When I was planning this lesson on Global Awareness, I chose to do a lesson in which students videoconference utilizing Global Nomad.  The specific lesson I chose was titles :Project Voice Reunion:  Iraqis and Americans Reconnect 10 years later.  I wanted the students to watch this video and get a sense of what teens are like in other countries.  Also also wanted them to see what students in this country think about 9/11 and how they view the events.  After the students viewed this, I then discussed The novel The Great Gatsby ( which we just finished reading)  and the class had discussion about social mobility, economic inequity, and materialism.  We then would actually have our own video conference with Iraqis students discussing the same topics we discussed using Gatsby as the vessel.  My view is for students to understand that the American view of what is important is not always the only view that is correct and or right.  I also aim for the students to understand other cultures and not judging other cultures because they are different.  Having an understanding of different points of view is the key to knowledge.  

Global Nomads is an excellent site for all subject areas because it exposes through video, social networking, webcasting, and filmmaking the minds of our youth today.  As there website states, it "fosters dialogue and understanding among the world's youth". I cannot think of one subject area that could not gain from exposing the students to different cultures.  From English, language class, algebra, to world cultures, Global Nomads can take the classroom to another place and another level. It teaches through exposure and dialogue.  Moreover, allowing the studnets the opportunity to have live dialogue with students from another country is an opportunity the students will never forget.  The possibilites are endless when students are engaged in learning and Global Nomads enables this to happen.  

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Alison,

I like how you think!  Students need to learn about other cultures so they can accept all people!  I would like to know how your students react to talking to Iraqi students about 9/11.  Hopefully they learn not to to be judgmental!! :)

I like the idea of using video conferencing. I think that is a great way for students to get more from their communication than just through words of an e-mail. I also think the topic of 9/11 is also very interesting. I think it would be great to hear different perspectives of events.

 

I also like how you tied in your reading of The Great Gatsby into the lessons as well by discussing the cultures and economic points and comparing those to other cultures.

 

I chose to use ePal for my project however after reading your posting I found Global Nomads to be intriguing. I did more research on it and I like what it has to offer too. I would love to see how my students would react to videoconferencing. Thanks for sharing and giving me another idea to incorporate into my classroom.

I love your idea! It would be so cool to see how students from other countries live their lives. I think it makes such a difference when the students can see eachother, so using Global Nomads would be awesome! 

Great project!  I was just looking for someone else that did not use ePals and found your post but WOW!  I think the first video where the Iraqis and Americans reconnect after 10 years can be very powerful to any learner.  The changes in society in 10 years could be a shock to some, especially when there was no contact.  And being able to tie the video conference into your course content is critical, although I agree it would be hard to not fine a way to connect them.  You definitely have a great lesson here.

What a cool lesson idea! I really like the idea of having students practice communicating with students from Iraq about the events of 9/11. I feel that this would be a great lesson in culture as well as diversity. Perspectives are obviously very different from both sides and I feel like this open communication would be a great eye-opener for our country's youth. 

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