Building Global Classrooms Through Coaching and Mentoring Using Microsoft Tools

Purpose & objective

This session will include information on how I created an innovative learning experience for our district called Cobb Global Connections Week. The purpose of this learning experience was to inspire our teachers to engage students while making connections across the district, state, and world while using tools such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Flip, Lumio, and other tech tools. Connecting with other classrooms provides students the opportunity to view the world from different perspectives. Teachers can inspire empathy and compassion, spark interest in new learning, and engage students while building relationships. In addition, making global connections supports 21st Century Learning Skills. Some of the connections teachers made were through teaching the Global Sustainable Development Goals, Mystery Connection (guessing game to figure out a mystery animal, number, or location), virtual field trips, and virtually connecting with experts as guest speakers.

I will share how I began with a proposal, created training materials for our Instructional Technology coaches, created a form for teachers to register and indicate if they wanted our department to help them find a connecting teacher. marketing strategies and solicited prizes for participants. In addition, success stories and reflections on how to build this learning experience will be shared. Teachers shared pictures and posts on Twitter using the hashtag #CobbGlobalConnections and shared their learning experiences on Microsoft Flip, which we turned into a video.

Participants will also learn about how two teachers continued to build their relationships and connections with their two classrooms and how they began looking at 21st Century Learning Design rubrics to bring those connections to the next level.

Creating a learning experience like this can seem daunting, but with careful coaching, mentoring, planning, and purpose, it turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for our teachers and students. I will have a form for guests to fill out if they would like to join us in this learning experience in the 22-23 school year and join us in building global classrooms.

Outline

Introductions
Explanation of Global Learning Connections
Ways to Participate
Pictures, videos, artifacts
Jennifer and Bridgett discussing their connections and using 21st Century Learning Design Rubrics
Q & A

In a poster session, it is informal so there is time for talking and sharing experiences and for the audience to ask questions.

Supporting research

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/paths/21st-century-learning-design/
This course on the Microsoft Learn Center includes supporting research.