Journal #2 NETS-T 4

Summary:  In the article, Learning Without Borders, Sue Anderson talks about the development and trial of a new virtual international classroom.  The program, Schoolwires Greenleaf, has come up with a way to have pair students in different countries with each other and gives them the opportunity to work together as an international educational collaboration between students.  Two schools, one in China and one in the U.S., teamed up to help develop and test this new piece of technology.  Although there were some cultural differences and misunderstandings, the students were able to develop a sense of cultural awareness through the online collaborations.  This program helps solidify the goals of the NETS-T 4 standard, because it “develop(s) and model(s) cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools” (ISTE).  This program also meets the standard because it promotes online safety and teaches students how to properly interact with people of other cultures.

Question #1:  How can I use a program like Schoolwires Greenleaf in my curriculum?

Answer: I believe that like the teachers in the article, I too could try to connect with a teacher or school from another country to try and set up a virtual international classroom.  I will have my students research the geography, culture, and practices of the country that the students will be working with.  This assignment can overlap and correlate to assignments in English, geography, and history.

Question #2: What are some of the benefits of having students and teachers collaborating virtually with a web based program?

Answer: I believe that for most of America’s history, we as a country have separated ourselves from other cultures and countries.  This online connection between students from other countries can establish cultural understanding, multicultural awareness, and global awareness.  I believe that this can also help students with their collaboration skills, problem solving, and project-based learning.

Works Cited

Anderson, S. (2012). Feature: Learning without borders. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-leading/l-l-december-january-2012-13/feature-learning-without-borders

International society for technology in education. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers