The use of email to connect classrooms and students

around the world!

Objectives

Students will be able to compose well-written emails to their ePals.

Students will be able to concretely describe specific details of their lives.

Students will be able to identify similarities and differences between themselves and their ePals.

Students will be able to give specific examples of what it means to be from a different culture.

Overview of ePals

Community, connections, solutions - ePals, the global platform for learning online.

ePals is a Global Community of collaborative learners, teachers, and academic experts in 200 countries and territories.

ePals provides Connections to students, classes, and school districts worldwide that are safe and secure.

ePals is the safe and protected solution for linking classes, schools, and school districts globally via ePals SchoolMail™, ePals SchoolBlog™, and Classroom Match

What is ? Community, connections, solutions - ePals,

the global platform for learning online.

ePals is a Global Community of collaborative learners, teachers, and academic experts in 200 countries and territories.

ePals provides Connections to students, classes, and school districts worldwide that are safe and secure.

ePals is the safe and protected solution for linking classes, schools, and school districts globally via ePals SchoolMail™, ePals SchoolBlog™, and Classroom Match

Here is a video on what ePals is

ePals Delivers Free E-Mail, Blogging for Schools

by Dave Nagel

This website is only available to schools and is free of charge.

These services include SchoolM@il, SchoolBlog and In2Books.

“From a district perspective, this is a big win-win” (Stan Salagij, director of instructional technology at Newark Public Schools in NJ).

These services are used by about 325,000 students and educators around the world.

ePals Delivers Free E-Mail, Blogging for Schools

by Dave Nagel

SchoolM@il is an integrated, teacher-monitored e-mail system that includes 72 language-translation pairs, spellchecking and virus and spam filters and file-sharing capabilities.

SchoolBlog is a literacy education tool tat offers message boards that encourage students to express, collaborate ideas with other students, teachers and involve parents in a secure online environment.

In2Books is an online literacy curriculum based around a dialogue between a student and adult mentor designed to improve student achievement on standardized tests and increase critical thinking and writing proficiency.

Article Summary

This article is about the education technology provider ePals and what they offer to educators, students and parents.

A secure online environment which is teacher monitored.

Provides easy communication among people who speak different languages while creating a first hand learning experience into an other culture.

LearningStation Launches ePals SchoolM@il(TM) Integration

By: Market Wire

LearningStation, launched the newest version of the LS Education Desktop now intergraded with ePals’ SchoolM@il(TM)

They are a recognized leader in safe and protected communication tools for K-12 students.

“Having this type of collaboration and communication tool integrated into the Desktop will help students develop critical 21st century skills that will equip the for their futures.” (Melinda Stanley)

LearningStation Launches ePals SchoolM@il(TM) Integration

By: Market Wire

“ePals’ communication tools allow teachers and administrators to monitor and manage accounts, while providing students with an easy-to-use suite of online tools and resources including discussion board and file sharing.”

“ePals’ promotes 21st century skills by improving reading, writing, digital literacy and critical thinking skills through online collaborative learning experiences available in its Global Leaning Community.”

Article Summary

I believe LearingStation is getting the word out about ePals. It was a company which started in about 20 classrooms in 4 countries and has exploded only do to word of mouth.

ePals seems to have set a goal in creating a Global learning environment to enhance and enrich students lives. They are meeting this goal every day.

Standards

National Geography Standards

Places and Regions:

Standard 6: How culture and experience influence people's perception of places and regions.

Human Systems

Standard 10: The characteristics, distributions, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.

Standard 12: The process, patterns, and functions of human settlement.

National Education Technology Standards (NETS)

References ePals Website

ePals

Articles

LearningStation Launches ePals SchoolM@il(TM) Intergration By Business Publications

ePals Delivers Free E-Mail, Blogging for Schools By: Dave Nagel

Friendship Through Education

Conclusion

I believe ePals is a wonderful tool for classroom teachers, especially among younger children. Schools do not have to spend money on the program which saves money, a definite plus! Students then get a great opportunity to meet people around the world and discuss topics which affect everyone, this will also help students to realize there are people all over the world who have the same issues, as well as learn about different cultures and places, without ever leaving the safety of their school. Another plus, teachers can monitor the site to prevent miss use, as well as parents!