DISQUS

iryna · 9 months ago

Vicki,

As I was reading some of the students’ blogs that you posted, I thought that it was rather ironic – this amazing technology brings people from different parts of the world so much closer together, and yet, we are worlds apart. I am a Ukrainian immigrant who has lived in the United States for the past ten years. I taught high school Spanish for four out of those ten years. From the very beginning of my teaching career, I was amazed at how little American students know about other cultures. When I came to this country, I knew a lot about it already, before I arrived. But I doubt that many Americans know anything about my part of the world. I find that even those who do know about my country have many misconceptions.

And it’s not entirely their fault either – the geographical isolation of the Northern American continent has a lot to do with it, but also the fact that, being so powerful and self-sufficient, the U.S. does not have to depend on any other countries. I wonder if technological advances are able to overcome physical distances and cultural differences…

Tim · 9 months ago

Interesting that face-to-face participation by just a few students can have a major impact on the entire group, who are only having limited, virtual interactions- it makes perfect sense, especially due to the way that classrooms seem to have such a tightly-knit sense of community, or a single-organism type feel, much more so than society at large that is.

I'm a major proponent of "virtual attendance" (and that is how I found your blog - through a Google search for that very phrase) sort of by default, since I'm enrolled in a distance learning degree program with American Sentinel University (www.americansentinel.edu).

I like the idea

Hilary · 9 months ago

HI Vicki
I just wanted to say that I was fascinated with this post, especially as I have briefly followed some of the Flat Classroom Conference. I am involved in youth work in the UK and organise International Exchanges for the young people of West Sussex. Whilst we blogged whilst in China it's interesting to see how you could expand this to include others. I have blogged about it here http://ukyouthblog.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/vir...
Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Heather Davis · 9 months ago

Hi Vicki,

I enjoyed reading this blog and the comments by the students as the virtual part of the Conference was not something that I really understood. That was probably because I was there on my own and no one from my school was involved. I also found it interesting that each of the students shown mentioned their view of the Middle East as being negative as this was exactly my view. Knowing that our fear of anyone wearing a turban is perpetuated by our North American media, and realizing that if has affected people from all generations makes it even more important that we all have a true and authentic voice.

This generation has the opportunity to reach out globally, investigate what they are hearing on the media, judge the information with a level of reality that other generations have never had the opportunity to do and to make their own decisions based on what they personally have learned. They are not locked into learning information from textbooks but from an active personal learning network that can include participants of all generations.

It is eye opening.

coolcatteacher · 9 months ago

Yes, this experience has totally convinced me as well on the
importance of f2f and virtual participation.

Vicki Davis
Cool Cat Teacher Blog

Building the bridges of today that the society of tomorrow will walk
across.

Sent from my iPod touch