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Beyond the Classroom

Last updated over 3 years ago
7 questions
Note from the author:
Beyond the Classroom - Professional Development activity discussing how communication and collaboration promotes social and global interactions in the classroom.
Promoting Global Teamwork and Collaboraton...

Technology promotes communication and collaboration in the classroom and beyond. Today’s teacher needs to be a forward-thinker, using technology to bolster collaboration and project development with classrooms across the globe (Jackson, 2013). Rather than using the Internet for simply finding and gathering information, educators should move from the center of the classroom and replace the control with students and their global network to help learn from one another (Jackson, 2013).

Click here to read "How Technology Can Encourage Student Collaboration"
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Global collaboration develops communication skills that will go beyond the classroom.

Communication skills necessary to be a productive global citizen:
By applying a global lens to instruction, teachers can build global competencies in their students. The competencies to consider are self-awareness, respect for differences, sense of global connection, curiosity, flexibility, effective and appropriate communication, analytical and critical thinking, empathy, understanding of global issues, and intercultural knowledge (Participate Learning, 2022). Educators should take stock in these competencies, ensuring to model them in the classroom.

Click here to read more about Global Competencies.
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What do you feel are the two most important competencies to teach to aid your students in becoming global digital citizens?

Communication & Collaboration Tools...

To learn to collaborate on a global level, students must be provided the appropriate tools to allow for student interaction. Consider using the following tools:

Flipgrid ~ This video tool encourages discussion and student engagement by allowing students to share ideas in a hands-on way that can be much more appealing than the more traditional "written response" (Martino, n.d.). Pros: promotes engagement, ease of use (Nieves, 2020). Cons: Language barriar

Click here to learn new ways to use Flipgrid.
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How can you incorporate Flipgrid in your classroom?

Communication & Collaboration Tools...

VideoAnt is a tool that can be used to annotate YouTube videos. With this tool, teachers and students alike can annotate videos for maximum learning (Martino, n.d.). Students can flex their digital citizenship muscles by pointing out bias, asking clarifying questions, and sharing ideas with this tool. Pros: Using video clips allows additional or experts in other content areas to provide perspectives to your course content virtually. Cons: Like any new tool, there is a learning curve; this tool, and tools like it, might require licensing fees per student (Vanderbilt University, 2022).

Click here to learn more about VideoAnt.
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Yes or no? Can you see yourself using this tool?

Communication & Collaboration Tools...

To interact with peers all over the world, students can use ePALS. This tool allows students to collaborate on projects globally. Students can also use this tool to enhance communication skills by becoming pen pals with their global counterparts. This tool provides a platform for students to learn more about geography and cultures other than their own (Jackson, 2013). Pros: Could be used to enhance foreign language classes by practicing writing in another language; ideal for interactive lessons/learning. Cons: It might be challenging for educators to establish common lesson plans and goals with a collaborating classroom (Common Sense Education, 2017).

Click here to learn more about ePALS.
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How likely are you to use this tool in your classroom?

Activities that Promote Collaboraton and Communication Skills:

Project-Based Learaning (PBL) - Choose a project your students and their global counterparts can collaborate on. For example, have all students read the same book, then create a discussion forum for it. Collaboration builds listening skills as students must listen to their peers before speaking and teaches the importance of sharing ideas rather than blurting out one's own (Buckler, 2019). Collaboration on a project offers opportuntiues for succeeding with others and also holding others accountable; both necessary life skills (Buckler, 2019).
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Do you currently use PBL in your classroom?

Activities that Promote Collaboraton and Communication Skills:

Virtual Field Trip - Students in your classroom can plan a field trip to the country of their choice as their global peers prepare to visit your classroom. Students can prepare questions to ask each other, review geography, discuss local favorite foods, etc., (Press Books, n.d.).
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How do you foster communication and collaboration in your classroom?