Fostering Cultural Change with Information, Communication and Technology;
Cultural change can be greatly influenced by transmitting of information through communication with the use of technology in this knowledge economy of the 21st century we have many tools to facilitate positive cultural change through human interactions.The world is a lot more accessible with the use of video Google hangouts; Skype calls; Facetime and Messenger to interact individually and as a group to became more open minded and aware of how other people live differently then their own family by personally communicating with and seeing them thereby creating a cross cultural relationship. This creates more empathy and understanding of different cultural views and beliefs therefore attempting to create a culture of respect even if you don't believe the same way. Generally humans are afraid of what they don't understand so technology tools help to break that barrier because we can view and comment on events from all over the world instantly on Utube; Twitter and news feeds on our smartphones.
Cultural change is happening with the use of online tutoring with the use of technology which connects tutor and student in a learning relationship that can be across the globe for example connecting a family in China with a tutor in Canada. ELL students in particular benefit from technology with the use of video recording and graphics such as in Buncee where the child can see and hear English speech with pictures to reinforce the learning and have the words translated below in their language. This cross cultural exchange creates understanding and connections across the globe.
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| Pexels Pictures;Understanding life in a different culture |
Teachers can search out Skype interviews with Skype in the Classroom to connect with children in a classroom who have a different way of living then there own to become aware of contrasting perspectives and possibly help problem solve together. Check out;Finding Skype Guest speakers for the classroom. Classrooms can then exchange email letters and use Vimeo to upload and share videos with each other to share with their global classroom;.
A really useful list of multi cultural /diversity resources I found here and bookmarked for future use because its a thorough list from apps; book lists and recent projects such as following a twitter feed #WeNeedDiverseBooks. Check out;New Media Resources;Multi-Cultural apps and Digital Resources for Diversity for this multi cultural list .CommonsenseMedia was mentioned a lot in this list and they have reviewed cultural digital apps; books and games at Common Sense Cultural Appreciation Reviews.
Everfi has an African American course that would be especially helpful to address race relations with high school students.Everfi African American course.
On my twitter feed I received an EdTech e-newsletter with a resource from Commonsense Media on developing empathy with digital tools. Empathy is being able to perceive and use perspective taking on how others feel is a step in understanding and creating cultural change.
For example; making a digital presentation(imovie; Buncee etc;) on how it looks and feels to be bullied for looking or acting differently (racially or otherwise) I like the tip to turn empathy into action with sharing their work with an authentic audience. For example; creating a e book using the bookcreator app with the help of a child with a disability and what their live is like; using their voices and pictures with permission. Share the book with other classes. Bring a veteran or a person who has immigrated from a culturally different country such as Sudan in to talk or use Skype; research background information and use the personal connection to create a Buncee presentation and share it! For the full tips click on Turning Student's empathy into action with digital tools.
I checked out the Casel organization resource listed online; Casel organization;collaborative for academic,social and emotional learning; this was helpful list of social and emotional learning.(SEL) that included books; downloadable guides and tools;research projects and videos for elementary and high school levels social and emotional learning.
I think Cultural change starts with me so when I was packing I came across the book;Who Moved My Cheese and it occurred to me that this book about the process of change was timely in my journey with accepting that the skills needs for 21st learning has changed so I made the choice to adapt to change so I can teach best to the digital citizens of the 21st century. In the Who Moved My Cheese Book the last step is especially important to me which is to: Be Ready to Change Again and Again. The learning curve of the 21st century is a constantly adapting and changing as new technology apps come and go and/ or modified and as Teacher Librarians we are the gatekeepers to review; curate and categorize for students and teachers so they can access the best uses for meaningful higher order thinking and creativity.
A really useful list of multi cultural /diversity resources I found here and bookmarked for future use because its a thorough list from apps; book lists and recent projects such as following a twitter feed #WeNeedDiverseBooks. Check out;New Media Resources;Multi-Cultural apps and Digital Resources for Diversity for this multi cultural list .CommonsenseMedia was mentioned a lot in this list and they have reviewed cultural digital apps; books and games at Common Sense Cultural Appreciation Reviews.
Everfi has an African American course that would be especially helpful to address race relations with high school students.Everfi African American course.
On my twitter feed I received an EdTech e-newsletter with a resource from Commonsense Media on developing empathy with digital tools. Empathy is being able to perceive and use perspective taking on how others feel is a step in understanding and creating cultural change.
