Exploring Teaching And Learning

Chapter Pack

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Global Classroom

1. A blended model of online and district courses can be found in several states. What is the advantage for a district to offer online courses? What is the challenge for teachers who teach online courses? What is the challenge for students who take online courses?

2. In Friedman’s (2006) work “The World Is Flat,” the author explores the concept of “globalization.” Why is globalization important to learning? What is the connector for learning in the “flat world?” What role does “global competence” play in developing skills for the future?

3. Chapter 8 highlights a statement from Thomas Friedman (2006), “…You can’t light the fire of passion in someone else if it does not burn in you to begin with.” What does this statement mean for a teacher? For the student?

4. How are learning and engagement needs enhanced by using digital learning games? What psychological needs do such games enhance? What games might you incorporate into your classroom one day, and why?

5. According to Chapter 8, the three Cs “connectivity, communication, and collaboration” have replaced the “reading, writing, and arithmetic” of the 20th century. Explain what the three Cs mean for teachers and for students. How would you implement these three Cs in your own classroom?

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Making Space

The National Education Association (NEA) article Understanding Universal Design in the Classroom summarizes how universal design as a classroom experience is important to the development of learning collaboratively. After reading this article, prepare a schematic drawing of your classroom of the future. Place the names of equipment and other necessities within your drawing.

(You can do a computer based drawing or you can upload a picture of your rough sketch. If uploading a picture to Brightspace please indicate that below. *No grading based upon artistic ability/lack of.)

Sketch:

After sketching your ideal classroom, answer the following questions:

• What role does technology play in my classroom?

• How will I encourage students to take responsibility for their learning?

• How will I include the local community to be a part of my classroom?

• How will I reflect globalization as an important part of my classroom?

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Leveling Up With Technology

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a community of global educators who believe in the power of technology to transform learning. Take a closer look at the standards for students and teachers (see: ISTE Standards). Answer the following questions:

· What are ISTE standards used for?

· How many sets of standards does ISTE promote?

· What are the “essential conditions?”

· How does a teacher gain permission to use the standards?

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