grabbed my attention from this collection is one that I’ll paste below for you to see. It’s titled “Bones atop Bones: Walking through a Colossal Graveyard”, and it shows how nonchalant and comfortable the people of Ethiopia are walking amongst their dead.

In chapter 2, the trip evolves as the reporter begins to cross borders. This section of the website provides a “walking tour”, but you won’t be as worn out as those who have actually already travelled 63 miles by foot. You’re able to select photos and move step by step this section, making the experience that much more detailed. What I actually found most interesting during this part, is the contrast between old time and new time. A photo is displayed with a busy street full of cars, morning rush hour at 7am. This puts the whole experience into perspective. The reporter is standing so close to vehicles, but still chooses to walk on foot to replicate the experience. You can find the photo here.

If clicking photo to photo isn’t enough for you to get the closest experience, you can navigate to Milestone 11: Overpass in chapter 2. At this point, it’s day 136 and mile 1000. Salopek describes this time in the dessert as an obstacle course with farms, factories and desalination plants. At this point, he had stopped and paused to record the landscape and those he had met in his path. This feature is similar to what I’ve experienced on Google Earth, where the camera is stationary in one spot and you can click around. This is a unique way to explore the elements and scenery. You can find that panorama here.

Explore the story for yourself!

The term hyperdoc refers to a virtual document that’s embedded with hyperlinks. If you’re unfamiliar with this term now might be a good time to study up, as it’s most handy in online and at-home learning. Teachers can utilize hyperdocs to instruct an entire lesson to their students within one virtual worksheet. All you need to do is create a word document following a worksheet format and provide links for students to explore pertaining to subject matter. You can add links that send the students to games, videos or articles.

Hyperdocs have been around for years, I even remember using them in middle school when Google Docs was just taking off. From a student’s standpoint, I always looked forward to online assignments like hyperdocs. Time allotted for these assignments allowed me to work in solitude and at my own pace.

A lot of teachers say that a massive benefit of hyperdocs is the spare time it gives them in the classroom. When students are working on their virtual worksheets, teachers can walk around and individually meet with students face to face and get an understanding of their progress. Additionally, hyperdocs provides a source of multimedia into lessons which is known to keep students’ attention more efficiently. Kids love working online, especially when it comes to interactive assignments- It makes school work feel like less of a chore and more fun!

Awesome blog that shares hyperdocs tips!

Since the first education course I’ve taken at Stockton to this current course, one specific concept has stood out to me- The concept of keeping an open mind when it comes to learning, especially as an educator or an aspiring educator. We should be open to the idea that learning can take place anywhere, at any time, under any circumstance.

From my own perspective, I’ve learned to take everything in life as a learning opportunity, inside and outside of the classroom. For example, when most people are taking classes they prioritize their learning to take place in a classroom or during their study sessions. I’ve realized that one of the most effective ways for me, personally, to learn is in real-life situations. This is my way of practicing lifelong learning– The “ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated” pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. By allowing myself to understand that learning can happen at any time, I allow myself to be inspired by day-to-day ideas that I can research on my own. For an example of this, I’m an actively creative person and have a passion for artwork. I regularly attend art museums and absorb as much knowledge as I can pertaining to particular pieces and artists I’m attracted to.

From this, I can encourage my future students to practice lifelong learning and keeping an open mind for education. In my opinion, those who have this kind of mindset are more likely to be more positive and motivated on a regular basis. A lot of the time learning is involuntary, so people should learn to accept and appreciate the process. 🙂

If you’re wondering how you can get more involved in lifelong learning, visit this site.

For this weeks blog post I’m writing about something completely out of my comfort zone. When I was in middle school I hung out with a group of friends who were all pretty big fans of the Japanese manga, or anime, series Attack on Titan. I never shared the same love for anime they had, but they did manage to get me hooked on this TV series. At the time the show was available on Netflix in Japanese and with English subtitles. I recently learned that the show is available on other streaming sites dubbed in English, but even after learning this I think I’d still prefer to watch the subtitled version. Watching this was my first experience branching out and watching media pertaining to cultural experience completely parallel to me.

To briefly describe the plot- Humanity lives inside enormous walls that protect them from Titans, massive human-like creatures that devour humans on sight. The story revolves around the main character, Eren, his family and friends, and the devastation they endure when the Titans invade their community. The show allows the viewer to see from each character’s perspective which enhances the story so much more. Each character is unique in their own way and plays a different role. For example, Eren enlists in the military following the dramatic incident. This plot decision allows the viewers to see the scenario from a political point of view as they utilize military tactics to defeat Titans. The visual experience this show is portrayed through Anime, which is the Japanese term for animation. This animation style is usually characterized by colorful graphics, vibrant characters, and fantasy-based themes. The visual experience this show provides is another universe in comparison to what I’d regularly watch on a day to day basis.

