Global TeachingSystem Connectedness

By: Melea Evans

What is system connectedness? Understanding that what you do effects

others. Understanding that what you do effects

you, good or bad. Understanding one’s individual identity. Understanding that one needs society

and the world. Understanding that we all need each

other and are connected.

Challenges in teaching it… System connectedness requires more of an

open way of teaching and learning. Currently, education is very closed in that we (students and teachers) are isolated from one another more than learning together.

“In general, this means designing a system that is more open, organic, pluralistic, and complex.” (Betts, pgs. 38-41)

Basically requires lots of teamwork, and a new way at looking at education all around.

Connected learning environments are… Equitable: embody equity, since of belonging,

and participation Production-centered: creating a wide variety of

media, cultural content, and knowledge in experimental and active ways

Shared-purposed: social media and web-based communities support opportunities for connectedness

Openly networked: online platforms that allow for learning to take place across all learner settings

Incorporating it… Project-based learning is a great way to

incorporate system connectedness In a unit, a great way to help students

connect to the community is by teaching a unit on community helpers.

Specific community helpers that would be good to focus on include: Police Officers, Teachers, Store Clerks, Lawyers, Doctors, etc.

This will also help support any ELL students that you may have in your classroom.

Incorporating it across the board… Use resources such as Skype or Google

Hangouts to connect with others around the globe that you may know. They could simply read a book aloud to the students.

Use resources such as Edmodo to connect home to school providing continued learning.

Connections to life skills in math (i.e. using money) vertically in the curriculum to show students where they are going from early grades.

How it is being used now… As mentioned previously, project-based

learning is being used to facilitate global teaching.

Use of “current events” to help create system connectedness in classroom.

Virtual pen pals are being used to help students all over the world connect to on another.

Virtual field trips have also been used as well.

ReferencesBetts, F. (1992, November). Educational Leadership: Improving School Quality: How Systems Thinking Applies to Education. Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov92/vol50/num03/How-Systems-Thinking Applies-to-Education.aspx

Gerstein, J. (2013, January 15). Connectedness, or lack of, in Education (School) | User Generated Education.

Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/connectedness-or-lack-of-in-education-school/

Teaching strategies | Global Education. (2014, July 23). Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://www.globaleducation.edu.au/teaching-and- learning/teaching-strategies.html#Cartoons