CO11: Take Your Classroom Global by Katherine Walraven Public Class

About the Class

Take Your Classroom Global by Katherine Walraven

About the Presenter:
Katherine Walraven is the Director of Education Programs at TakingITGlobal. She earned her M.A. in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, Ottawa and her B.A. in International Studies from the University of Northern British Columbia. She has worked as a global educator with CHF (formerly the Canadian Hunger Foundation) and as a development education workshop facilitator for Oxfam Canada, and has several years of experience working and volunteering in schools. In 2006, Katherine joined the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), first as an intern developing the Information Technology for Environmental Sustainability (ITES) initiative and then as Executive Assistant and Grants Officer. During her time at APC, she also contributed to a monthly e-bulletin focused on the strategic use of information communication technology to promote social justice and equality. Katherine joined TakingITGlobal in the fall of 2008, and has presented at ISTE in 2009 and 2010.

About the Presentation:
TakingITGlobal (TIG) operates the world’s most popular online community of young leaders. TIG members inspire each other to make a difference, learn about issues that matter, and find out how to constructively channel their energy and ideas. As TIG's vibrant global community has evolved, educators have sought to integrate its resources and focus on action-based learning into their teaching. This was made easier in 2006, with the launch of the TakingITGlobal for Educators (TIGed) program. TIGed comprises a community of educators interested in empowering their students to think and act as world citizens, a collection of resources that facilitate the inclusion of global perspectives in the classroom, and a virtual classroom that allows students to use technology to learn with and about peers the world over. TIGed was awarded the 2007 Tech Museum Education award for technology benefiting humanity.

In this presentation, participants will learn how virtual classrooms and online tools can enhance students' learning experiences beyond the four walls of the classroom. An overview of the TIGed platform will demonstrate how games, online collaboration, and social media can improve action-based learning. Participants will be introduced to the best practices for teachers, schools, and districts that engage students in global education and educational technology. We will also discuss 21st century learning skills and their inclusion in online learning. Educational programs from TIG that have made the best use of the online platform to engage students around the world will be showcased, including the Student News Action Network, Tread Lightly, and our Shout environmental education program, run in collaboration with Smithsonian and Microsoft.

Integrating Technology for Active Life-long Learning
CO11 on IT4ALL Moodle & WiZiQ
Feb 4-6, 2011

Welcome to the annual connecting online live online conference (CO11). You are cordially invited to participate at the live online conference on the weekend of Feb 4-6 2011.

The conference will be of interest to educators, administrators, students, and community members who value the importance of integrating technology into the curriculum to improve instruction and learning. Online learning involves various skills on the part of the instructor and learner. These include social and communication skills, social networking, independent learning strategies, critical and higher order thinking skills, creativity, and effective online and face-to-face facilitation. In addition, there are may challenges that the educators, administrators, students, and community members face.

The CO11 will be conducted on IT4ALL Moodle with the presentations on WiZiQ through the Moodle.

The themes for the presentations are:

1. Connecting Online to Improve Instruction and Learning: Online Learning and Instructional Experience


2. Experiences with technology in face-to-face and online classes. What worked and what didn't work for you?


3. How do you use technology to promote and sustain your online workshops, consultation, and communities of practice and learning?


4. Research conducted on e-learning, blended online learning, and blended learning.


5. Reviewing or promoting books on integrating technology into the classroom, e-learning, blended learning, and blended online learning.


6. Challenges administrators, instructors, students, and community members face in connecting online.

Language of instruction: English