innovative educators' express webinar series presents:

With social networking tools and peer-to-peer interaction forming the basis for much of young people’s online activity, educators have an opportunity to embrace these technologies’ ability to support student-centered learning and leadership. New approaches to student inquiry and expression through digital media spaces have expanded the possibilities for students to learn with and from each other, anywhere in the world. Focusing on TakingITGlobal’s online community of global youth leaders and its suite of tools for educators, this presentation will share strategies for implementing technology to integrate global issues across the curriculum. Attendees will learn how virtual classroom communities are empowering students to drive their own individual and collaborative learning, and how blogs, podcasts, games, and digital image galleries promote student engagement, expression, and action on today’s most pressing global issues.

We will highlight how participation in an online community can impact student understanding of global issues and motivation to take action. Attendees will learn about the innovative uses of TakingITGlobal’s tools at the new School of the Future in Philadelphia, where learners engaged in year-long inquiry and action-research through TakingITGlobal. We will also share examples of standards-based curricula on issues such as global poverty, HIV/AIDS, and tobacco, that are effectively using online technology to engage learning communities around the world in interactive, meaningful ways. Based on specific examples of how students’ perspectives have changed as a result of their involvement with TakingITGlobal, participants will understand not only why online global education is important, but how to go about introducing these strategies into their local context.

Examples of schools and districts that are dedicated to technology-rich global learning will offer strategies for developing engaging online cross-cultural collaborations that foster student-driven development of 21st century skills. Participants will leave the session with concrete knowledge on how they can bring TakingITGlobal and its exciting community and content to their classrooms and schools.