GLOBAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2014 INSPIRING AND REFRESHING IDEAS FROM THE WORLD OF EDUCATION

 A     Great  week  for  teachers and educators from all over the world: the Conference   started on  Monday  after  many people  had  worked to organize it and worked all day for five days. It finished on Friday 21 November. 

My agenda had been filled with the many sessions and  sometimes I could not but go to sleep after 1 am or  2 am  ..............  I am a teacher but also a  life-long learner   and I  wanted to learn more  about   other  teachers'   experiences  in different  topics from   using new  technologies to nice  school projects  that  help   classes to be connected.                                                                                                                                

The GLOBAL  EDUCATION  CONFERENCE  2014  started  on 17 November: it was a great event  with lots of  teachers and educators from all over the world  taking  part and sharing a lot of projects and their experiences in using the new technologies, talking about collaboration on line, working on line and using new  technologies to enhance a  different learning environment.
For access  to the many sessions in 2014    please check http://www.globaleducationconference.com/, there is a dedicated page to the recordings for this year  so that you can  learn more and download the pdf  files of the presentations. Sessions were mainly in English and  Spanish and were  broadcast live and later   off line  thanks to Blackboard technology. I have followed some sessions on line, others later because I was busy at school and was working, but I will never  forget  the enthusiasm of the many presenters who made this event   so cool.

Any time  I was at home  my laptop was on looking for the next session  while  I had to cope with the homework correction in the afternoon ;my  week turned into a big and  great  event: I would never go to sleep.

On the first day I did not  do much, working can be hard  and if you are a commuter you must rush  but  on 18 November  I  became  entrapped and loved this journey into education where I learnt much.
This is my diary and my  reflections about  the conference

18 Nov.2014

• 11:00

 Keeping your batteries charged and learning together by connecting globally with other educators - Maria del Carmen Colussa, EFL Freelance Teacher 

Maria  presented such a lovely EFL  teacher' s  KIT  that I am going to use most of the WEBLINKS she  described.
I like what she wrote in her slides  : the future   COOPERATION  COLLABORATION OPENESS.  
The world  is great! Teachers are working  together and this is  a great  for education.

• 18:00

 KEYNOTE: Kern Kelley on "Students as Tech Support"
Never forget the help from students, use the technology which is  available and have your students work

• 22:00

 Integrating a language trip into the Modern language curriculum - Sumaya Ibourk French teacher

An interesting  project, travelling can  be more challenging when you learn a language.

• 23:00

 SPOTLIGHT: Get #UpForSchool! Join the movement to all children everywhere access to education. - Kolleen Bouchane, Policy and Advocacy Director

The day continued with  interesting  sessions about  students and how they can help our teaching. I loved the description of the project with a language trip by Sumaya Ibourk French  and  the day finished with my discovery about UPFOR SCHOOL: YOU SHOULD ALL JOIN because  education is  a must for every child . I did it and now  I feel that we should all do more.
You should sign the petition!

http://www.aworldatschool.org/upforschool

19 Nov.2014

• 05:00

 Collaborative Online Projects: Getting Started - Abena Baiden

• 08:00

 Connecting Education to the Cloud for Digital Citizenship - Chryssanthe Sotiriou, High School EFL Coordinator

• 14:00

 Speak First: Shifting Modern Language Programs from Writing and Grammar Toward Genuine Global Connection - Jason Cummings Ph.D. Modern Language Department Head

• 17:00

 Go and Smell the Roses! - Kathy Beck, Instructional Technology Coordinator

• 23:00

 Going Global: Facilitating and Designing Collaborative Classroom Projects at Home and Abroad - Lindsey Myers, Library Media Specialist

I was not at school so  I followed many sessions: what I liked most were Kathy Beck and Lindsey Myers because  they gave me  a list of  tools and activities which I can now use as example.
Abena was also great because she is a competent  teacher and user of the new technologies. I sent her a message to thank her for the great presentation. 
Interested?  go to  :

http://flatconnections.net/

or you might  check    this  site

https://sites.google.com/site/globalizinggenz/  ( a great  source of tools for  people who want to work on line with technology that is mainly free)

Working on projects is the new way for a  good learner!!!

