Global Ed Con: One Montessori World

"One Montessori World" - Global Education Conference presentation - Nov. 21, 2013

One Montessori World: Connecting Elementary Students & Teachers from around the Globe

Presenters: Jennifer Williams, Director of Education and Betty Jane Mackay, Lead Montessori Teacher

Listen to the audio recording of the session.

One Montessori World is a global project that incorporates Montessori lessons and project based learning with the use of technology.  Classes are invited to join in fostering global collaboration between Montessori students from around the world.  Over the course of the school year, students meet through use of technology via Skype and other platforms to cover lessons in Geography, Biology, Language and Practical Life.  Throughout the project teachers also collaborate on best practices to create work and improve teaching practices.  At the conclusion of the project, students and teachers come together in a global celebration online to share and reflect.

Links to related websites:

http://www.onemontessoriworld.blogspot.com/

https://www.countrydaylargo.com/

The Games We Play: Flat Classroom "Building Bridges to Tomorrow" collaborative group project

Spring 2013


https://voicethread.com/share/4508761/



Here is the digital artifact created by four schools in a joint project within the Flat Classroom umbrella. More importantly, this artifact evidences how very young children from different parts of the world can affect each other positively through their sharing of ideas.

Worthy of note, our students (as young as age 5) effectively met NETS*S standards #2:

2.	Communication and Collaboration
	Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
	a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media. b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats. c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures. d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems. http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students/nets-student-standards-2007

What a trip! Model UN & Russia

MUN & Russia

-video created by J. Williams using Animoto

From Russia...With Love

This video was created by our new friends, the students in the Moscow school.

MUN & Russia...some pictures on Animoto

MUN & Russia

Future Meteorologists: Kindergarten participates in Flat Classroom project

  For the second consecutive year, Kindergarten students led by Ruth Metka and Fran Siracusa are participating in the Flat Classroom K-2 Building Bridges project. There are many wonderful opportunities out there already for students to connect using technology tools. However the aim in Flat Classroom projects is also to encourage students in different places to collaborate, not just communicate, and to enhance understanding of cultures and life styles beyond the immediate environment.

  For our first assignment, CDS students completed “View from our Windows.” Our students decided to enact a meteorologist’s live weather report for a rainy day in April. Students planned their scripts using words, drawn pictures, and research on an iPad. Using iMovie and GarageBand, Mrs. Siracusa and students put the final touches on the video. It is truly amazing to see how even our youngest students develop their 21^st century learning skills! 

To: Russia Video

International Middle School Model UN Conference, New York City, 2013

From Thursday, April 11 through Saturday, April 13, Country Day World School students participated in the International Middle School Model UN Conference in New York City.  Similar to the high school and college level conferences held by the United Nations Association of the United States of America, middle school students were given the opportunity to assume the positions of UN delegates representing different committees and topics that are affecting our global community today.  By participating in simulations of committees such as the General Assembly, the IMO, UNICEF, and others, students were able to interact with 1,500 other middle school students from 14 different states and 12 different nations.  Following months of preparation and extensive research, the students demonstrated their knowledge and understanding during interactive committee sessions.  After delivering opening speeches, participating in moderated and un-moderated caucuses, and drafting resolutions, the students were able to form partnerships with like-minded individuals and celebrate in a closing ceremony unlike no other.  Students plan to return to continue conversations with new friends through collaborative technology mediums.  

Tripline Model UN & International Trip 2013