Comments

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  Prof. Fani Bhusan Das September 27, 2011 at 1:14am

  Dear Friend,  I just created a petition entitled To replace Violent Time with Peace Time: Peace Time will make PEACE AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF DEVELOPMENT, because I care deeply about this very important issue.  I'm trying to collect as many signatures, and I could really use your help.  To read more about what I'm trying to do and to sign my petition, click here: http://www.change.org/petitions/to-replace-violent-time-with-peace-...  It'll just take a minute!  Once you're done, please ask your friends to sign the petition as well. Grassroots movements succeed because people like you are willing to spread the word!  Regards Prof.Fani Bhusan
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  Dr. Rita Oates May 12, 2011 at 8:51am

  The playback of UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files requires appropriate players. To view rich media files in the meeting, please check whether the players are installed on your computer: https://epals.webex.com/epals/systemdiagnosis.php

  Topic: ePals 101 - 5/12 - VOIP
  Date: Thursday, May 12, 2011
  Time: 4:15 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (3:15 pm Central, 1:15 pm Pacific)
  Meeting Number: 731 978 239
  Meeting Password: May12
  --------------------------------
  To join the online meeting
  --------------------------------
  1. Go to https://epals.webex.com/epals/j.php?ED=146720847&UID=969874387&...
  2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
  3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: May12
  4. Click "Join".
  --------------------------------
  For assistance
  --------------------------------
  1. Go to https://epals.webex.com/epals/mc
  2. On the left navigation bar, click "Support".
  
  You can contact me at:
  roates@corp.epals.com

  
  IMPORTANT NOTICE: This WebEx service includes a feature that allows audio and any documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during the session to be recorded. By joining this session, you automatically consent to such recordings. If you do not consent to the recording, discuss your concerns with the meeting host prior to the start of the recording or do not join the session. Please note that any such recordings may be subject to discovery in the event of litigation.
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  Kim Cofino January 29, 2011 at 10:19pm

  Thanks to Adrienne for sharing one of my posts (and for her kind words about my blog). I'm happy to help, Janice, if you need any specific advice or suggestions :)
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  Dr. Rita Oates January 19, 2011 at 8:53am

  Another example of global collaboration between very young (age 5-7) native and non-native English speakers, facilitated through ePals:
  Tammy Sanders
  Auburn Elementary School, Auburn, KS working with schools in Detroit, MI and Paris, France
  Kindergarten Cultures of States and Countries
  See Tammy's project description and video »
  http://www.epals.com/media/p/234537.aspx
  
  See student work » http://www.epals.com/media/g/teachercontest10/tags/Tammy+Sanders/St...
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  Dr. Rita Oates January 19, 2011 at 8:48am

  Thomas Beckett, Hong Kong, and kindergarden-grade 2 students (EFL and others):
  SKH Kei Tak Primary School
  The Adventures of Ming the Minibus
  See Thomas's project description and video »
  http://www.epals.com/media/p/234736.aspx
  
  See student work »
  http://www.epals.com/media/g/teachercontest10/tags/Thomas+Beckett/S...
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  Dr. Rita Oates January 19, 2011 at 8:46am

  See the award-winning collaboration between EFL classes, grades 1-2, from Lebanon with a classroom in Colorado:
  Cheryl Arnett and Rawya Shatila
  Sunset Elementary School and Makassed Khalil Shehab School
  Digital Stories: A Celebration of Learning and Culture
  See Cheryl and Rawya's project description and video » http://www.epals.com/media/p/234620.aspx
  
  See student work » http://www.epals.com/media/p/234531.aspx
  
  These teachers met through ePals and were the North American winners of the Microsoft Innovative Educators Award. They are also ePals Ambassadors.
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  Dr. Rita Oates January 19, 2011 at 8:20am

  Here's the info for today's webinar at 4:15 pm EST (GMT-5), or 10:15 pm (22:15). I'm using VOIP so there is no phone charge to participate.
  