20 Nov.2014

• 01:00

 Using Facebook and Twitter as Online Classrooms: Connecting Educators and Learners Around the Globe - Pierre Moncal and Katrina Ingco - BEEd Special Education Undergraduate

• 14:00

 Maximize Collaboration and Sharing with Google+ Hangouts - Ms Rita Zeinstejer - EFL Teacher and Teacher Trainer

• 14:00

 Using Video to Teach EFL in a Cultural Context - Mr. Mohamed Ramadan Mahmoud Mohamed

• 16:00

 The role of ELT+IT in promoting global collaboration and networking in professional development - Mr. Victor Hugo ROJAS B. 

• 23:00

 SPOTLIGHT: Digiteen/Digitween - Global Digital Citizenship Project - Theresa Allen, Technology Teacher/Coordinator

All these  sessions made me   think about the advantages of on-line learning and how  today we can  work together and  learn: not only students but also adults with MOOCS.

21 Nov.2014

• 14:00

 Go Global: Collaborating Teachers and Students Across the World Using Google Classroom - Shenna Kate Torres (Undergraduate Student- Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Biology)

An  interesting session about   GOOGLE.  I have  learnt more.

• 17:00

 Out My Window - Erin Olson, Instructional Technology Consultants

An interesting  session about  more creative activities!

At 8 o'clock we  had the last  session, it was farewell and the great  satisfaction from teachers who had   appreciated the great  debates and the organizers. THANK YOU  : YOU WERE  GREAT AND I WILL SUGGEST YOUR  EVENT  TO MY   FRIENDS WHO ARE EAGER TO LEARN  FROM   OTHERS  AND SHARING EXPERIENCES!! 
I would like to thank  everybody: you made me dream.   EDUCATION can be the opportunity for many and teachers and educators can make  the difference!!



I hope to follow the  other  sessions in the next  days, and  look forward to seeing  many  more next year.

Tiziana Angiolini  ( English Language Teacher  and  life-long learner)

WEEK 6 WORKING ON LINE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS- THIS IS THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION!!

                                                              THESE ARE 
               MY  FAVOURITE  WEBSITES FOR STUDYING, LEARNING, SELF-DEVELOPMENT ON LINE

• https://www.coursera.org/
• https://www.futurelearn.com/
• https://www.edx.org/
• http://www.discoveryeducation.com/streamathon/
• http://www.classroom20.com/
• http://www.lend.it/italia/
• http://anisadedej.com/
• http://www.lepidascuola.org/
• http://community.eflclassroom.com/
• http://www.mondadorieducation.it/Canali/ENGLISH
• http://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/
• http://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/52_1_5_brenner.pdf (about  digital stories)

SELF-DEVELOPMENT: HOW?
Read this interesting post :

• Can Twitter replace traditional professional development? in http://hechingered.org/content/can-twitter-replace-traditional-professional-development_5315/
• http://www.classroom20.com/( great site with  lots of webminars and forums)

• http://www.webenglishteacher.com/index.html

TEFL   AND  ENGLISH TEACHING

• Chris Baldwin - Learning Technologies for the Classroom: A Whirlwind Tour  in

https://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/_a917587435/p33d2n3zcqj/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal 

• from Macmillan    about LIFE SKILL  DAY  on 14th May  2014  

  

• Useful webminars   from CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

What  school   activities?

• Project Based Learning (PBL)

• for more  information  please   check                                                                                    

 http://www.studentguide.org/the-complete-guide-to-project-based-learning/

                 USEFUL  RESOURCES OR  WEBSITES:

http://bie.org/objects/cat/archived_webinars


THE  FUTURE OF  EDUCATION?    TEACHERS WHO ARE CONNECTED........................AND CAN  WORK TOGETHER

Week 6 What future for EDUCATION? A bright and sunny DAY into the LOVE for LEARNING

                                                      WEEK   6

                WHAT  FUTURE  FOR EDUCATION ?                                               


The future for  Education  IS more children who have  access to education all over the world  , in particular girls. Education should be free everywhere,  in poor or developing countries too. Because it is  a right.
The future for Education IS more people who have access to Learning on line courses, MOOCs,who  can choose what they want to do and  decide what subject, when and how to do it.
I would like to  refer to the great speech of this young woman who has claimed  the right to  have  access  to education:

I have  just  prepared my final presentation by using  PREZI and it will be part of my final reflections on line ........   what I have read and  seen in the videos has made me  think...................... 

http://prezi.com/1muy3ko8yu64/education-is-getting-digitalized-and-our-life-is-changing/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Education  is a world that will continue  changing:  more and more  teachers  will be involved in such  changes because technologies are  "changing" our  habits, " shaping " our ways of life......  it is the  XXI  century.
Teaching for Teachers  will not end but   Learning will become more important and also the students who will become  central in the process of  Learning.

