North East Notes Page 8 May 2010

ISA explores 21st century global leadershipBy Honor MoormanTeacher, International School of the Americas

Students at ISA know that learning extends far beyond a classroom’s walls. They are using technology to reach out to the global community. Embracing technology in this way is one of the district’s biggest initiatives.

Students at the International School of the Americas (ISA) are participating in the Flat ClassroomTM – Net Generation Education (NetGenEd) Project. ISA is one of 15 schools in seven different countries that have joined together to create a global project that envisions the future of education and society. This vision is based on the 2010 Horizon Report from the New Media Consortium and Educause, as well as Don Tapscott’s latest book Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World. Using Web 2.0 technologies including a wiki, a social bookmarking group and an educational networking site, ISA students are communicating and collaborating with peers in Australia, Canada, India, Korea, New Zealand, Pakistan and other states in the U.S. Together, each international team is researching and discussing one of the six technology trends outlined in the Horizon Report, as well as the “Net Gen norms” described by Tapscott in Grown Up Digital. Students are creating multimedia projects that include outsourced video clips from their global partners. These will be shared with a worldwide audience as part of the Net Gen Education Challenge. This project is part of ISA’s 21st Century Global Leadership class, which is designed to guide students through an inquiry process that includes four dimensions: Investigate the World, Recognize Perspectives, Communicate Ideas and Take Action. These guiding themes are derived from the Asia Society’s International Studies Schools Network Global Leadership Performance Outcomes in alignment with their Graduate Profile for the 21st Century. Earlier this semester, students in the 21st Century Global Leadership class contributed six-word stories about their digital lives to the PBS Frontline: Digital Nation Web site. The Digital Nation lessons I developed were selected for second prize in the PBS Teachers Innovation Awards. Links to Digital Nation, the NetGenEd Project, and all our course content are available online at tinyurl.com/21cglobal.

ISA students Carla, Nicole, Tiffany, Krysta, Taylor, Edward, and Nick use technology to collaborate with international peers in the Flat ClassroomTM – NetGenEd Project.

Registration underway for Community Education’s summer session Hundreds of community classes, ranging from the Tango to First Aid for Pets, will be offered starting in June. Featured classes include Intermediate Guitar and Rock Band Preparation for teens, Cardio Kickboxing Express and French Art Framing. Register early since class space is limited. For class catalog or registration information, visit the Community Education Web site at www.communityed.neisd.net or call 657-8866. Community Education classes are offered at dozens of convenient locations including the North East Community Learning Center at 8750 Tesoro Dr.

NEISD employees

receive a 20 percent discount on classes more than $25 (unless

otherwise indicated).

Photo by K

im C

aise - Flat Classroom

Project A

dministrator