Christina’s GLP

Who?

High School age ELA  or Social Studies students can participate in this project since my students are currently at that level. They must know how to use Web 2.0 sites such as Google Drive and YouTube. They must be familiar with internet safety in sharing information through messaging and emails. Teachers will need to have access for their students to use computers on a weekly basis and help them navigate through Web 2.0 social based sites.

My students are current 9th and 10th grade ELA students with access to lap tops in my classroom. I currently teach at Edgewood High School in West Covina Unified.

Students: Have you ever wondered what kids your age are into around other schools in the area? In the country? Across the world?  This Global Learning Project targets high school students who want to share all the great trends they are listening to, saying, wearing, eating, reading, and looking at on their smart phones! Have you ever wanted to give advice to future high school students by letting them know the ins and outs of what to do and what not to do? If you want to learn more about trends you may not even know about, or what will hit your town soon, then this GLP is for you!

Teachers: Have you ever wished your kids would be more exposed to what is going on all over the world? Have you ever wished they would know what it is like to get out of their own bubble? This website promotes students to learn and grow from each other, while exposing them to trends, books, and music they might not never have heard before.

A GLP is a Global Learning Project that allows students from all over the world to communicate through the World Wide Web. My GLP will allow other students to share trends in their classroom, build a Time Capsule of their school year, and learn and reflect on their own interests in comparison to the interests of students their age across the globe. In order to participate, students must be willing to share what they already love in music, books, technology, fashion, etc. Students must have access to the internet at least once a week in order to keep up with posts and leave feedback for others. Students must be familiar with their district’s internet safety policy.

When and  Where?

GLP will begin January or the onslaught of 2nd semester  and go until the end of May, when students will complete the project reflection piece.

It can be implemented anywhere in the world where high school age students have access to post on the internet and a Google Translator if needed. This project encompasses many valuable lessons:
·         It allows students to share what is important to them so that other students can learn about cultures all over the world for kids their age.
·         It also builds bridges across cultures to learn to appreciate new concepts and ideas in the world they might not have come in contact with.
·         It expands their point of view to what is important in music, books, fashion and pop culture across the globe.
·         It allows students to grow and learn from each other using blogs while sharing about themselves.
·         It creates a space for students to look back one day and remember what was “cool” that year.

Why?

In the first five years of my teaching I have taught in four different cities and four different school districts in Southern California. While the students were around the same ages and ethnic backgrounds, their views on pop culture and what is trending at the school in fashion, music, and even food are completely different. This fascinates me. I always wondered what it would be like if I could bring those kids together and have them discuss why they are so similar, yet different. I want to open up a place in  a virtual forum for students to share cool trends with each other in food, music, web sites, Iphone apps, etc. across the globe so students can grow and connect with each other on the trends they discuss everyday with their friends. Then, I want them to comment on each other’s posts like they do on Facebook, and maybe find friends they would never otherwise meet.

These are important ideas for students to think about as they become adjust to the Common Core standards and  eventually will be competing globally for jobs instead of just domestically. This helps students learn appreciation for other cultures and helps them capture this year in their life so they can reflect on how they grew and how their interests have changed or remained the same after this experience.

How?

Students will communicate through one or more social networking sites. They will work together in groups to agree to share one post per group per week. They will keep track of growth reflections through a blog that can be shared with their classmates in their own school site and share this with Google Drive, etc. They can get support from tutorials on using social networking sites and consulting their district internet safety policy. They will have access to the classroom laptops on a weekly basis for project use time. Although my school is an International Business school, no one yet has participated in global learning projects. This will help my students, who are lower classmen, feel as though they are a part of an international program as well. They can watch video tutorials which will be posted on the GLP to get help on how to use the technology.  (although most of my students are proficient in using social networking to post messages, blogs, etc.)