What is School? “Turning Students into Global Digital Citizens”

#whatisschool continues to shine and continues to engage educators from all over the world each and every week! I am excited to be back after a few days away last week leading learning at a conference in Hong Kong.

This week will be just as big as #whatisschool has Laura Hill back. Come and join us this week to discuss Turning Students Into Global Digital Citizens.

For the first time in history, nearly half the world’s population is under the age of 26.  While that might not seem significant to you to future governments, economies and the environment this shift can have far-reaching implications.  Why?  Because only some segments of the population are keeping pace with the rapid technological development transforming our world.  How people collaborate, invent and work together in the future will have a profound effect on future generations.

Carl Sagan once defined an ideal citizenry as people “…with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works.”  Change that to define the ideal global digital citizen and you might add ethical connection and contribution, the ability to leverage technology on a global scale, and fostering community through compassion.  And since students today have a duo existence both in the technological world being created and the physical world we reside in, the ability to be a global digital citizen is crucial.

So how can we ensure that there is balance and that ALL students grow up with the opportunity to use their talents to shape the future?  Who will make the rules that govern how technology is used and how reality is blended?  Will it be for the common good or the enrichment of an elite few?

 

Remember that our chat times for around the world are: (updated 15 March 2017)

• Thursday 4pm Pacific Time
• Thursday 6pm Central Time
• Thursday 7pm ET 
• Thursday 11pm GMT
• Friday 12am CET
• Friday 7am Singapore/WA (Perth) Time
• Friday 10am AEDT
• Friday 12pm NZT

Make sure you put this week’s chat in your diary and if you are not already signed up to our ‘Remind’ notifications – click here. We will send you an email or a FREE SMS just before our chat begins 

Questions #whatisschool, March 16, 2017 7PM EDT

1) How can we use technology to connect students with community on the local and global scale?

2) What roles can we create in the classroom to foster skills like project and digital management to build student’s capabilities?

3) How can we use technology to help students form their own critical, ethical questions and research solutions to real world problems?

4) How can we assist students in building Student Learning Networks (SNLs) that allow them to assess and realize their ideas?

5) What strategies can we use to help students become independent, collaborative learners?

6) How can we use our roles as educators, parents, and leaders to work with students to build our global digital skills together?