Using Blended Learning to Promote Global Education

         Blended learning is an opportunity for students to learn the same material that they are being spoon fed in classrooms right now but instead learn it in a very personal way. “Blended learning includes an intentional shift to online instructional delivery for a portion of the day in order to boost learning and productivity (Bailey, et al., 2015, p. 3).” Students are able to using this model work through mastered topics at a faster pace and spend more time working on topics not already mastered (Bailey, et al., 2015).  Since the current generations have embraced technology they will have motivation to learn using the technology (Rubin, 2014). In addition to using the technology to learn the material in their individual classrooms students can reach out to classrooms all over the world to discuss topics, problem solve, as well as collaborate on any project.

            Global learning is about the ability for students to not only learn about cultures from around the globe but also to be able to problem solve, think critically, and collaborate to reach a common solution to a common problem. By having a blended learning community in an individual classroom students are able to begin a project on their own, to brain storm ideas on paper and then reach out to a classroom or student somewhere in a different country or state and work together to discuss the brainstorming as well as then put into action what the students have discussed. Global education opens the doors for students to be working with students from all over the world as well as having in-depth and meaningful discussions from the comfort of their own home. That comfort level will allow students to open up and engage while learning from other students from all over the world

Bailey, J., Duty, L., Ellis , S., Martin, N., Mohammed, S., Owens, D., . . . Wolfe, J. (2015, Summer). Blended Learning Implementation Guide 3.0. Retrieved from Digital Learning Now: http://digitallearningnow.com/site/uploads/2013/09/BLIG-3.0-FINAL.pdf

Rubin, C. (2014, January 23). The Global Search for Education: Got Tech? United States. Retrieved from Huffpost Impact: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/got-tech_b_4159856.html

Tools for Global Communication

            Communicating across the globe is an essential part of working in today’s economy. There are many different ways to aid that communication. There is email, chat, as well as social media sites. There is a different setting for each mode of communication (Alton, 2014). In the world outside of education there are times when you should be emailing with your global counterparts and there are times when using a chat forum is acceptable. In order to learn these appropriate times the classroom needs to have access to these tools. Classrooms need to be able to access emails as well as being taught the language used in different situations. It is also important that students have access to resources that describe how different countries might refer to commonly used terms. Trying to understand the customs of the people you are talking to will help the students learn what it is like to be in the working world that is so globally connected (Alton, 2014). There are many books that are used in the classroom that are available online. Mathematics book companies such as Glencoe offer online resources. The resources can include the ability to connect with a tutor and receive help right there, almost like an IT technology help assistant. In order for these tools and resources to work though there are certain things that a school would need.

            First of all as stated before a school would need the resource of having access to email. A school would then need the resources for students to be on computers and have access to the internet. It comes down to having the infrastructure within the school to support having multiple computers accessing the same software, websites, chat, or emails. Schools also need to have resources in terms of classrooms and other teachers that are acceptable for students to connect with on a regular basis.

Alton, L. (2014, August 28). 7 Best Global Communication Methods for Business.

Web 2.0 Tools

          Web 2.0 tools can be so beneficial to a classroom when integrated effectively. Effective is the key to making technology in a classroom work. Web 2.0 tools are great resources in the classroom but are not the end all to education. As I sit writing this blog I look at the other classes I have taken and the information that I have gathered from them and I am cautious of the fact that integrating technology is not the primary goal but making education more interactive and with real world experiences the priority. There are so many creative ways of bringing in 2.0 tools into the classroom. There are times when I am talking to students about the classes they are taking and the students have actually complained about the amount of technology they are using in the classroom. There has to be a balance between technology and no technology. At times we as teachers will force technology to fit into the lesson we are trying to teach and this damages the educational process and the ability to learn by the students. That is not to say that there are not great uses of web 2.0 tools. 

My district is going to a Google Platform next year which means that we will be doing a lot with Google Classroom. I am excited by this because it provides us with the capability of linking our students to different aspects of the classroom that they may not have accessed easily before. Many students that I work with in my classroom are ADD or ADHD to the point where they will not remember what I said at the beginning of class. Google Classroom allows teachers to add assignments to their classroom. Students could then link their google account to the classroom calendars and have their phone or other technology automatically have the assignments whether homework or long term assignments. This could aide students in their organization skills by showing them how to organize the information. In this instance the technology is aiding the students and that is an important aspect of incorporating technology.