Transforming learning through global collaboration
As we discuss Chapter 5, here are the questions we will consider. Follow the guidelines for discussing the book topics.
The areas of awareness impact digital citizenship decisions by giving you a “lens for viewing” in the decision making process. These areas point out aspects to consider that may cause you not to be a good digital citizen that you may be unaware of.
I am going to review each awareness based on my experience observing a current global collaboration. Technical awareness: Certain programs, such as Trello, may not be understood by all team members, which can cause confusion in the tasks to be completed. Individual awareness: Sites can be created and default privacy settings accepted by team members without any idea of what they had agreed to. Social awareness: Things that you would never do or say to someone’s face can be easily said between those sitting on one end of the computer with no sensitivity. Cultural awareness: Due to language barriers, it may be difficult for two groups to find a common understanding between cultures. Global awareness: Time zones may restrict people from communicating effectively and collaborators need to understand how the time zones are important in global collaboration.
One common digital citizenship problems are people not having a high degree of technical abilities to participate effectively. People may sign up for websites and agreeing to terms that they are not aware of. People can become addicted to technology and not participate in other aspects of their life. People may judge other cultures without trying to look for a common denominator that would bring the cultures together. Bandwidths may not be of the same capacity, inhibiting connection types and potentially causing problems between collaborators.
Teachers should use every moment as a teachable moment. They should reflect on the issue at hand and discuss potential solutions or concerns with their students. Then they should guide the students into finding a solution.
Cultural Awareness: the project is reaching many areas of the world, relying on bridging cultures to keep the focus on the goals of successful debate, and of increased global awareness of the participants.
Global Awareness: the debates address one of the biggest issues in global politics, forcing increased awareness as the dynamics change greatly depending on the area of the world used as context for the discussion.
Some common digital citizenship problems occur with differing cultural views of sensitive topics. It is not always easy to find out a prevailing opinion in other areas of the world. Teachers must be aware enough to choose topics that will not broach these sensitive areas until more is known. Language is another problem, since even if collaboration is conducted in English, the language has come to vary so greatly around the world, due to slang, dialect and adopted words that meanings may still be unclear. A successful teacher will advise their students to use proper English at all times, to better ensure proper understanding.
I attended a webinar on the neuroscience of learning a few weeks ago and one of the keys to deep learning was re-learning several months or a year later. Wouldn't it be great if every student could participate in one of the "Flat" programs every year?!
The Eracism project is amazing to follow. Great oppportunity to apply the concepts.
Good points on sensitivity to culture and language.
The five areas of awareness impact digital citizenship decisions, as they make us evaluate ourselves as well as others in the online world.
As a teacher it is important that you know and understand all of these awarenesses so you can effectively teach your students.
Technical awareness: Know your technology, know others technology
Individual awareness: Know your own online reputation.
Social awareness: Be aware of the social abilities of your class and others.
Cultural awareness: Make sure you are aware of the rules and taboos of each of the classes you collaborate with
Chapter 5: Citizenship
They affect everything; they are 'lens' through which we view our world and filter how we make our decisions. They give us focus, they make us question, they give us detail to consider and they allow us to make informed choices.
Some common issues include cyber-bullying, safety issues arising form learners providing specific details from geotagging or too much information posted and copyright and legality issues of posting. Building responsibly aware learners can prevent all these issues; explicit teaching of the 5 steps as well as educators themselves using the five steps means that we can help prevent many of these issues. Educators themselves have a responsibility to become educated an aware so they are not frightened, ignorant or unable to deal with these issues.