Express, access, collaborate, create and become part of the global learning community.
As an educator, one of my goals is to teach where the integration of technology is completely seamless. "When technology integration is at its best, a child or a teacher doesn't stop to think that he or she is using a technology tool -- it is second nature." (Edutopia, 2007).
Below are some examples of how technology helps students work collaboratively to construct knowledge about the world around them:
2. Class kidblog
3. Virtual Field trips to enrich student learning and allow them to explore and connect to their world. For example, Gr 5 was investigating how marketplaces enable commerce by connecting producers and consumers. Their inquiry led them to find out more about the ethical responsibilities related to production and commerce for their favourite product - chocolate! Students found a non-profit organization 'Cocoa Care' that helps to rehabilitate the natural environment in Indonesia and work towards cocoa sustainability. In groups, students wrote questions and then conducted a Skype Video Interview with Cocoa Care's Managing Director Ms Kate Janetski.
Below are some examples of how technology helps students work collaboratively to construct knowledge about the world around them:
- Class Moodle (website):
2. Class kidblog
3. Virtual Field trips to enrich student learning and allow them to explore and connect to their world. For example, Gr 5 was investigating how marketplaces enable commerce by connecting producers and consumers. Their inquiry led them to find out more about the ethical responsibilities related to production and commerce for their favourite product - chocolate! Students found a non-profit organization 'Cocoa Care' that helps to rehabilitate the natural environment in Indonesia and work towards cocoa sustainability. In groups, students wrote questions and then conducted a Skype Video Interview with Cocoa Care's Managing Director Ms Kate Janetski.
Our Grade 5 classroom - Skype Interview in action!
Grade 5 conducting a Skype interview to Managing Director Ms Kate Janetski of Cocoa Care, 1st October, 2014.
Their action even made it to Cocoa Care news!
To further promote collaboration among my students, students used padlet to share their reflections about their new knowledge and to thank Ms Janetski for her time.
4. Collaborating with a Variety of Media
My Grade 5’s in Kaohsiung have the opportunity to collaborate with students from Firbank Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia, who are learning Mandarin with the aim for all students to learn and enrich their language acquisition. It is a fantastic experience educationally and culturally, helps to build intercultural understanding, global mindedness and is an authentic way to communicate in Chinese and English.
We are using Moodle, kidblog, google docs, and Skype as the primary platforms for our cultural exchanges. We are now in the second year of this exciting project.
Students from Firbank Grammar and I-Shou made a voice recording to introduce themselves and provided a class photo.
My Grade 5’s in Kaohsiung have the opportunity to collaborate with students from Firbank Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia, who are learning Mandarin with the aim for all students to learn and enrich their language acquisition. It is a fantastic experience educationally and culturally, helps to build intercultural understanding, global mindedness and is an authentic way to communicate in Chinese and English.
We are using Moodle, kidblog, google docs, and Skype as the primary platforms for our cultural exchanges. We are now in the second year of this exciting project.
Students from Firbank Grammar and I-Shou made a voice recording to introduce themselves and provided a class photo.
On a forum in Moodle, students wrote about what they loved about their home country and commented on each another's.
Engaging students through authentic contexts to communicate in both English and Chinese, increases students' excitement about learning, and helps build intercultural understanding.
Engaging students through authentic contexts to communicate in both English and Chinese, increases students' excitement about learning, and helps build intercultural understanding.
