Resources for using Global Education in your classroom:
This list includes resources that can help to provide you with authentic global learning experiences for your students. There are many incredible, FREE resources available to assist you in planning student-centered project-based learning. You don't need to do everything on your own- there are already great ideas out there for you to try. Don't go overboard in trying to use all of these resources at once- be patient and allow you and your students to experiment to see what works best for your situation. Things won't always go smoothly, but I think you will find that with time, you will find a resource you feel comfortable using. Until then, your students will be patient with you because they see that you are willing to try something different to meet their needs in an increasingly connected world. They know you care!
Skype in the Classroom- This program allows teachers around the globe to reach out and connect their classrooms with others. Teachers can have their classes collaborate with classrooms in distance locations to work on project-based learning (cultural exchanges, debating hot topics, discussing world current events, addressing environmental issues in both locations, etc.). I have used this in my classroom in the form of Mystery Skype sessions. I arrange a time for my classes to video call another classroom, but my students do not know where in the world the other classroom is. Likewise, the teacher I have collaborated with does not allow his/her class to know where we are. Students ask yes/no questions about location until they are able to pinpoint the country, state/province, city, or even school building of the other class. My students LOVE this activity, and while it does take some time (30 minutes of class time) students apply their understanding of world regions, languages, and cultures in order to ask good questions. The best conversations often begin after one of the classes guesses the others' location correctly. At that point we discuss commonalities between our school communities, and the differences that we are proud of. This is perhaps one of the most rewarding activities I have done in my classroom.
The Institute for International Education is a non-profit organization designed to connect people and ideas around the world through the implementation of exchanges. IIE informs and sponsors educational travel for teachers and encourages student study abroad programs. This is a good website to check with, or receive email correspondence from, as they always have updates on programs open to you as a teacher, or your students. In terms of increasing global citizenship, this is one of the best organizations for promoting travel and global education training.
Rotary International - another non-profit organization geared toward civic duty in U.S. communities and global outreach. Many small communities have Rotary Clubs where business, education, and government leaders meet to discuss service to their communities and nation. Another component of Rotary is international understanding and taking action toward global concerns (their big projects have been eradicating polio and increasing education in foreign countries). Rotary will often sponsor speakers that may be good for your classes to hear, but they also sponsor professional international exchanges (for teachers and/or students). I have spoken with my local Rotary Club about my international teacher tours and have been met with warm welcomes and inquisitive questions.
Global Nomads Group- This organization facilitates year-long and semester-long virtual exchanges between U.S. classrooms and classrooms abroad. Global Nomads has created project-based learning on a multitude of topics (most current event based) for classrooms to collaborate and discuss throughout the exchange. Through the use of videoconferencing and social media, for example, students can collaborate, debate, create, and then take action with students across the globe. If you can't commit to an exchange taking an hour a week in your classroom, there are MANY other resources for smaller project-based lessons provided on their website- see here.
ePals- this program allows teachers to facilitate email connections between students in their classes and students across the globe. This is an exciting project-based idea that could be used throughout the semester. For example, your students could exchange information about their cultures, religions, holidays, or issues that are important to them. Likewise, the exchange could be more prescribed- collaborating on a project that is relevant to your curriculum and the lives of students. Teachers are able to manage and monitor the emails, and it is free!
iEARN- this organization works to link classrooms across the globe in an effort to provide project-based opportunities for students. iEARN hosts collaboration and communication between classrooms and asks the question, "How will this project improve the quality of life on the planet?". In their quest to create global citizens, iEARN has linked over 2 million students! Go to the collaboration project database to find a project that suits your needs- students will collaborate and usually finish the project with some sort of product to share with the partner classroom. These projects range from needing one day of class, to year-long collaborations. Check out this amazing video celebrating the 25th anniversary of iEARN!
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OxFam Global Citizenship- Classroom Projects and Resource Database- OxFam is an organization devoted to solving the issues of poverty and injustice. The organization believes education is the most important route for preventing international poverty, inequality, and scarcity of resources. The OxFam website hosts a database of projects and classroom resources, free for teacher use. Additionally, the classroom projects are designed in order for students to think globally, yet act locally, a way of providing students with the relevance of international issues.
World Savvy- this incredible program organizes students in to teams to work on a project-based theme for an entire year. Students investigate a topic of their choice (relating to the yearly theme) and then research its impact in at least two countries, indentify strategies for taking action, both globally and locally, and then present their findings in the form of a project at the end of the program. The program comes with teacher training, webinars for students, emails with resources, challenge booklets for teams, and online activities geared toward guiding students through their acquisition of knowledge and then plans for change. While it costs a fee, there are some free resources and scholarships available.
Buck Institute for Education is a non-profit organization designed to aide teachers in adopting 21st century, project-based learning opportunities in the classroom. The site offers ideas for how to create authentic project-based teaching methods that require students to think critically, collaborate, and communicate creatively. Click here to see a BIE blog entry about what it takes for project-based learning to be authentic. The site additionally offers ideas for PBL (project-based learning), many of which include global issues and ask students to develop global competency through investigation, recognizing perspectives, communicating ideas, and taking action.
Peace Corps Connect- this program has many resources for educators, including a database of lesson plans, resources on global issues, Peace Corp Global Connections: Frameworks for Classroom Implementation booklet for teachers, and a speakers match program- where you can ask returned Peace Corp volunteers to speak with your students. Many of the lesson plans could be easily adapted to project-based opportunities, and I think it would interesting to have students come up with their own PBL after hearing from a Peace Corp speaker. Students could develop global competency by investigating a topic further, recognizing perspectives (with the help of the volunteer's experience) communicate, and then take action- both at a global and local level.