First, I’m thinking of friends and colleagues around the world who have been coping with the implications of the coronavirus much earlier than myself and my family. We are all fine here in Illinois so far; our schools are closed and business hours and practices are being curtailed. My husband is working from home, and my kids are on spring break and will be starting elearning in the coming weeks. I consider ourselves fortunate, and I hope friends in other locations are safe.
Secondly, globally connected teaching and learning have never been more essential. Use this global crisis to educate your students and children about the world, and connect with other educators around the globe who have been teaching online for a while now. The best example of global collaboration among educators has been through the Facebook group referenced below called Educator Temporary School Closure for Online Learning. It is has been amazing how teachers have come together to support students and one another!
Below are links to three resources I’ve developed for colleagues at my school, and anyone is welcome to access and share these. All of these will be continually updated.
- Bringing the Outside In — Here are a few of my picks for connecting to the world. It’s mostly geared towards parents, but teachers may find some of the resources useful.
- Online Teaching Resources — This collection includes iOS apps I’m recommending to colleagues for basic tasks at my 1:1 iPad school. It’s not a comprehensive list as I wanted to keep things fairly simple. Planning resources, articles of interest, and general teaching resources are also included. I highly recommend joining this Facebook group and looking at the folder of continuous learning plans put together by international schools. Our international school friends have been leading the #remotelearning life for a while now and we can learn a great deal from them.
- Step Guide to Zoom — Here’s a step guide to hosting and joining Zoom video conference meetings on a computer and iPad. I’ve included a few other resources and tips for success.
Additionally, members of the Global Education Conference Network (free membership), can access resources for teaching from a global perspective here. Our conference archives contain hundreds of recording professional development sessions and below are some specific recommendations that may help help you think about how you are creating global experiences for your students.
- Amanda Lanicek & F. Margret Atkinson: Global Collaboration and the PLN
- Ann Michaelsen: Connected Learners
- Ann Michaelsen: Creating a Global Classroom in Your School
- Anne Mirtschin: Leading the Way in Global Classrooms
- Anne Mirtschin: The World is My Classroom
- Barry Kramer: iEARN Global Learning Circles
- Bronwyn Joyce: Classrooms-Learning About the World with the World
- Cleary Vaughan-Lee: Global Films-A Gateway for Student Empowerment
- David Bornstein: Solutions U
- Erin Towns: Teacher Abroad
- Franz De Paula: Mental Morfosis
- Jeanne Myers & Wendy Milette: The MY HERO Project
- Jennifer Klein: 21st Century Pedagogies and Envisioning the Global Schoolhouse
- Jennifer Russell: Connecting Educators and Youth through Virtual Exchange Projects
- Julene Reed: Polar Bears, Global Connections, and Citizen Science
- Julie Lindsay: How to Go Global — Learn, Lead, League
- Liz Dawes & Paul Salopek: Out of Eden Learn
- Mary Morgan Ryan and Carolyn Skibba: If You Learned Here
- Michael Furdyk & Terry Godwaldt: #Decarbonize #Decolonize
- Terry Smith: Learning with the World
- Will Piper & Pedro Aparico: Crossing Borders for Multicultural Understanding
Finally, I am starting to host Zoom sessions for parents and educators interested in chatting and collaborating. I am not sure what this will look like or about dates and times, but if you are interested in participating, send me an email at lucy@globaledevents.com or follow me on Twitter @elemenous and the hashtag #globaled20.
Additionally, I would like to collaborate with a few global educators on creating some simple global projects for students in the coming weeks. If you are interested in helping, please also send me an email indicating your interest.
If you are a company or non-profit offering services to schools affected by the coronavirus, please post any opportunities in our discussion forum here and I’ll share them on social media.
Please take care of yourself and take things one day at a time. We can get through this.
Replies