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Gnu Stories Podcast | Episode 6: Civic Engagement and the Role of School

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LISTEN: As an educational institution, how do we prepare our students to be civically engaged citizens while also practicing civility? What lessons from history can help guide our students as they learn about democracy and find a way to use their own voice for change? What is the role of school in c…

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Developing Cultural Awareness | Learning with Littles | PBS LearningMedia

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We invite you to a live discussion with illustrator, animator, writer, director and producer, Joe Murray, who created the new PBSKids hit, Let’s Go Luna. You’ll recognize Joe’s previous work as creator of Rocko’s Modern Life and Camp Lazlo. Together with on-staff anthropologist Erik Messal and cultu…

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Expecting students to leave behind all that they are when they enter the classroom isn't just unrealistic, it's unfair. But that's often what's expected of students: Show up and be prepared to take what we offer. Technology, however, has delivered the means to provide more culturally relevant instruction.

"When a lesson is relevant, the student becomes a learner, their interests are sparked and their brains ignite, and that is how we close the achievement gap," says Alicia Discepola, a digital literacy and learning specialist for Millville Public Schools in New Jersey.

"Culturally responsive teaching focuses on students' cultural knowledge and frames of reference. So, if we're going to meet the needs of our students and communities, we have to know who they are."

Technology provides ways to do that every step of the way, Discepola says. Here are four ways to make your classroom more culturally responsive with technology.

1. Translation

Use apps like Google Translate, iTranslate or Reverso to communicate with families who don't speak English.

2. Livestreaming

Use sites like YouTube Live, YouNow or Live to virtually bring families into the school for special events or to showcase learning.

3. Web accessibility

On websites, include text-to-speech and translation tools, and provide accessible information through multiple means, like interactive images with ThingLink.

4. Collaboration

Promote student voice and choice by allowing kids to decide how to show what they're learning. Google Hangouts, ePals and Skype let students collaborate and communicate with people around the world. Teachers can provide meaningful feedback through personalized videos and screencasting, comment threads and G Suite.

Finally, Discepola says, look within and examine your own biases and judgment. Have tough conversations with yourself and see where there's room to learn.

"Our students' cultures, interests and backgrounds, can no longer be left out of learning. When we know better, we do better, and we have the power and the potential to involve and empower all learners. So, let's do it."

You can learn more by watching Alicia Discepola's ISTE19 presentation below on creating a culturally responsive classroom.
Jerry Fingal is a freelance writer and editor who covers education, finance, business and agriculture. This is an updated version of a post that originally published Oct. 6, 2019.

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4 Ways To Use Tech To Create a Culturally Responsive Classroom

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Expecting students to leave behind all that they are when they enter the classroom isn't just unrealistic, it's unfair. But that's often what's expected of students: Show up and be prepared to take what we offer. Technology, however, has delivered the means to provide more culturally relevant instruction.

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9 Apps for Teaching Global Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity

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Spread the love*The Tech Edvocate is pleased to produce its "Best of the Best" resource lists. These lists provide our readers with rankings for edtech-related blogs, twitter accounts, influencers, products, etc. These lists are meant to be fluid, and for that reason, they are regularly updated to provide up to the moment information.* America's "melting pot" status is one that most citizens are proud to claim.

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This podcast provides insight for educators on providing opportunities for civic engagement in the classroom. The speakers in this podcast are current educators in the classroom and provide first-hand experience, ideas, and lessons to implement civic engagement in all grade areas. 

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This podcast provides insight for educators on providing opportunities for civic engagement in the classroom. The speakers in this podcast are current educators in the classroom and provide first-hand experience, ideas, and lessons to implement civic engagement in all grade areas. 

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PBS provides a professional development video led by PBS digital innovators, an anthropologist, and show creators to assist lower elementary teachers with teaching models and strategies to help build a culturally responsive learning environment. The creator's goal is to provide opportunities for learners to travel the world and develop global awareness at a young age in the classroom. 

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PBS provides a professional development video led by PBS digital innovators, an anthropologist, and show creators to assist lower elementary teachers with teaching models and strategies to help build a culturally responsive learning environment. The creator's goal is to provide opportunities for learners to travel the world and develop global awareness at a young age in the classroom. 

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The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) provides an article that explains to educators ways they can create a culturally responsive classroom using specific technology tools and resources. Each tool and resource is explained with examples on what it may look like in various classrooms. 

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The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) provides an article that explains to educators ways they can create a culturally responsive classroom using specific technology tools and resources. Each tool and resource is explained with examples on what it may look like in various classrooms. 

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The National Education Association provides an in-depth article for educators on providing strategies and tools to teach global citizenship in the classroom. The article explains various examples teachers of all grade levels can implement that can also be enhanced with technology. 

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The National Education Association provides an in-depth article for educators on providing strategies and tools to teach global citizenship in the classroom. The article explains various examples teachers of all grade levels can implement that can also be enhanced with technology. 

