Educators who want to explore collaborations with colleagues and classrooms in other countries may find these organizations and Web sites helpful. Some of the projects focus on a particular content area and others are wide open. These organizations are based in different countries around the world.
Canada's SchoolNet Network of Innovative Schools
This Canadian organization has more than 100 member schools that use technology in imaginative ways to improve learning. The site provides information on classrooms using new technology such as robotics and Web cams, resources for mentoring in technology, and links to global networks and international projects.
Child Net
This group promotes positive ways for children to use the Internet. The site provides links to Internet safety information.
The Creative Connections Project
This project allows schools in the United States to communicate with schools in five regions—Africa, the Amazon Rain Forest, the Artic, China, and the Galapagos Islands. The interactions include art and music exchanges. Different levels of involvement allow schools to participate during a project coordinator's trip to the region or later. The project includes activities for donating to needy schools in these regions and for leading a fund-raising campaign.
CyberSchoolBus
This United Nations-sponsored project is the online component of the Global Teaching and Learning Project, which aims to promote education about international issues and the United Nations. The site provides links to teaching materials and activities designed to help students get involved in global issues and problem solving.
Environment Online (ENO)
ENO, based in Finland, is a virtual global school designed to encourage students and local community members to think about their environment. Participating schools conduct a series of lessons each week that focus on the cultural, natural, and social environment as well as sustainable development. Teachers and participating classes can share ideas in scheduled chat sessions.
ePALS
The ePALS site identifies projects for ages 6–11, 12–14, and 15 and up. One example is Sandrine's Gift of Life, which lets students explore issues involved in organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The ePALS Online Book Club can be used for any age level and any curriculum area. Students can discuss their favorite books, write reviews, and submit poetry and short stories. A Teacher Talk discussion forum allows educators to share ideas and strategies.
European Network of Innovative Schools
Member schools are selected by the Ministry of Education in their home country and identified as model schools in the use of technology for learning. The site provides links to other school leaders and to partners for educational projects.
Friendship Through Education
This consortium provides information on how students from Muslim countries and the United States can interact to build a culture of peace. The organization recognizes online and offline communications such as letter writing, e-mail, and collaborative projects.
Global SchoolNet
This nonprofit organization's Global Schoolhouse site fosters online project-based learning among schools in more than 100 countries. Global SchoolNet offers a clearinghouse of online collaborative projects, teacher awards for online shared learning, and student awards for research published online.
GLOBE
GLOBE is a worldwide school-based science education program. Participating schools take scientific measurements and report their data through the Internet. They can collaborate with scientists and students around the world. The organization provides teacher training via workshops and videos and also offers a teacher's guide.
International Education and Resource Network (iEARN)
This global nonprofit network of schools encourages teachers and students to conduct international Internet-based projects to improve learning and make a difference in the world. The network offers a link to an extensive project list as well as online and in-person professional development for educators.
International Education Week
November 17–21 is International Education Week in the United States. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of State, this weeklong series of events promotes international education and exchange programs among people from the United States and other countries. The Web site highlights some of the events around the world.
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
Explore the SIGs link to find the ISTE Special Interest Group for Telelearning (SIGTel). SIGTel helps educators share research, work on international projects, and find information about training.
Kidlink
This virtual organization focuses on empowering youth to take more control over their lives, express their creativity, and collaborate with peers around the world.
NetAid
The NetAid World Schoolhouse project aims to encourage donations of money, time, and involvement in projects that will help the poor children of the world get an education.
Oz Projects
This site, based in Australia, provides links to online learning tools, an international learning quest challenge, and an international projects registry.
People to People International
This organization aims to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural, and humanitarian activities among people of diverse cultures. The site includes links to programs for pen pals, student ambassadors, classroom connections, and youth conferences.
Schools Online
This organization helps students get access to computers and Internet connections to enhance learning and enable communication across cultures. The group sets up Internet learning centers in local communities and provides links to Web-based mentoring.
SchoolWorld
This site, based in Australia, provides links to international projects, to technology teachers who can provide advice in particular content areas, to homeschooling resources, and to a peace registry.
Telus 2Learn
This site provides links for educators, students, and parents, as well as resources and professional development opportunities for educators who are infusing technology into the curriculum. The 2Learn program is a technology education initiative sponsored by Canada's federal and provincial governments along with corporate partners.
This Is Our Time
This Is Our Time includes online discussion forums, games, and videoconferences during a 24-hour period in November. The project is sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UNESCO's Associated Schools Project Network, and is based at e-LinQ in the Netherlands. The United States, which resigned from UNESCO in 1984, officially rejoined the educational organization in October.
UNICEF Voices of Youth
This site provides a forum in which youth can comment on world issues such as gender inequity, HIV/AIDS, and water quality.
World Wise Schools
This Peace Corps program provides lesson plans for global education and connects U.S. classrooms with Peace Corps volunteers in the field.
ASCD Networks
The following ASCD networks may be helpful to educators pursuing online learning and international collaborative projects. Descriptions and facilitators for ASCD networks are available on this Web site under "About ASCD" (click on "Networks"). Network facilitators and their e-mail addresses are listed for each entry.
The Change Agency Network
This network is designed to be an electronic tool for leadership in learning. It features an international electronic-mail discussion group for a range of educational issues. Contact Charles F. Webber, phone: 1-403-220-5675, e-mail: cwebber@ucalgary.ca.
Global Education
Members of this network communicate about global and multicultural perspectives and education initiatives. They share information about best practices and challenges in global education. Contact Anne Baker, phone: 1-202-293-7728, ext. 12, e-mail: globaled@rpcv.org.
Integrating Technology in the Elementary Classroom
This network strives to build educators' understanding about how technology can be used to enhance curriculum. Contact Catherine Hatzigeorgiou, phone: 1-901-767-1389, e-mail: cathat44@aol.com.
Problem-Based Learning
Members share information, methods, and materials related to problem-based learning. Contact Debra Gerdes, phone: 1-630-907-5957, e-mail: dgerdes@imsa.edu.
Technology in the Middle School
This network encourages global participation and promotes the inclusion of technology into the middle school curriculum to enhance student academic achievement. Contact Judith Horn, phone: 1-703-444-4778, e-mail: judith.horn@fcps.edu.