Saturday+Workshop

=Workshop Culture Connections Virtually=

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Twitter: ellenj1971 Skype: ellenj1971 Second Life: EJ Escobar Email: ejminter1971@gmail.com

Powerpoint: @https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Byk-DGkWv32bZGE3YjBlNmQtMzFlNS00YWYyLWJjYWQtYjg0NDEwNTdmYmQ3&hl=en&authkey=CPuN7YQD

Archived virtual presentation: @https://sas.elluminate.com/p.jnlp?psid=2010-11-13.0818.M.757ED5D39403919F2536AEC0C144C5.vcr&sid=253

Questions based on article at @http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-teachers-vicki-davis-video about Vicki Davis' work in education. I had the honor of meeting her at the NCTIES Conference in NC.


 * Click on the edit in the top right corner to add your comments with your initials. Then click save.


 * Do you think it's important for kids to collaborate with the other students across the world? Why, or why not? **
 * Yes I do. Learning the culture of others also help us to learn our own,
 * Learning culture from others gives us the opportunity to undersand and communicate as well as appreciating dg
 * Learning is a social event. students learn better by discussing their ideas and having a real meaning for it. Luz A
 * Absolutely! Not on purpose but because the USA is such a large country I remember as a child not really understanding that there was a whole world out there as well. If one does not have the means to actually travel to other countries then offering them the opportunity to collaborate with students around the globe on-line will still produce some of the same benefits- building communities, comparing cultures, connecting ,accepting and learning from each other on ALL subject matters.~ ELA
 * Loved Vicki's comment, "The world is truly flat". The sooner students learn to accept, embrace, communicate across these borders through the flat screens they sit in front of and through the fiber optic cables their information zips through - the more equipped they will be. They need to begin honing these skills early. EBP
 * Of course, two heads are better than one and even "more better" when the heads are from different cultures or worlds. TLM


 * How can you empower students in school?**
 * Providing opportunitites to be exposed to other cultures virtually and in the community (International fairs, guest speakers, sharing experiences) CS
 * By being available, and teaching them how to teach themselves. (problem solving, critical thinking, etc....) Giving them the skill sets needed to only succeed further in the world.~ ELA
 * Providing them with meaningful projects that allows them to be creative Luz A
 * Empowerment is provided by opportunities to choose, to think, to solve, to fail, to lead. Students need opportunities above all else in which they have some of the control over what they are doing. How will they present? Who will lead? What type of discussion takes place? Provide a safe environment where failure is allowed and through reflection of what went wrong, they are allowed to move forward and become better equipped and more powerful when future opportunities present themselves. EBP
 * I agree with everyone above! You must provide opportunity for the student to learn and grow and use 21st century tools to do so. TLM


 * What challenges are faced to make international collaboration an integral part of your curriculum?**
 * Finding a school in another country. CS
 * Block scheduling Vs. Year long courses where we have the same students for the entire year.CS.
 * Financing, time, lack of support from administration....~ ELA
 * Lack of resources, internet, etc Luz A
 * Math, though a universal language, is tough to discuss. Few opportunities though they are there - this is a challenge to making it a daily integration. EBP
 * Outside of the language barrier, having classes from different countries coordinate their curriculums so collaboration would be efficient would also have to be considered. TLM


 * How does the use of digital media helps kids "learn how to learn?"**
 * It is meeting kids where they already are-they are already using digital media, so it makes great sense to incorporate that into their education as well. They can be more in control of how they learn as well as the pacing. Through interactive programs they will retain more. ~ ELA
 * Our students were born in the digital era: youtube, facebook ,etc They need to use those social sites to learn not just socialize. Luz A
 * People are not computers and therefore are not merely storage tanks. The use of digital media to teach students how to be comfortable with the research skills they need to recall, discover, learn, and communicate is essential. As they move from the face to face classrooms of the brick and mortar schools into the workforce and our university system, owning these skills make them more savvy and comfortable when asked to compete. They can learn on their feet and are less anxious when in need of new information. When asked to relocate, the social networks they have formed keep them connected. EBP
 * Digital media allows one to discover answers to question so much more efficiently than in the recent past. Also, using digital media steamlines creative processes. I remember creating research papers with the old typewriters! TLM

Additional Information to share: 
 * Great opportunity to make new connections! LearnCentral's Global Education Conference, Nov. 15 - 19 -- [] Will be presented in Elluminate. Check it out!