Creator: AT&T and Give Something Back International Foundation | visit site
Grade Range: K - 11
Join the Global Virtual Classroom (GVC) and bring students from other regions and countries into your classroom - virtually! Global Virtual Classroom has been around for a long time and has learned what is needed to create global citizens. They’ve done everything for you from Lessons, Resources, a Mini Web Design Contest (completed with another class and on a world issue), and a Web Design Contest completed with just your class), to directions for becoming part of the community, providing a list of other educators who would like to participate, and a Clubhouse for your students. Be sure to register by mid September each year!
In the Classroom
Take students to another place; encourage them to understand other cultures and create global citizens by signing up to join GVC. After introducing GVC on an interactive whiteboard or projector, create a quick poll (with no membership required) using SurveyRock, <a href="/single.cfm?id=15871">reviewed here</a>, to vote for which country or region to communicate with and share information. Begin a blog for each student to share reflections using a blog tool like Edublog, <a href="/single.cfm?id=13449">reviewed here</a>. Consider asking the partner teacher to have their students blog, too, and encourage students to respond to each others’ blogs. Students’ writing improves when they have an authentic audience. Haven’t started blogging yet? Check out <a href="/content/blog/blogbasics.cfm">TeachersFirst’s Blog Basics</a>. <br><br> Another idea would be to use a projector and Padlet, <a href="/single.cfm?id=10007">reviewed here</a>, and use their columns feature to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge about the culture with whom students will be working. Padlet creates virtual bulletin boards. Once the project is underway, go back to Padlet occasionally, and add what students learned and whether it coincides with their original ideas. Before culminating the project, ask the partner class if they will fill in the areas and ideas missed on your Padlet. Consider starting a lunch time or after school club for students to have more time to participate in the Clubhouse.
At Home
Consider having your son or daughter join the Clubhouse wiki to respond to international discussions with other people his/her age. Other items on the left menu that might interest you and your student are Mystery Locations, Global Projects, and International Recipes.
Tags
wikis, communication, competitions, cultures, cross cultural understanding, collaboration,
Subjects
English, Language Arts, Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Social Studies, TeachersFirst Edge, Writing,