Yep, we’re still at it. Talking about global education, that is. In case you’ve been busy doing things like wrapping up your academic year, we’ve been looking at a number of different topics on global education this month. Today, we’re bringing you another tool that helps get students connected to others around the globe. We think this site offers a great host of resources to get you started and keep you going on keeping your classroom globally relevant and connected.
Global School Net is a group that offers a wide variety of services and programs. From their site, they offer:
- Producing interactive, collaborative content and tools that are web-based or on CD-ROM.
- Consulting services to schools, universities, businesses and government organizations.
- Providing professional development and training materials focused on successful implementation of collaborative learning.
- Providing conference keynote presentations and workshops for public and private school districts in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America, and throughout the United States that excite, inform and inspire!
But we think the better stuff is in the programs they offer. We’re including all of the programs listed on their website below, but I think I’m tagging the International Cyber Fair as my favorite! Check them out below, and click on the links (back to their site) to learn more about each program.
Doors to Diplomacy
The U. S. Department of State sponsors the “Doors to Diplomacy” educational challenge to encourage middle school and high school students around the world to produce web projects that teach others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. Each winning student team member receives a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches’ schools each receive a $500 cash award.
International CyberFair
International Schools CyberFair is an award-winning authentic learning program used by schools and youth organizations around the world. Based on the concept of the World’s Fair youth create virtual exhibits that showcase their community. They conduct research and publish their findings on the Web. Recognition is given to the best projects in each of eight categories. This White House-endorsed program encourages youth to become community ambassadors by working collaboratively and using technology to share what they have learned. Students evaluate each other’s projects by using a unique online evaluation tool. CyberFair has been running annually since 1995 and has been described as the largest educational event of its kind ever held on the Internet. This program brings together more than 2.5 million students across 115 countries. In partnership with the World Future Society, students are encouraged to prepare for the future – by thinking about the possible future, the probable future, the preferable future and the preventable future. Projects that best illustrate “future thinking” are invited to the World Future Society international conference in July.
Online Expeditions
Thanks to the Internet you can have incredible adventures in exotic locales without spending a dime or leaving the room. Whether explorers travel the Silk Road of China or climb Mt. Everest, learning becomes an unforgettable adventure as students join thrilling, real-time expeditions to remote and fascinating locations. Observe daily progress and read field dispatches. Best of all, interact with real world adventurers through intriguing dialogue as they re-enact history—or even make history! Online expeditions can be a blast!
GeoGame (Geography)
GeoGame helps students learn geographic terms, how to read and interpret maps, and increases awareness of cultural diversity. Global SchoolNet has supported GeoGame since 1991 with sessions offered in the Fall, Winter and Spring of each school year.
Newsday (Journalism)
Have your students ever created a newspaper of their own? Would they like to? In the Newsday Project, your students will write articles and post them for the whole world to see! Then they will read and choose articles from other schools to download and include in their own newspaper! Your students’ reading and writing skills will improve while they learn about current local, national, and global issues. Give your students the opportunity to excel in a new and interesting way by registering for Newsday!
Letters to Santa
Around the world, Santa Claus plays an important role in a multitude of cultures. In the United States, he has become a true American folk icon. When you register for this project, we match you up with a partner classroom with which your students exchange their “Santa Letters:” Younger students write letters “to” Santa; Older students impersonate Santa and send their carefully crafted replies. This was the very first project conducted in 1985 on our pioneering FrEdMail Network (using Apple IIe and 300 baud modems) and it continues to be an annual favorite.
GSN Teacher Awards
(NOTE: This award program is currently in hiatus.)
The program recognizes current classroom teachers, media specialists, or other school-based educators who have distinguished themselves in the area of Online Shared Learning. You can learn more about the incredible projects from all the past winners.