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The Tech Edvocate provides a unique approach to teaching global and cultural awareness and sensitivity in the classroom. They lay out 9 specific apps and their uses on how educators can use them with their students in the classroom to experience and learn about global awareness. 

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The Tech Edvocate provides a unique approach to teaching global and cultural awareness and sensitivity in the classroom. They lay out 9 specific apps and their uses on how educators can use them with their students in the classroom to experience and learn about global awareness. 

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Lesson: One app mentioned in this article is Flat Stanley. Many students have used the real paper Flat Stanley in class, but now with technology, students can do it virtually. As a lesson idea, students first read the Flat Stanley book and make their own Flat Stanley character. Then they can go on the Flat Stanley app and experience the world. Kids take a picture of their Flat Stanley in a meaningful spot or with someone of significance. Then they can post their own alongside others' via social media or on the Flat Stanley site Flatter World. Kids tap on Map to see the spot on the globe where the photos were taken. They can also view how many people in different global locations have user accounts on Flat Stanley. This is a great experience for students to engage digitally and learn about the world and other cultures. 

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Lesson: One app mentioned in this article is Flat Stanley. Many students have used the real paper Flat Stanley in class, but now with technology, students can do it virtually. As a lesson idea, students first read the Flat Stanley book and make their own Flat Stanley character. Then they can go on the Flat Stanley app and experience the world. Kids take a picture of their Flat Stanley in a meaningful spot or with someone of significance. Then they can post their own alongside others' via social media or on the Flat Stanley site Flatter World. Kids tap on Map to see the spot on the globe where the photos were taken. They can also view how many people in different global locations have user accounts on Flat Stanley. This is a great experience for students to engage digitally and learn about the world and other cultures. 

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Lesson: A great lesson idea that stems from this article is engaging in virtual field trips. A great way for students to learn about different countries and cultures is to see it for themselves! If the class is learning about an event in history, geography, or important people in history, a great way to further enhance those experiences is to engage in a virtual field trip. Due to the pandemic, virtual field trips are widely available with locations all around the world. There are even live field trips with museums, galleries, and landmarks. Students can do this independently or with the whole class.

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Lesson: A great lesson idea that stems from this article is engaging in virtual field trips. A great way for students to learn about different countries and cultures is to see it for themselves! If the class is learning about an event in history, geography, or important people in history, a great way to further enhance those experiences is to engage in a virtual field trip. Due to the pandemic, virtual field trips are widely available with locations all around the world. There are even live field trips with museums, galleries, and landmarks. Students can do this independently or with the whole class.

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Lesson: ISTE provides a different approach to culturally responsive classrooms with focusing specifically on students currently in the classroom that may be culturally or linguistically diverse. One of the tools and strategies it provides is to allow multiple methods of communication and presentation when assessing students in the classroom. For example, if students are presenting a project on a biography of someone from history, promote student voice and choice in who they pick and how they decide to present. When assessing students, provide feedback in accessible ways such as verbal, video, or screencast feedback. 

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Lesson: ISTE provides a different approach to culturally responsive classrooms with focusing specifically on students currently in the classroom that may be culturally or linguistically diverse. One of the tools and strategies it provides is to allow multiple methods of communication and presentation when assessing students in the classroom. For example, if students are presenting a project on a biography of someone from history, promote student voice and choice in who they pick and how they decide to present. When assessing students, provide feedback in accessible ways such as verbal, video, or screencast feedback. 

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Lesson: PBS provides short animated episodes for young students to learn about different cities around the world and make connections to students with food and music. Students can watch the various episodes in the class to learn about different cultures and then teachers can provide extension activities for students to learn more about a particular city or research their own city of interest. 

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Lesson: PBS provides short animated episodes for young students to learn about different cities around the world and make connections to students with food and music. Students can watch the various episodes in the class to learn about different cultures and then teachers can provide extension activities for students to learn more about a particular city or research their own city of interest. 

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Lesson: The podcast looks at civic engagement in a social studies and current events lens. For students in the elementary level, students are not old enough to vote, make policy changes, or know entirely of the depth of current events occurring around them. With that said, it does not make it where students should be kept in the dark and not have a voice. A lesson idea to tap into civic engagement is to have weekly current event presentations. Each week, one or two students will research a current event locally, in the state, in the country, or globally (depending on grade level and standards). Each student will research current events, provide a presentation on Flipgrid, slides, or another medium to chare their voice. This additionally is educating other peers in the class and engaging all in civic engagement issues and can be enhanced by further action and projects. 

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Lesson: The podcast looks at civic engagement in a social studies and current events lens. For students in the elementary level, students are not old enough to vote, make policy changes, or know entirely of the depth of current events occurring around them. With that said, it does not make it where students should be kept in the dark and not have a voice. A lesson idea to tap into civic engagement is to have weekly current event presentations. Each week, one or two students will research a current event locally, in the state, in the country, or globally (depending on grade level and standards). Each student will research current events, provide a presentation on Flipgrid, slides, or another medium to chare their voice. This additionally is educating other peers in the class and engaging all in civic engagement issues and can be enhanced by further action and projects. 