"However, when it comes to the use of new technology, children are authorities on a topic of importance and value to adults for the first time in history."
Don Tapscott, Growing Up Digital, 1997
by vast communications networks that make communicating with people around the world as easy as chatting with a next-door neighbor." Marshall McLuhan, Canadian scientist, Understanding the Media, 1964)
You have now explored theories behind integrating technology into the classroom, cyberethics and netiquette, the wonderful world of WebQuests, how the Internet can help adapt lessons to different learning styles and now we want to examine how the Internet can expand our classrooms beyond the four walls, beyond our state, beyond our country and help our students to become truly global learners.
As in the quote above, we in many ways, have struggled to follow our students into the cyber world, where they have blazed the trial as pioneers. And as pioneers, there were no rules or set of instructions there to help guide them in their travels. So we see our teens downloading movies and music at will, because they "can" not because they "should." We now need to educate the next generation of computer users that there are rules, and courtesies that should be followed as was addresssed in the mod on ethics and copyright. Here we will help them interact with children all over the world, and they need to keep in mind all the rules that we have instilled in them.
"It takes many villages. ' A teacher in Pakistan writes, "Giving our students a global exposure and enhancing their communication skills...will make a world of difference to their academic life and interest in the subject.' For this teacher, as for the thousands of other educators involved in the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN), the objective is to prepare students to be motivated, culturally respectful, and active participants in their world." Edutopia, George Lucas Foundation
Of special interest to educators using the Internet is the George Lucas Foundation's espousal of Project-Based Learning. " In Project-Based learning, students investigate rich and challenging issues and topics, often in the context of real-world problems, integrating subjects such as science, mathematics, history, and the arts. Students typically work in teams, using technology to access current information and, in some cases, consult with experts. They coordinate time and work schedules, develop real work products such as multimedia reports, and present them to their teachers and the larger community, often in a culminating presentation. Concrete, hands-on experiences come together with more abstract, intellectural tasks to explore complex issues."
Check out the examples of project-based learning at NASA.(optional)
Don't miss the iEARN site mentioned above.
Other ideas can be found in this Learner site.
Try Spaceday and see if there are any ideas you can use.
Optional sites:
Forget pen pals, try e-pals!
Tools for Teachers
Pen pal projects
Take an Expedition through Global Schoolnet
Type "Mod 6 -comp.int.-your name" in the Subject line of the e-mail
In the next mod we will begin using the Forum, and constructing our webpage. Have some ideas ready on how you want your page to look, and links you will want to add.
