As I started my search to see what is out there for our students to connect globally I first went to google. I typed in "connecting students globally" in the search engine and came across ePals.
"ePals is the world's largest K-12 learning network. ePals is the leading provider of safe collaborative technology for schools to connect and learn in a protected, project-based learning network. With classrooms in 200 countries and territories, ePals makes it easy to connect learners locally, nationally or internationally."Our global community reaches more than 600.000 educators and millions of students in over 200 countries and territories. ePals technology enables these learners, who speak over 136 different languages, to connect, share, collaborate and learn.Membership in ePals Global Community is free, including the use of ePals safe and secure email platform, and access to all ePals collaborative projects and thousands of classrooms world wide with which to do them. ePals also offers select premium services for a fee."
You can search random classrooms around the world or certain classroom with a particular project or topic. You can limit your search down by age as well. When you find a classroom you like you contact them. There is a lot of information about the site and a lot of other things to do on it. What a great resource!
I think this is an excellent website students or teachers who wants to engage with other cultures but concern about safety.. as I was going on this website I thought it will be very helpful students and teachers to engage with other cultures and to share their cultures
ReplyDeleteI think that resources like this that connect students to the rest of the world are wonderful and important. Doing so gives students some perspective on other places in the world and how others live. It makes them understand more about their own life and their own interests.
ReplyDeleteI also came across the ePals network! The first time I found it I thought it was mainly used as a way for teachers to connect their classes with another class from around the world. When I looked at the site again I found that the network also offered features like unit plans and mentor reading programs. Amazing to think that when we were in schools we would write letters to one another. In one class we emailed each other, but this takes a whole new level to having an e-pal.
ReplyDeleteI seems like a few classmates came across Epals as a way to connect global education communities. I liked that you included the fact that "ePals is the world's largest K-12 learning network. ePals is the leading provider of safe collaborative technology for schools to connect and learn in a protected, project-based learning network. With classrooms in 200 countries and territories, ePals makes it easy to connect learners locally, nationally or internationally." this statement really shows why epals has become such a leading connector and why so many of our classmates probably came across this site. I really like that you can go on and explore classrooms around the world. Thanks for sharing this awesome resource!
ReplyDeleteI too found Epals! I love that Epals can connect students from 200 countries around the world. I think that opportunities like this are extremely important in today's global economy. It is so important to be aware of others cultures, languages, and beliefs when working with them. Epals allows children to learn at a young age about other children just like them across the world.
ReplyDeleteI looked at epals too, and I was completely blown away! I think that this is the greatest idea ever, and it will be much easier to incorporate social studies throughout the day.
ReplyDelete