GlobalSchoolNet.org

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

ShowMe Mini-Tutorial iPad App - Beta Version

Last night I installed the beta version of an iPad app called ShowMe, which allows you to create and share mini-tutorials. 

ShowMe was easy to use and it does have the potential to be a very cool collaboration tool. Using my chihuahua as a test subject, it took me less than two minutes to create my first tutorial, which I called I Met Wanda Star Chihuahua

In the beta version, the application's functionality is very limited. The most annoying missing feature is the non-ability to include typed text.  I would also like to be able to edit the sound feature. 

View I Met Wanda Star Chihuahua

For more details, read another ShowMe review at Langwitches

Then, try it out and tell me what you think!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Become an iPad Video Blogging Travel Buddy


At Global SchoolNet we are all about content-driven collaboration. So, this summer we invite you to become an interactive travel buddy of Janice Friesen, world traveler and educator extraordinaire. Janice will be exploring the globe and using her iPad to share her experiences through video and images.  Learn more about becoming Janice's travel buddy at
http://world-everyday.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 03, 2011

2011 Doors to Diplomacy Award Winners

The Department of State is pleased to announce the selection of two winning websites for its 2011 Doors to Diplomacy Award, which is co-sponsored by Global SchoolNet. The awards recognize the web projects that best teach young people about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. Participants, ranging in age from 11 to 18, included 341 student teams from 30 countries.
The winning sites are:
  • International Adoptions and Diplomacy, http://www.wix.com/dufn50216/dtd-international-adoptions. This site was built by a team from Shanghai Community International School in Shanghai, China. Their web project shows how adoptions between different countries can help to strengthen the diplomatic bonds between them.
     
  • Cultural Diplomacy with the Muslim World, http://www.wix.com/adas920/cdiplomacy. This site, built by a team from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North in Plainsboro, New Jersey, explores the role that culture plays in international diplomacy.
Each student member of the two winning Doors to Diplomacy Award teams will receive a $2,000 scholarship. In addition, the winning coaches will each receive a $500 cash award. Judging was performed by student peers and educational professionals, with the final selections made by a team of Department of State judges from the Bureaus of Public Affairs and Educational and Cultural Affairs. The winning sites will be linked from the Department of State's youth site at http://www.future.state.gov.

Special recognition goes to team coaches Russell Townsend and April Ross, teachers from Sioux Falls New Technology High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who coached 25 of the teams in their first-time participation in the contest. They'll receive an award of $1,000 for their exceptional effort to involve so many students in Doors to Diplomacy.

Global SchoolNet, http://www.globalschoolnet.org, is a non-profit, Internet-based education program. The Doors to Diplomacy Award was specially created for CyberFair, a contest that encourages students and educators to join together to build high-quality, educational websites on a variety of topics. These website entries will be available on the web as learning tools to millions of people around the globe.

Further detail on the Doors to Diplomacy projects is at http://globalschoolhouse.org/doors

WorldFuture 2011 (Moving from Vision to Action) Share YOUR insights now!

Join our conversation about "Creating the Preferable Future Through International Collaborative Learning." What examples of collaborative learning BEYOND traditional education (e.g. business, economic, government, health, environment, public safety, culture and historic preservation ) have you found to be successful in your own communities?

This important online discussion forum is associated with the World Future Society and it will be active for the next 4 weeks.

Please add your comments at http://www.wfs.org/forums/worldfuture-2011-conference-forum/international-collaborative-learning