International Connections Overdrive

Yowza, do I feel connected! Yesterday, I spent an hour chatting with my fifth grade class partner in Gaziantep, Turkey. She's young and exuberant, having just visited the U.S. on exchange last year. Her students and ours have been involved in Webconferencing using Windows Live messenger and getting to know one another on a private Ning I have set up for them. Aysun is thrilled that they have taken such ownership over this site already, having posted hundreds of photos, videos, messages and posts in only four days since inception.

Our second grade partners, Susan Souza and Kim Cofino have agreed to host our first Skype Webconference...all the way to Thailand at 8:00 at night. We're putting together a new partnership with our first grade and a classroom in Spain, arranging an environmental studies trip to Belize through the World Leadership School and all the while trying to manage day to day responsibilities of teaching and running a technology department. I'd be exhausted if it wasn't so much fun. My favorite tool right now is something I've blogged about before--the lower quality pocket video camera. The kids are using them for everything. It's the way they document their world now.

A Ning Is Born

As of today, I am a member of a new social network created by the second grade teachers at my school. This private network, on the Ning network, is shared by these two classes and a class of students at an International school in Thailand. I feel like a proud mommy.

To Block or Not to Block

There's a wonderful debate raging among my peers: To Block or Not to Block. My Space, Facebook, Instant Messengers, Personal Email, Club Penguin, Webkinz...they're all under scrutiny. There are those who feel that as technology educators we should be encouraging their use, allowing free access to the site because of their educational value. There are others that block these sites because they're bandwidth hogs. Still, others block the sites because there are too many inherent problems that occur by allowing access. Problems include bullying, posting of inappropriate materials, school and teacher information on the pages, not to mention time spent in class posting when they should be working on a classroom assignment.

Counterpoint: The classroom assignment should be engaging enough that the kids do not feel compelled to post on My Space instead. I think all of these are black and white arguments for a gray issue. First, I'll admit that our school blocks access to these social networking sites. My reasoning is bandwidth related first, but secondarily, because they are just that: social networking sites. I hear your voices screaming, "But they have educational value." I say, no, they do not have inherent educational value other than what we try to artificially introduce. Yes, presidential candidates are posting to My Space. But they're also posting other places besides social networks. It's the beauty of the internet that there are no exclusives. Anything you can find there, you can find somewhere else.

There are alternative sites that use the technology of social networks (Moodle and Ning) without problems associated. In the workworld, a person will never be asked to complete a work assignment on My Space--that's only a tool. The issue is really do they know how to use Web 2.0 tools? If we're teaching them how to use similar tools, and teaching them about the SOCIAL ISSUES raised in places like My Space then I say we're doing our jobs. We do not have give students free access to these sites any more than we have to let them leave their cell phones on all day.

Yeah, I know that's a whole new can of worms...

Sorry for the rantish tone here. I'm done. For today.
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Ed Tech Nomads

Through the Global Education Ning, I met Kim Cofino today and I have to say I am in awe. She embodies global connections, she lives global education. She's got partnerships set up with countries all over the world, and she has already lived practically all over the world. I have to admit, I'm envious. But, instead of stewing I'll allow her seemingly effortless integration of international partnerships inspire me. She's going to be in Thailand next year, teaching at the elementary level. This year's she's in Malaysia teaching middle school. I suppose I'll be the one riding on her coattails as she flies. It's a new spot for me. Check out her blog about successful Skype conferences: http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2007/05/07/4-steps-to-a-skype-tastic-video-conference/

Ninging

This week, through the ISED list-serv, I learned about Ning. It's a social networking site where you can actually create your own social network. You make your OWN My Space. I'm a member of the Global Education ning, and this morning I felt a kind of unexpected freedom associated with this membership that I've never felt with My Space. When I checked my email I had four friend requests and after the initial lurch of protectiveness passed, I realized that the chances of these four potential "friends" being spammers, wanna-be porn stars, or lascivious teenagers were slim. I clicked accept on the first friend box without even hesitating.

Then I clicked and clicked again and now I have four friends. I do not worry that I'll click on their profile and see a photo of him or her butt-forward into the camera. I know that they're a member of this network because they want to discuss global education. I've already got about five ideas for how I can use this with middle school children (a class social network for discussing homework with teachers as members as well), with teachers at my school (issues discussion?), and even schools in other countries with which we're designing collaboration. Freedom. Ahhhh....it's like a loose pair of pants you put on at the end of the day. Wait, does that make Ning my "fat pants?"