For example; making a digital presentation(imovie; Buncee etc;) on how it looks and feels to be bullied for looking or acting differently (racially or otherwise) I like the tip to turn empathy into action with sharing their work with an authentic audience. For example; creating a e book using the bookcreator app with the help of a child with a disability and what their live is like; using their voices and pictures with permission. Share the book with other classes. Bring a veteran or a person who has immigrated from a culturally different country such as Sudan in to talk or use Skype; research background information and use the personal connection to create a Buncee presentation and share it! For the full tips click on Turning Student's empathy into action with digital tools.
I checked out the Casel organization resource listed online; Casel organization;collaborative for academic,social and emotional learning; this was helpful list of social and emotional learning.(SEL) that included books; downloadable guides and tools;research projects and videos for elementary and high school levels social and emotional learning.
I think Cultural change starts with me so when I was packing I came across the book;Who Moved My Cheese and it occurred to me that this book about the process of change was timely in my journey with accepting that the skills needs for 21st learning has changed so I made the choice to adapt to change so I can teach best to the digital citizens of the 21st century. In the Who Moved My Cheese Book the last step is especially important to me which is to: Be Ready to Change Again and Again. The learning curve of the 21st century is a constantly adapting and changing as new technology apps come and go and/ or modified and as Teacher Librarians we are the gatekeepers to review; curate and categorize for students and teachers so they can access the best uses for meaningful higher order thinking and creativity.
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| Steps of Change ;Who Moved My Cheese Book |
Resources:
Author, A., MD, A. and Fame, A. (2017). Spencer Johnson, MD - Bestselling Author – Small, Invaluable Books That Help Millions Of People Around The World. [online] Whomovedmycheese.com. Available at: http://www.whomovedmycheese.com [Accessed 11 Oct. 2017].
EVERFI. (2017). 306 – African-American History™ - EVERFI. [online] Available at: https://everfi.com/k-12/306-2/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2017].
Commonsensemedia.org. (2017). Cultural Appreciation Apps, Games, and Websites. [online] Available at: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/cultural-appreciation-games [Accessed 12 Oct. 2017].
Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: http://www.flls.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/New-Media-Resources-Multicultural.pdf [Accessed 12 Oct. 2017].
Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: https://d1e2bohyu2u2w9.cloudfront.net/education/sites/default/files/tlr-asset/sel-cheat-sheet-pdf.pdf [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017]. Education.microsoft.com. (2017).
Find guest speakers - Microsoft in Education. [online] Available at: https://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/find-guest-speakers [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
Buncee Blog. (2017). Meeting the Needs of Language Learners. [online] Available at: https://www.buncee.com/blog/edubuncee-for-meeting-the-needs-of-english-language-learners/ [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: http://www.flls.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/New-Media-Resources-Multicultural.pdf [Accessed 12 Oct. 2017].
Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: https://d1e2bohyu2u2w9.cloudfront.net/education/sites/default/files/tlr-asset/sel-cheat-sheet-pdf.pdf [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017]. Education.microsoft.com. (2017).
Find guest speakers - Microsoft in Education. [online] Available at: https://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/find-guest-speakers [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
Buncee Blog. (2017). Meeting the Needs of Language Learners. [online] Available at: https://www.buncee.com/blog/edubuncee-for-meeting-the-needs-of-english-language-learners/ [Accessed 13 Oct. 2017].
A really good overall sentiment, to be ready for change again and again is a good way to describe our new educational reality. Our world is in flux after a long time of slow growth. We are expected to be flexible and to provide leadership during this exciting dynamic time and you have outlined many good strategies and ideas for maintaining balance, awareness, cultural empathy and to provide support and perspective to help adjust. Good references, links, labels and media.
ReplyDeleteLots of great websites that I can add to my teaching toolkit. I especially like Buncee and commonsensemedia.org. I had not heard of either one of these sites. Buncee would be a great learning support for my ELL students. I especially like the commonsensemedia site with the SIM book Mission US: Flight to Freedom. This is very interactive and I think my students would not only be engaged by it but they could also relate to the theme in this book as well as other books offered on this site. I have a few students whom are recent immigrants from politically unstable countries. Culturally sensitive books can be a great hook to engage then in learning. I also like Casel as a resource for social emotional learning and 306 African-American History is a great resource to share with the English and Social Studies Department. Finally, your closing remark about being ready to change again and again stands out for me. I think having this kind of flexibility to adapt and change to education trends help Teacher-Librarian to be and remain relevant to their learning community.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
I think these resources are a great support for global awareness and also alines with social studies here in Alberta. It would be interesting on how I can adapt to use Buncee or skype classroom for my grade one students? my classroom population is 80% ELL mostly from India, and I have in the past had them do a power point presentation on where their family comes from. These two sources you mentioned to help enrich that unit. Thanks
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