Your Name and Title:
Dr. John Tashner, Professor of Instructional Technology
School, Library, or Organization Name:
Appalachian State University
Co-Presenter Name(s):
William Feste, Stephanie Weber, Amy Evans, Mallory Clark, Dr. Paul Wallace
Country from Which You Will Present:
United States of America
Language in Which You Will Present:
English
Target Audience:
K-12 teachers
Short Session Description (one line):
Global conversation does not start in the classroom, it starts with connecting teachers.
Full Session Description (one paragraph minimum):
Globalizing the curriculum is at the forefront of education as the world becomes more technologically advanced and teachers find themselves having to prepare students for a global market. As teachers we want our students to become more globally aware as well as take part in the burgeoning global conversation. As part of a Graduate school program at Appalachian State University, our group was presented with the opportunity to connect with a group of twenty one teachers from nineteen different countries visiting the United States on a State Department grant to promote the global conversation. We planned to meet with all of them in small groups to present successful models of collaboration we researched. Our expectations were to walk away with a plan in place to begin connecting our classroom to the global community, what actually occurred was something completely different. We realized what we faced was more like an onion, and we had only begun to start peeling away at the layers.
Our presentation focuses on starting the journey from novice to expert. Through example and anecdote we will communicate what we really learned from sitting down with international teachers and how the global conversation does not start in the classroom, it starts with connecting teachers. From reflection and experience we leaned what our real expectations should have been and what we would do differently if we were to do it again. Yearbooks and classroom pictures made greater strides than the most up-to-date web 2.0 tools and an ear for questions and a willingness to answer opens more doors than the most solid lesson plans. As we continue to develop and build relationships we learn that though technology provides the way to communicate, being honest and human provides the means.
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