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