Course Title: Easy Web 2.0 Tools for Global Partnerships

Presenter: Liz Stevenson
Te Rā: - Wednesday Feb 24th 2010
Te: - Learning@School Rotorua
Key Points:

Where to start with web 2 tools?
A local action inquiry project

Share project on globalcommunities.nz

Communicate with others globally

Collaborate
Ie. Inspire→Inform→Involve
Focus is social networking for social good.

  • Taking ITGlobal website helps to identify possible new student initiated projects eg a review of school waste
  • Why make global connections?
    • An example of a solution found through collaboration is invasive water hyacinth in Kenya now used for woven furniture and exported across the world. – this could be a motivator to research a use of lake weed in NZ
    • Maori medicine and use of herbs and plants as therapies (phytotherapy) can stimulate critical thinking re drug use and drug company advertising
  • Why is now a good moment?
    • Caring for people & environment is “in” eg TV ads, ‘Sign On’ etc
    • Learning in schools can become an activity bringing together the whole community
    • Faster internet becoming more available










Relevance to teachers:
Other students work is a big motivator
Useful list of websites to visit - see below
Weebly website achievable in primary schools
Resources and links:
· ‘Being Part of Global Communities’ (MOE Social studies resource)
· Youtube clip of Twin Streams Project Waitakere
· Kamo High School work on Marine Reserves
· Regional Councils
· “Good” magazine
· Guide to Action can be downloaded from Taking ITGlobal: http://tigweb.org Search under Global Issues. Right hand side gives examples of currernt projects. More suitable to High School.
· iEARN: http://iearn.org/
· ePals: http://www.epals.com/
· GlobalCommunities nz http://www.globalcommunitiesnz.com/ (this is an experimental site - NZ based)
· Weebly websites: http://weebly.com/
· Wikispaces: http://www.wikispaces.com

Summary:
Real or virtual travel experiences do not necessarily align to curriculum areas KCs or values but they touch the emotions.
Global connections can stimulate student initiated projects and critical thinking.
Strategies / Suggestions to implement into the classroom:

Set up a class web site eg Weebly
Use other students work that is published on the internet to engage and stimulate critical thinking