Global collaboration… an invitation

Blogging is relatively easy. You sit in your own quiet space and record your thoughts in writing. You might have readers or you might not and, if you’re like me, you’ll never be able to predict which posts will be popular. Sometimes the ones that are most important to you will attract the fewest readers and the most unexpected posts will draw streams of comments and debate. But that’s ok… I write for myself as much as for anyone else. It’s a great place to process my thinking and share examples of great learning.

Presenting is another story. You can see the responses of the audience as you speak, the ‘real you’ is visible to all and you don’t get an opportunity to rewrite if it doesn’t turn out well. Next week I’ll be presenting at the IB Asia Pacific Conference and it’ll be my first presentation outside my own school, so more than a little nerve wracking. The title is ‘Kids Talking to Kids’ and here’s the blurb:

What could be more engaging than kids talking to kids across the world? What better way to encourage intercultural understanding and international-mindedness? The session will include examples of  collaborations which have enabled the flattening of classroom walls, allowing students to learn from and with people around the world. It will explore the ways learning can be enhanced through such interactions. It will highlight what we have learned, challenges and successes, and share effective ways such connections can be established.

I’m not an expert. There are many wonderful educators out there who have been doing this for longer and more successfully than I have. I hope to continue to be inspired by them and perhaps, in turn, to inspire those who haven’t yet taken the first step.

By chance I was invited by Anne Mirtschin to present on the same topic in Elluminate as part of the Tech Talk Tuesday series of webinars, so I’ve chosen to do it in the same week for practice. I’ve participated in these sessions a few times , the atmosphere is relaxed and Anne is very supportive and encouraging. The session is at 4pm (Australia time) on Tuesday 15th March (world times here) and here’s the Elluminate session link in case any of you want to log in and join us. Hopefully we’ll all make some new connections and set up future possible collaborations.

(Variation on an earlier video)