WiziQ & Global Cooperation

After exploring the WiziQ site http://www.wiziq.com/ I strongly believe that this tool could be used for any type of global cooperation project. The site offers virtual classes and tons of other unique possibilities. It encourages people to record and videotape themselves so they can share and learn information from other interesting people, such as teachers, professionals or even their own peers. I think that students could use such site to have group presentations regarding important topics that can motivate them and give them the opportunity to discuss and share their thoughts with their classmates and even with other students from around the world. An idea that comes to mind would be asking a group of students from different classes to share a little bit about themselves and their culture and then sending that video-clip around the world to another class. Students from all over the world could exchange ideas, information, discuss other exciting topics and promote cultural awareness.

Global Cooperation Programs

The two global cooperation programs that I explored were The Global Schoolhouse and Epals. Both of these sited offered a tremendous wide variety of activities that can helps 21st century students around the world get connected and experience meaningful learning activities, as well as develop multi-cultural understanding. The purpose of Global Schoolhouse was to prepare students to become productive learners and offer students and teachers the chance to be a part of project-based learning opportunities. In which students can explore a diverse range of cultural topics and subject areas. Their main goal is to "help teachers understand how to use the internet to support education and collaborative learning around the nation." Epals is also a safe and productive site which offers students of all ages and from all over the world the opportunity to work together. "It has been specifically designed for primary-secondary use and it’s based on the latest research for effective internet-based learning." The purpose of this site is to offer authentic learning experiences and pedagogical approaches in which people can learn to understand real world concepts. What I loved so much about this site was the fact that it promotes computer communication tools, cross cultural learning, class projects, and the chance to interact with other students worldwide. Since I am a Spanish teacher I believe I could make good use of this tool in my classes. For example I would love it if my students could interact with other Spanish speaking students from Spain or South America and discuss how they feel about learning a new language or a new culture. Perhaps they could discuss important traditions or other important global issues which may be affecting them or will affect future generations. I think it’s a great idea to give our students the opportunity to connect to other students or teachers globally and together experience the power of "collaborative learning!"
Check them out…

http://www.globalschoolnet.org//index.html & http://www.epals.com/

Using videos in the classroom.

One of the videos that really grabbed my attention was the Microsoft Word Spanish Tutorial. This video demonstrated how students could write a Spanish paper using Microsoft word. It shows what steps you need to make to insert certain letters, accent marks and up-side down punctuation. What I really liked about this site was the fact that the instructions were very clear and it showed viewers step by step what to do. As a Spanish teacher I constantly get students coming up to me asking me how to spell check their Spanish papers on Microsoft Word or how to add accents marks. Therefore I would absolutely suggest to my students to take a look at this tutorial which I believe could be really helpful to my Spanish students.... Check it out!!

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=408103e13533e4a5b6bd