Resources for globalizing the curriculum
A list of organizations that offer opportunities to connect classrooms with an interactive collaborative project around the world or by bringing speakers and programs into schools was provided by IREX during the Teachers for Global Classrooms course. Also included in this resource are web tools to connect a classroom internationally. The following resources provide outstanding and limitless opportunities to revitalize standards to meet global competencies.
One resource that stands out is WorldWise Schools. I have chosen this organization because I believe it is a good starting point for many schools and South Philadelphia High School due to the possibility of the limited availability of technology. The second reason is the fact that the website also provides many lesson plans and themes that can be woven together. In brief, WorldWise Schools matches Peace Corps volunteers with you and your class to exchange ideas, stories and artifacts about their experience. With some initial planning, using the online lesson plans and then requesting a Peace Corps speaker from that area of the world, teachers would be able to create a rich, engaging and globalized unit plan. WorldWise Schools is also a nice match to integrate a unit with programming at one of the local resources.
In conjunction with the possibility of the challenge of low technology, WorldWise Schools is a good match for enhancing programming from the United Nations Association of Philadelphia or American Friends Service Committee.
Another possibility is connectallschools.org, bringing the world into the classroom and building global competency can include the introduction of global issues curriculum, new World Languages, online collaboration, youth and teacher exchanges, professional development on international education, video-conferences, etc. This interactive website has been built to enable schools to indicate how they are connected to the world and for new teachers, school administrators and parents to work with consortium partners on building new links.
It should be noted that for any resource that is blocked by the School District of Philadelphia's firewall a request for access can be submitted to the district's technology department by making a case for its educational purposes.
It should be noted that for any resource that is blocked by the School District of Philadelphia's firewall a request for access can be submitted to the district's technology department by making a case for its educational purposes.