six degrees of separation
TRANSCRIPT
Six Degrees of Separation:
Using Our Connections to Improve Global Learning
Presented by Jennifer Smithers Marten
RSCON4 October 11, 2013
Why Is Global Connectivity Important?
“Today, when the shelf life of any specialized knowledge is so fleeting, we need to think of readiness as not merely a collection of specific skills, but as a broader set of human aspects- self-direction, curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to take risks.”
Daniel Pink (American School Board Journal, September, 2007)
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
What year are you preparing your students for?
"Every textbook you have is dated. Look at curriculum that way...think of the word binder - bound - shackled.”
Engaging Students
Real World Relevance Multiple Sources/Perspectives Collaboration Share with a wider audience
What Does Global Connectivity Teach Our Students?
Investigate the World Learn about Different Perspectives Communicate Ideas Take Action Create a Growth Mindset
What We Used To Do
Field Trips Assemblies
But…Budget cuts have impacted both
Plus…They were still limited in focus
What Can We Do Now?
Virtual Author Visits
15 minutes free Growing list of authors http://skypeanauthor.wikifoundry.com/
Skype in the Classroom
Lesson plans Connect with Classrooms Guest Speakers https://education.skype.com/
Epals
The 21st century version of the penpal letter plus a whole lot more!
http://www.epals.com/
TAP IN
TO
YOU
R O
WN
NE
TW
OR
K
Classmates
Colleagues
FriendsFamily
Surveys
Google forms › http://google.com
Survey Monkey› http://surveymonkey.com
My Surveys Sharing with my social networks
› https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1L28EtMaoEPYsxbjNbao4-GauRSbZhRMuGOzyv6d-E9I/viewform
Sharing with school alumni› https://
docs.google.com/forms/d/1L28EtMaoEPYsxbjNbao4-GauRSbZhRMuGOzyv6d-E9I/viewform
Sharing with teachers in my district› https://
docs.google.com/forms/d/1oytvMbVtOHI-KhUdZKv1VMV9nBAurkmHheOqafoG8SA/viewform
How It Works
Create a spreadsheet with survey results (Google forms does this for you)
Connect teacher needs with experts and allow individual teachers to contact experts
Depending on the age of the students, have them initiate the contact with the expert
Skills Students Need Prior to Skyping
Etiquette› Cultural manners and verbal expressions
http://www.videojug.com/interview/manners-and-verbal-expressions-across-cultures
› Cultural body language http://
www.videojug.com/interview/manners-and-body-language-across-cultures-2
Speaking› Tone of voice› Eye contact› Speed of speech› Register of Language
An ExampleSocial Studies Class Studying the Middle
East
The initial assignment: Relocating Internationally
A local company is looking to build a factory in the Middle East.
They have asked for help in researching which area/ country would be the best to build.
You will research a country in the Middle East
Searching for Resources
Through conversation we realized many of us had connections living in the Middle East
We contacted them to ask permission for our students to reach out to them
Students sent an initial email asking them to participate in the class project & for a best way to communicate
Making Connections
Some experts were only able to connect via traditional email because of connectivity issues.› Great way to get students to work on
written communication skills! Some were able to use video email. One was able to Skype during the class
period› Students had prepared questions› The session was recorded and later
podcasted
Observations
Students were engaged/focused on speaker
Because background research had been done, questions asked were relevant
The answers produced more questions The students were not ready to leave
when the bell rang
Now What
Remember the initial assignment – helping a company relocate to the Middle East
Students now had relevant, real world information to help them decide which country would be best
Getting Started
Start small Don’t be afraid to ask Ask even if you don’t think there is a
connection Enlist your colleagues
References
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli3009.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsUgj9_ltN8
http://heidihayesjacobs.blogspot.com/2011/02/preparing-our-kids-for-1982-time.html
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (2006) Carol Dweck