Why do Governments fund Education?

                               WEEK    5

Education, Governments  and   Money 
                   An  Italian perspective 
 ITALY AND THE  GREAT AGE OF  REFORMS  FOR  EDUCATION

                    THE   PRESENT  SITUATION 
              THE  MIRROR OF A NATION  THAT IS  STRUGGLING
                  ...... Now  Protests among students and  Teachers
..............................Problems for those who are unemployed and are not  studying or do not have education on line or access to training  classes and self-development

............................   Lots of  young  people with good education who  are leaving the country and look for a job  outside Italy

Italy  is now undergoing great changes, the recession in the  last  six years has left more  people  without a job, more  young  people without  a   good  qualification and no chance to find a job . Thus  schools  and   education   are  in  need of  a  reform while more   Prime Ministers have   talked about the importance of  a good school system for the future of the  country   they have never found funds to help the   system work . 

( See the webisite  https://labuonascuola.gov.it/

This site has been opened to Teachers, students, families to give their opinion about the  new Reform of  Ecation that the present  Government has presented )

Meanwhile  Europe is  looking for a  fast change 

Education in EUROPE- What Europe  chooses 

Italy and  other European countries now  must follow these  guidelines:

education is  central for  nations, for  citizens and  for  children who will become   future citizens  in the world.

    

                                               

The needs of  students and  teachers who are responsible for education  are now  a priority  because the country- my country  Italy-  still has a lot  old people  and children  are the future of a nation with  fewer young people .The level of  education is below the level  of other   European  nations.
Websites of the most important  newspapers and specialized magazines (1) are now   dealing with the demand for education. 

What is  happening  everywhere  now ? There is a globalized change  into   ........................a  different   system or form of Education.(2)

More and more teachers are  becoming aware of the importance of  21st Century skills:

and  students  are the great  players

Looking to Montessori to guide  Education Reform

The power of  student-driven  Learning

Blended  Learning

Flipped Classroom

          More   MOOCs  for  students, adult learners and  for  self-development

(1)http://www.repubblica.it/scuola/?ref=HRHM2-1,
       http://www.corriere.it/scuola/index.shtml
       http://www.orizzontescuola.it/
       http://www.tuttoscuola.com/cgi-local/hp.cgi
       http://www.scuolaoggi.org/
      http://www.lend.it/italia/index.php/articoli-primopiano/427-lend-lingua-e-nuova-    didattica-a-proposito-del-documento-la-buona-scuola
        
(2)http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2011/01/21st-century-skills-teachers-should.html



                                         FINAL  CONCLUSIONS
                                 ( WEEK 5)

We are involved in a process of  great changes but   Education is still important.
However,money is what is missing  to create a better  system  and  states must cope with this problem.   The old  school  has  died, but  we do need to have

-        better  Teachers
-        teachers who are  working on self-development
-        teachers  who  teach   different  skills for a better  learner
-        teachers who share  activities and work in team
-        teachers who can develop  activities by using  Technologies and people can  work from home and at school(MOOCS, Blended Learning,Flipped  classroom.....)
-        teachers  who assess students in a different way

            What's more

-        students are important in the process  and  we should have less teacher-centred  activities and more projects, cooperative work.....
-         a different  Learning  environment   is being  created, this is  more  based on  the use of technology  but  teachers will not be  replaced , they will work in a different  way
-  since  education  costs a lot of money  schools  should be open to helpers, supporters and be part of  a community  to  take advantage of  external  resources
-        more people will be  involved in education and

          EDUCATION  WILL BE  FOREVER 

 by   Tiziana  Angiolini    self-reflection  about COURSERA COURSE  " What's the future of Education '"

      1st November   2014