  Please try to sign in 5-10 minutes early to let your computer run through a systems check and to adjust your audio.
  For this call you do NOT need a separate telephone line. You can listen to the webex through your computer’s speakers. If you wish to speak, you will need a microphone or a computer headset. (Or you can type a question into the chat box.)
  
  If you need to change to a different date, please reschedule at: http://epals.101.sgizmo.com
  
  Topic: ePals 101 - Jan. 19 - VOIP (Voice over internet protocol instead of a phone line)
  Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2011
  Time: 4:15 pm, Eastern Standard Time (New York, GMT-05:00)
  (22:15 in Vienna)
  Meeting Number: 737 369 944
  Meeting Password: Jan19
  ---------------------------------
  To join the online meeting
  ---------------------------------
  1. Go to https://epals.webex.com/epals/j.php?ED=141154607&UID=954254517&...
  2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
  3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: Jan19
  4. Click "Join".
  --------------------
  For assistance
  --------------------
  1. Go to https://epals.webex.com/epals/mc
  2. On the left navigation bar, click "Support".
  
  You can contact me at:
  roates@corp.epals.com or cell: 305 788 4302
  
  The playback of UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files requires appropriate players. To view this type of rich media files in the meeting, please check whether you have the players installed on your computer by going to https://epals.webex.com/epals/systemdiagnosis.php
• 

  Bill Mulcahy {Mr.M} January 17, 2011 at 3:18pm

  we received no funding at all here in Australia, even through school structure. Global Gateway funding seems to be for Uk and Europe. I actually funded my trip there but I would do it again. However be prepared for scenes that I had never seen before. My school email is bmulcahy@bne.catholic.edu.au  if you wish to contact me that way.
• 

  Bill Mulcahy {Mr.M} January 17, 2011 at 3:14pm

  Hi Janice

  Yes the connection with the Ugandan School, Ngugulo PS west of Mpigi, UGanda, has been frustrating but also very rewarding. It all developed from social justice that I had been learning with my class. It started with a picture of a child carrying a drum collecting water, which we host a weekend each year at our school, and during the July holidays i looked over Global Gateway and found 5 schools from Uganda. i chose the poorest village school and began communications. The communication is difficult with village school, limited email, but can SMS. I spent 2 weeks at this school in September and helped with some projects. These schools are facing poverty, daily hunger, very limited resources, etc. I found they had perceptions of my school being a 'sponsor' but we have developed a mutual "partnership' relationship. it is developing but has been rewarding. 
• 

  Adrienne January 17, 2011 at 11:39am

  Hi Janice! Thanks for your note and your questions!

  Global collaborations are still quite "new" so I don't think it's possible to say there are best practices yet... teachers are still finding their way around this model of project-based learning; I'd be very surprised if there was a body of research on it yet. Having said that, I know Margaret Riel has done a considerable amount of research on projects hosted at iEARN -- which, incidentally is the team I worked with to put together the Ed.gov site (a bit of a disclaimer there). iEARN (http://www.iearn.org or http://us.iearn.org) has been involved with int'l collaborative projects for 20+ years, so if anyone knows how to do it "properly" I would say they do! They are a nonprofit, but require membership to join many of their projects. However, there are several projects that are free to join, so do check them out. They have a wonderfully supportive network of teachers worldwide, so it's a good place to get your feet wet.

  However, if you don't want to go through an organization like iEARN, I strongly recommend reading Kim Cofino's blog post on a Step by Step Guide to Global Collaborations: http://kimcofino.com/blog/2007/12/20/a-step-by-step-guide-to-global...  

  Kim has been doing these kinds of projects for a while, and has not (to my knowledge) used any specific organization or group to "find" projects other than Nings like this, Twitter, and regular face-to-face conferences. Her post (and others on her blog) is very clear for anyone starting out.

  So, the short answer to your question is, there is no "one stop shop" for finding all you need about these kinds of projects... and I doubt there ever will be, for various good reasons. This Ning, thanks to Lucy Gray, is a great starting place, as are other places I mentioned -- and there are many more I don't have space to mention here!

  The Ed.gov site will hopefully be updated soon - so stay tuned! Good luck!