Two great colleagues jumped on it:
@tdallen5 and
@Elle_Gifted.
We co-wrote the presentation over Google Docs, not the least deterred that we
lived in three different states:
Virginia,
Illinois, and
Mississipi. I also contacted some teachers I’m lucky enough to work with in my
own school division (
http://mskcherry.weebly.com/
and
http://communicationandrelationships.weebly.com/)
to see if they could participate as well and speak first-hand about their
experiences with global learning projects. Despite calling @tdallen5 an hour
earlier than she was expecting me once (darn those time zones!) and at least
one teacher being thwarted from participating by state testing, we are set to
present Tuesday, May 22
nd at 2:30pm EST. And, of course, none of
that would have been possible without the help of
@mgraffin who
not only connected us in the first place, but proofed our presentation and
helped us connect with even more resources!
In addition to loving the fact that putting together this
presentation was in itself a global project, it was a great chance to reflect
again on why I am so passionate about global projects. Listening this past
Thursday to one teacher practicing online with the moderator (in Michigan), I was
reminded how much we have to gain by letting students communicate with their
peers around the world.
Communicating with others fosters self-reflection
- American
students were stunned to learn that their friends and Hong
Kong were planning to study over their winter vacation
- Two
girls connected about how hard it is to change when you get headed down
the wrong track
Students rise to the occasion when there is an authentic
audience
- English
Language Learners in the United States
practiced their speeches over and over again to make sure that their
friends in Hong Kong could understand
them
- Students
revised their “finished” writing when they knew students elsewhere would
be reading and listening to their work
Teachers grow from global collaboration too
I am so grateful to Global Classroom Project for:
- helping
me create a PLN where I can send out a tweet and end up presenting with
peers across the country in a virtual conference
- providing
a place where teachers can create their own project and connect with
teachers across the world
- keeping
me motivated and inspired to make global project a part of as many
classrooms as I can
And, finally, for helping teacher teach teachers about
global projects!
