Another point that Reed makes early on in her article is that "with the increased focus on outsourcing and global competition, students must be prepared to compete and succeed by using creativity and ingenuity, and they must be able to work with people from all parts of the world" (2007). As I have grown into an adult and spent time in the working world, I can see clearly just how true this is. In our current economy, which we can only hope will improve by the time our current students enter the workforce, job opportunities are scarce and extremely competitive. Today's students, who are tomorrow's workers and professionals, need to be prepared for an agressive job market with skills such as creativity, problem-solving abilities, and superior interpersonal communication skills. Learning a second or third language in school would be a huge benefit, as many companies deal with customers and contractors in other countries. Also, by embracing creativity in the classroom, educators can help encourage students to "think outside the box" and seek new solutions to problems that could someday present themselves in the working world.
Reed concluded her article with multiple examples of ways to incorporate digital media in the classroom in order to develop global-mindedness and the Respectful and Ethical Mind. I currently use email and a form of video conferencing with my students, since I teach in the cyber setting. I host online meetings where my students and I are able to communicate through microphones and webcams. Students are encourage to collaborate with classmates through our closed webmail system and to keep in close contact with their teachers, as well. Finally, I have also used digital storytelling in my 6th grade classroom by asking students to create their own digital storybooks in lieu of a traditional book report or essay/paper. The students love the technology aspect of those assignments, and I appreciate that students can express just as much, if not more, information in a more interesting format.
There are two other digital media tools Reed discussed that I would like to try to implement in my classroom this upcoming school year. My co-teacher and I have discussed asking the students to create podcasts as part of a new semester-long PBL experience we have designed. Students will be creating their own food product, packaging, nutrition labels, and marketing campaign. We plan to have students who live locally present their finish project in person, and ask the students unable to attend in person to create some kind of recorded presentation that could be shared. A podcast would be an innovative way to have students display images and information along with their oral presentation. Not only would it solve our problem of not having the students physically present, but it would also help students to develop experience and confidence in using another technology tool.
The other tool I would love to use in my classroom is a wiki. If my co-teacher and I can get approval to use wikis for our students, this could be a great way to encourage collaborative learning and working. Working as a team is so vital during the school years, as students will grow into adults who must work closely on a team with other adults in the workplace. In the cyber school setting, it can be a challenge to create opportunities for meaningful collaborative work; however, I think we've hit a potential goldmine with wikis. Students can work together to create something special while developing their confidence in creating, synthesizing their research, and developing valuable global technology skills.
Reed, J. (2007, September 28). Global collaboration and learning: How to create a world of success without leaving your classroom. EdTech, Retrieved from http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2007/09/global-collaboration-and-learning
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