Global Education

Hey everyone!
It's time to talk about global education. When I started thid assignment, I was a little foggy on what global education was. During my online search, I came across some websites that offered chatting oppertunities, but very few actually defined global education. Simply put, global education is the term used internationally to designate the academic field concerned with teaching and learning about global issues, events and perspectives, but in actuallity, it is so much more. the best website I found to define global education is Globalteacher.org. It's lengthy, but poetic. 
They write,"Global Education is not a subject, but a dimension that runs through the curriculum, an extra filter to help children make sense of all the information and opinion the world is throwing at them. It combines methodology - active and experiential discussion based activities, a caring, co-operative and open outlook on the classroom experience, and core concerns- finding out about all the cultures of the UK and of other countries and groups, about the causes of poverty and inequality (here as well as in other countries) and about the environment. Global Education is a way of approaching everything we teach and how we teach it. It broadens horizons and encourages exploration of all subjects from a global perspective. It contributes to the whole curriculum and enhances our understanding of the world. Global Education stimulates curiosity, motivates learning, and thus contributes to the raising of standards. Global Education studies different cultures and countries and the issues that face them, and develops an understanding of the impact our actions have on them. Global Education reflects the global nature of our society and responds to the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the children in the classroom. It recognises the entitlement of those children to receive an education which reflects this diversity. Global Education recognises the importance of expanding the horizons of children who live in less diverse communities. Global Education develops skills and attitudes which enable people to take responsibility for their own lives and the world we live in and become active global citizens. Global Education looks at the ways in which every-day life and experience affect and are affected by the wider world. Global education is as much about the relationships within a classroom as it is about relationships between countries." (http://www.globalteacher.org.uk/global_ed.htm)

global education

"How do we connect with Global Education Communities?"

Connecting to communities is actually quite easy. Once you find the community that you want to join, you simply sign-up. Some of the sites have a waiting period for approval, but others are happy to welcome you on the spot. 

"Whom did you find for students to connect with?"

There are many sites like www.epals.com/ were students are able to connect with other students around the world. This site even offers a translator to conquere any language barriers.

There are also sites like National Geographic's MyWonderful World blog were teachers and students can connect witheach other and still yet another site, Thinkfinity Community, were teachers can connect with each other.

"How did you find it?"

When I first went looking for global education sites, I simply typed

"How do we connect with Global Education Communities?" into the search bar. Funny thing happened. I was sent to a blog spot called Christine's Thoughts, http://christineboivin.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-do-we-connect-with-global-education.html. Christine wanted answers to the same question, but was having trouble finding them. Through her site, I was told to go to google and search kids penpals. I did one better and search kids educational penpals.  That's were I found www.epals.com.

"How will you students/you connect?"

That question is a little harder. A lot of places around the world do not coincide timewise. Students would either have to connect as a homework assignment, or they would have to leave blog messages for their penpals to view and answer later. The same goes for me and other teachers. We would have to connect at home, or through blogging or messaging.

"What are possible conversdation points?

The conversation points are limitedless for both students and teachers. Students can discuss every possible assignment that they are ever assigned, or they can join groups who are coming together to discuss specific issues such as: people, cultures, plants, animals, habitats, watercycles, maps, etc.

Teachers have the same oppertunities. They can join groups that are interested in Science challenges for youths, writers clubs, digital story telling, and testing around the world.

"One unique resource post."

I have already listed a few sites that I found through my search, but if I had to pick one for student use, I would chose www.epals.com. There are many different sites out there for global education. All you have to do is look until you find the one you want!