Global Learning

Global Learning
I have become very comfortable with the internet and technology. I think I am very good at incorporating the following standards: “Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity,” and “Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress,” and “Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using,” (http://www.iste.org /Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx). Even though I am feeling very comfortable with technology, there are still a few areas in which I need some more experience.
I am fairly confident in teaching with technology. However, I am not comfortable with branching out to connect with other classrooms. I want to spend some time working on the following National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers goals: “Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools”, and “Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning,” (http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_Teachers_2008_EN.sflb.ashx). I will use the Goal, Action, Monitor and Evaluate (GAME) plan (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009) to further develop my NETS-T goals.
My Goal is to become more globally connected within the teaching community. This will give me confidence and knowledge as I teach my students to do the same. I will be able to successfully model safe global technology standards while teaching. This will allow me to feel freedom in giving up control of my class to allow students to be self directed global learners (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).
My Action will be to connect with another classroom and begin to exchange ideas, etc. with them via snail mail, internet, etc. I will also locate and participate in a global learning community. This will allow me to fully understand global communities and encourage my students to also become global learners (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).
In order to Monitor, I will look at some global communities and evaluate them to decide in which I will participate. I will keep a log of the time I spend and what I learned in each. This will allow me to be able to teach my students how to evaluate their own online experiences and learning as well as to experience this learning myself (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).
Finally, I will Evaluate by reflecting upon the log and what I am learning in the communities I chose. I will be able to decide if I am learning and sharing what I want to learn. It will also provide me with time for reflecting on how to make my experience better. I will then be able to share this process with my students as well (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009).
I could use some help from my colleagues at Walden University. So, if any of you have suggestions to help me get acclimated to global communities, please share your experiences or suggestions. I would love to get involved in epals (http://www.epals.com), but it seems a little overwhelming to me. I have also found a site called Edmodo (http://www.edmodo.com /community/support#). Has anyone connected to epals or edmodo? Does anyone suggest another place to connect?

 
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Edmodo. (2011). http://www.edmodo.com/community/support#
Epals. (2010). http://www.epals.com/
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/NETS_for_ Teachers _2008_EN.sflb.ashx
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program three. Enriching Content Area Learning Experiences With Technology, Part 1. [Webcast]. Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas. Baltimore, MD: Author.