Category: Digital Learning Enviroment

Digital Learning Enviroment

oakdaleeagle on

There are sooo many possible ways of connecting to and participating in global education that it can be pretty overwhelming so here are my favorites (and they are all free – except Edublogs)   

  1. Flipgrid  and Gridpals
  2. Google Maps
  3. Google Earth  (not the same thing as Google Maps!)
  4. Blogging (link is to Edublogs, the site I use, but there are many others)
  5. Newseum:Today’s Front Pages

Flipgrid and Gridpals
I  used Flipgrid to participate in the Global Read Aloud.  It is easy enough for even Kindergartens to use with just a bit of support. It provides a simple platform to record a short (90 seconds is the max) video clip. The students can replay it and rerecord very easily. Flipgrid also has a method of connecting with other schools thru Gridpals.

Google Maps and Google Earth:
When working with elementary students I find they need to spend time exploring where they live first before they can understand and appreciate a more global perspective. And all my students 1st-5th absolutely love finding their homes/neighborhoods/schools on Google Maps.  After getting themselves oriented we then explore our city and state. My students rarely get a chance to venture outside their own neighborhoods so learning about their own city is a start.

Then I have introduced Google Earth to 3rd-5th graders. It is a great tool for bringing current events into the classroom. For example, last year my students were able to follow the Central American immigration caravan as it made its way northward. The students were able to really see the geographic distances and barriers that had to be crossed.

Newseum: Today’s Front Pages
We have been using local newspapers in our journalism program for several years, but because of the TGC resource list I just discovered this wonderful way to have students look at what other cities in our state, other states in our country and other countries think is worthy of front page news. This week my students assignment is to compare our local papers front page with 3 other papers (one in our state, one different state, and one different country)