Global Learning

Leadership for Global Leaning

http://www.teachingtimes.com/articles/leadership-global.htm

This article mentions a few topics about Global Learning. It defines what Global Learning is and what the impact is on the students. It is important for educators to know what Global Learning can bring to the class to help the students learn about different cultures.

Section 1: What is Global Learning and Why is it Important?

This section mentions what global learning is. Global learning is exploring the interconnections between people and places around the world. Global learning can help teach students about different cultures and provide them with a visual.

Global Learning is important because it can offer a source of inspiration for teachers and students alike. It is crucial that teachers are inspired so the students can be inspired to learn. Without inspiring or engaging the students, it is going to be tough to instruct the students. "DEA research shows that 80% of teachers feel that thinking about how teaching contributes to making the world a better place motivates them to stay in teaching." Global learning can be a way to ensure that both the teachers and students make a difference in the world.

This article includes some research of what teachers think and how they feel when teaching students about the world. "The same research also showed that 94% of teachers feel that “schools should prepare pupils to deal with a fast-changing and globalized world” yet a third of teachers disagree that the current school system does this."

A takeaway that is important to look at is "Responding to this challenge has implications for three elements of leadership: vision, context and culture. This article looks at each of these in turn then provides pointers for further support for school leaders." Teachers need to include the elements of leadership to show students that it is important to learn and pass on to future generations.

Section 2: What is the Impact of Global Learning?

This article does mention what the impact of global learning is. The article stated, "Global learning has an impact on pupils’ learning and attitudes." The impact on the students will help the students understand what is happening in the world and how to communicate to other people around the world.

It is important that the students are impacted because it will help them later in life. Teachers need to help students understand that they will benefit from global learning because they will use it for the rest of their lives.  

For example, a 2008 Ipsos MORI research with 11-16 year olds found that “global learning has an impact: those who have experienced global learning in school are keen to understand more about the problems in the world, as well as being more likely than average to believe that what they do in their daily lives can affect those in other countries and that people like them have the ability to make a difference. These more informed pupils also appear to be more open to people of different backgrounds than those who have not experienced global learning in school, and more likely than average to say that they try to do things to make the world a better place.”

A takeaway is that those who have experienced global learning in school are keen to understand more about the problems in the world. The reason why this line is important is because students will be able to identify what is happening in the world and they will be able to make a difference. The point of being a teacher is to make a difference. Just imagine if a student's life was impacted because of a teacher, think of how many other people may be impacted.  

Wearable technology in the classroom: what's available and what does it do?

https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/jul/28/wearable-technology-classroom-virtual-reality

Section 1:
This article briefly talked about Expeditions. Teachers are using Expeditions, which is a new classroom initiative unveiled by Google in May, 2015. The children used a virtual reality headset to be transported to east China. The article also mentioned that the headset was "literally a folded piece of cardboard with lenses attached – turns a smartphone into a VR viewer". Virtual reality is a great way to have students 'visit' different sites without leaving the classroom. "More than 100 classes have already used it to transport students to places such as Verona in Italy to study Romeo and Juliet and California to explore a coral reef." This is a great way for students to explore different places.

The reason why it is important to look at virtual reality is because this could be a new learning and teaching method that is used in the classroom. Students will be able to see what different cultures celebrate, different foods, etc. Why virtual reality matters is because it could be the next big trend that hits the classroom!

 There has been research that says students are more in engaged with their learning. For example, “The creativity we have seen from teachers, and the engagement from students, has been incredible,” says Google’s Ben Schrom, product manager for Expeditions. The VR head set will help students engage in the topic, which is a struggle for most teachers. This is a great tool that can be used in the classroom.

A takeaway that I came across was that students are more engaged. In most classrooms, engaging the students is difficult task. I think that VR is a great way to keep the students engaged in a topic, but the headset would not be used everyday because it could be a distraction to many of the students. When the students are able to use this tools, they will able to view other countries without leaving the room.

Section 2:

This article also touched on VR wearables and how they are still not a popular tool. The wearables still need to be broken into the costumer market. "VR headsets won’t be available until 2016 – so understanding how they can have an impact in the classroom will take time." Since the headsets were not available, it is hard to say if the VR devices are a great teaching and learning strategy. Some people like the idea of VR devices in the classroom, while others think that it is a distraction from learning. The inventors of the VR devices believe that there is little standing in the way of teachers using these in the classroom.

It is important to make sure that the students are not distracted from their school work. It matters because teachers cannot have students just look at pictures and not be able to explain what they are seeing. There is content behind what they are seeing and without the teacher teaching the content, the students will not learn as much as they should.

There is research that technology can be a distraction. “I do think technology can sometimes be a distraction to learning and I’ve yet to see any real value in wearable technology in school,” says David Andrews, educational consultant and director of Mr. Andrews Online. “I can see real value in Google Expeditions, although I would like to see it in action first. It could potentially be a stimulus for learning, promoting spoken language, leading on to creative writing projects in lots of different subjects — geography, history, science and so on.”  There is a value in VR, but there will be challenges that need to be overcome in the classroom.

A takeaway is that VR technology is a useful tool to study different cultures, but it could be a distraction in the class. Students need to focus on their work, while they find more resources that contain more information. There is a value in VR, but teachers need to make sure that it is used properly, which is to promote student learning.