I was in sixth grade and sitting at a desk in my language arts
classroom. We had been doing an integrated unit in all our classes about
cultures around the world. We’d been looking at all sorts of places that, at
the time, seemed exotic to me. I had “traveled” all over the world through the
books, articles and stories we read. But that day, sitting at my desk was
special.
I had gotten a letter from my pen pal in Asia.
We exchanged letters a few times throughout the school year.
We learned about each other and what our lives were like. It was one of the
neatest projects I can remember doing in school. (I wish I had saved the
letters!)
Today, those places that seemed so far away and exotic aren’t
really all that distant. Technology has flattened our world and made it possible
for students, no matter where they are, to connect, just as I had through
letters, in ways I never dreamed of when I was in school.
There are many technologies that you could pick up today and
instantly break down the walls of your classroom. But I think there are two
really simple ones that can work in any classroom, whether every student has
their own device or there’s just one computer for everyone.
Blogs
Reading and writing blogs is one of the simplest ways to
connect your students to the world. These spaces are often the places where
students today are discovering that there is a world beyond their own. In a friend’s
classroom, students wait eagerly each morning to see all the dots appear on a
world map that show all the places where people read their classroom blog the
previous day. There is power in those dots! In lower grades, a blog that is
written as a class is a great way to get started. In upper grades, students can
maintain their own spaces. Either way, they get to see that their words do
travel far! Check out Getting Started
With Blogging In The Classroom for ideas.
Skype
It seems that Skype is one of those tools that is talked about
as an afterthought, but it really should play a key role in breaking down
global barriers and connecting your classroom to the world. Skype in the
Classroom has made it so easy for educators to “advertise” their
classrooms and partner with others in countries everywhere. There are also
places to look for experts to bring in virtually. My favorite, Mystery Skype,
brings in a visitor from an unknown location, and using their investigative
skills, students have to guess where they are from.
Whatever tools you use to connect, do something. Students need
to see that their world is much bigger than your classroom and is filled with
possibilities, just like my teachers had showed me by having me write to my
friend in Africa. And today, it’s easier than ever!
What tools are you using to connect your classroom to the
world? Leave your suggestions below.
Disclosure: This post
was written as part of the University of Phoenix Versus Program. I’m a
compensated contributor, but the thoughts and ideas are my own.