Throughout the years that I have been an active Twitter user, I have always perceived the app as a place for a quick giggle and current event catch-up. The side of Twitter that I’ve always been familiar with is a whole world of people who express their creativity through a number of different mediums- Memes, music, and art. Since joining this class and being motivated to explore further, I’ve been slapped in the face with the realization that there’s an endless number of communities on the app.

Creating a separate Twitter account for educational purposes has completely driven me to keep an open mind. At first, I found it difficult to find tweets and users outside of this class that I could relate to. Once I got into the swing of things and began to follow experienced educators, I enjoy it almost more than the side of Twitter I used to know. As an aspiring educator, I find it extremely motivating for me to see tweets that teachers post regarding their classrooms and students. I can gather inspiration for the type of teacher I plan to be and take notes on how I can maximize my future classroom.

Twitter allows me to keep up to date on the current events revolving around the educator community. The more people you follow the more likely you are to see topics from a number of perspectives. For example, I follow teachers, principals, and board of education members. A teacher is in a completely different position than a principal is when it comes to a number of discussions regarding educational systems and classroom etiquette. The app allows you to take a glance at the world through other people’s lives.

I think it’s important, at this time in my life, to keep myself motivated and inspired on a daily basis to keep reaching for my goals. At this point, I check Twitter like the morning paper- ESPECIALLY ON THE WEEKDAYS. I wake up and scroll through my feed and it genuinely excites me for the next chapter in my life where I can wake up and teach my own classroom full of students.

Resources

My Twitter – @steinermadalynk

Educators to follow – @GregSederberg , @mraspinall , @SteeleThoughts

Anyone who chooses to be a “Global Educator” should be prepared to be a lifelong learner. Now, you might be wondering what exactly this means, what exactly you could be getting yourself into. Lifelong learners embrace the idea that learning can happen anywhere, anytime. Keeping an open mind when it comes to learning new things, even unexpectedly, is essential to becoming a remarkable educator. Come graduation, you should proceed through life with an optimistic outlook on learning- No matter what profession you choose to be in, you should never limit your ability to learn.

Those who plan to work in the education field should have already embraced this idea with idea arms prior to beginning practice. As time goes on and the world changes, concepts, theories and facts evolve. If you’re planning to be a history teacher, you shouldn’t put your learning to a halt when you’ve finished designing your lesson plans. You should be knowledgable beyond the material in the classroom. If a student were to ask you, a history teacher, a question about current events the student would likely expect you to know the answer or at least be able to provide some resources for further inquiries.

Lifelong learning reaches much farther beyond educational material. According to this article, the positive impact of lifelong learning is greater than the individual learner. The article states, “From an organizational perspective, learning is the foundation of operational excellence, continuous improvement, and innovation; and innovation and productivity increases strengthen our economy.”, insisting that lifelong learning is also the emphasis of ongoing personal growth and improvement.

Today’s teachers and educators have an advantage in the classroom like never before. As technology expands and evolves throughout the years, so does education. Technology grants educators creative and unique methods of teaching in their classrooms, as opposed to teaching out of a textbook. The Global Educator’s Toolbox carries a plethora of tools that teachers can utilize in a classroom to keep their students engaged and active throughout lesson plans. This blog post discusses one of those tools and how it can be utilized in a classroom.

The Remind App

Technology is so abundant that in most situations, either all students own a smartphone or an immediate family member does. This extreme rise of technology makes communication effortless in today’s world due to the abundance of mobile applications and networking sites. The Remind App can be useful for teachers to keep in touch with students or their families to ensure all parties of the classroom are on the same page at all times. In order to use remind, you just sign up for the app by creating an account and then you can instantly start getting text notifications. Text messages, emails and reminders can be sent out to individual people or a group.

A lot of teachers use Remind to do exactly that- Remind their class about upcoming assignments, current events, etc. Depending on the age of the classroom, teachers can send reminders straight to their students. A few of my college professors have used Remind in the classroom to remind us about homework, upcoming exams and canceled class dates. This was a simpler means of communication than email, in my opinion. Remind sends the text notification straight to your phone in real-time, as if it were to be a real SMS message. This was specifically vital to me in a couple situations. For example, if I was ever concerned about my grade in the class I was able to contact my professor immediately. If the age group of the classroom is younger, teachers can use Remind to bridge the communication between teachers and parents about what’s going on inside the classroom. Parents can easily set up the Remind App and utilize it to keep in contact with teachers just like students do.

Additional ways to utilize Remind in the classroom!