The+Global+Schoolhouse


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What is it?** The Global Schoolhouse ([|www.globalschoolnet.org]) was founded in 1984 by two teachers from San Diego, CA who believed that the internet could have a significant impact on student learning. Global School Net (GSN) was created and continues to promote student achievement through international online collaborative and project-based learning. Its main goal it to help teachers find collaborative learning partners and appropriate projects for students. It is the largest and oldest online clearinghouse for teacher conducted global learning projects.

To discover a project that may match your instructional objectives, locate the Internet Project Registry page on the right hand side of the homepage. Here you will find all the current projects available. Most of the projects incorporate multicultural, geographical, and creative writing themes. Each project has a brief description of its goals and technology requirements. If you find one that you think would be useful, simply click the link that is listed with each project, and you will be connected to the webpage that hosts the project. At this point you will also be able to investigate the onlline collaborative project firsthand to see if it meets your needs.
 * How does it work?**

In addition to joining international collaborative projects, there are other interesting choices at the Global Schoolhouse. There are geography games for students to practice their geography knowledge and expeditions (virtual field trips). The field trips are high interest and interactive. Usually the field trips are set up in such a way that a person is documenting their travels and will not only log their trip, but wants students to ask questions and follow along. Finally, there are links to a U.S. State Department writing competition for students. Winners receive substantial scholarships for writing essays about diplomacy around the world.
 * But wait, there's more!**

This collaborative project site is incredibly useful. First, it gives teachers the ability to quickly scan what collaborative projects are available. Second, it gives you direct links to those projects. In addition, there is an incredible amount of information on how to set up a collaborative project and why these types of projects promote learning. It is very easy to join by simply registering as a new member. The site is very easy to navigate and the information it contains is user friendly and comprehensible. The virtual field trips are also a plus. One thing to consider though, is that this site is only a gateway to the projects available. Teachers must still review each project carefully to see if it meets instructional objectives, and this takes time - so there are really no shortcuts. Also, participation in these projects takes time, and one must balance what the projects offer with other instructional activities.
 * So, bottom line...**


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