FOCUS ON LEARNING
OPEN SPACE MEETING NOTES
June 5, 2013
Topic of the Meeting:
The Global Classroom
Meeting Initiator/Convener:
Darryl Ross
Recorder:
Janis Michael
Meeting Participants:
Lon Appleby
Thomas Bradley
Nicole Doyle
Jed Looker
Mike Mckenney
Valerie Smith
Angela Solonsky
Items Discussed:
- Connecting classrooms around the world. Lon has created a global classroom at Durham College.
- The goal is to help students become better local and global citizens.
- They connect with a guest speaker and students in two or three other classrooms in the world.
- Students become very engaged with each other. They learn how others feel and how they see the world.
- They have debates on students’ real world view of ethical issues.
- It is an excellent way to add cultural experience to the classroom.
- Uses Skype. Each location needs a microphone.
- Theglobalclass.org
o Some of the participants are:Trinidad, Russia, California, Durham, China, Italy, Germany, South Korea, India, South Africa, Nebraska, Montreal (Vanier College).
o Taped classes can be posted on this site and it is a resource for others.
o Topics need to relate to humanity and globalization.
- Need to test and ensure connections are working but in general they have had very few technical problems.
- In a way, it is Interactive ted.
- Classes last 45 – 60 minutes
- There is a facebook page to hold blog, class discussion etc.
- Lesson plan is developed between faculty in the three different countries. Students read material or watch a video ahead of time.
- One class revolved around 3 fundamental questions on their world view
o Is there an after-life and why?
o Is one’s station in life determined by birth and why?
o Are people born evil then learn how to be good or is it the other way around?
- Skype in a discipline expert who talks for 15 minutes about what it is like working in the field then the floor is open for questions. Faculty needs to have a list of prepared questions just in case.
- One discussion line was Arab Uprising: discussed freedom, dictatorship. Students learned a lot about freedom hearing about a 17 year old who was willing to give his life for freedom in Egypt.
- Best format is 3 classes and one guest expert.
- Students do videos on the topics and upload them.