Reflections on the Partnership for Global Learning Conference

A snapshot of conference participants at dinner time

Highlights of the Partnership for Global Learning Conference included the following:-

The Plenary sessions

• Unashamedly biased, of course, our “Technology – the Future of Learning” panel discussion was the highlight and my very reason for being in New York.  The panel consisted of Steve Hargadon, Lucy Gray, Julie Lindsay, Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano and me (Anne Mirtschin).  Steve, Julie and Lucy with their social networking or global project sites have all played a key and instrumental role in the progress that both I and my students have made with global education.  How amazing to be on the very same panel with them and spend time getting to know them further on a personal basis. I have also followed Sylvia’s work and used many of her freely given online materials.
• The Friday morning plenary with Liu Jinghai, Shool Leader, Shanghai China and Manogaran Suppiah, Executive Director, Academy of Singapore Teachers.  These two trailblazing leaders have implemented reforms at their respective Ministries and Departments of Education. What I loved most was the fact that it brought in Asian educators (to a Global Asia conference) to the conference mix. Liu Jinghai required an interpreter. But far from this being a distractor it added further depth to the conversation and real meaning to global education. Different customs were also apparent eg when the audience applauded, the Chinese eduationalist would bow to the conference participants with palms facing inwards and upwards with head bowed in respect to the audience. So much was learnt from that panel
• Thursday morning plenary speaker, Marica Tate on “Worksheets don’t grow dendrites”, sharing instructional strategies for brain-compatible teaching.

The student voice through an iPad screen

The Student Work Display and Cocktail Reception – a display of student art work that related to the four domains of global competence. A student  musical group entertained us with innovative and beat bopping pieces.

Students perform some great musical numbers

There were well thought out displays and pens for participants to add their ideas to the “Student Voice” poster. iPad screens nestled on tables scattered across the conference foyer displaying student work, voice and images.

The Student Voice

Mini-plenerary sessions

All participants had full control over which sessions and workshops they wished to attend. Despite there being 500 participants, no-one was blocked out of sessional choice. I attended the following: Lucy Gray and Steve Hargadon on Create Global Learning Networks, Julie Lindsay on the Flat Classrooms Projects, Take Your Classroom Global with Online Tools and Resources with Sarah and Kate Gatto, Use Digital Portfolios to Guide the Global Learning Journey with Honor Moorman

Full use was made of conference time. Each day started with breakfast at either at 8am and a keynote speaker spoke during part of this time. Lunch was also accompanied by plenary session.

The venue: The location was most attractive – New York city is popular with everyone. The conference rooms were large, roomy and plentiful with extra spaces for networking and conversations. It was easy to navigate. The hotel was within walking distance of the Brooklyn Bridge – a nice energetic walk, in the heat, with views across to Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. A short distance from the hotel was the City Hall and Brooklyn Courts of Justice, with many restaurants within easy reach. Brooklyn has much character and with the full ethnic mix of inhabitants offers a vast array of food types, shops, restaurants and markets and food carts.

Nearby restaurants

Finally the networking – another great group of teachers and educationalists to meet and network with further. Congratulations to the conference organizers on a very successful conference. Thanks for the care and kindness shown to me and letting me be part of this network.

If you attended this conference what were your takeaways? What conferences have you enjoyed and why?

Read further posts

• Disrupting the World: Movement for Global Competence

Technology and the Future of Education

The PGL Panel

As part of the keynote sessions at the Partnerships for Global Learning conference, a panel of guest speakers was invited to share their opinions on “Technology and the Future of Education” from a global perspective. The panel consisted of Steve Hargadon, Lucy Gray, Julie Lindsay, Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano and me (Anne Mirtschin). Steve ably led the discussions and spent much time preparing the forum questions. Approximately 600 conference participants listened to the panel.

Panel discussion audienc

Here are some of the questions directed at the panel members:-

• Please give a favorite example of a use of technology in global education/collaboration
• Have our definitions of global education changed because of the internet and web/collaborative technologies, and how do we begin to identify (store) best practices we’re seeing with technology and global education?  That is, what do successful global projects [using technology] look like?
• How do we measure the outcomes of global education, and how is the technology involved?
• In an increasingly test-driven education environment, how do you find leadership support for global activities?
• Students and teachers increasingly lead parallel lives:  they are learning from and with new technologies, they are being measured in inadequate ways…  Lets’ talk about technology from the educator side
• Are there ways of overcoming technology gaps between participating schools? How do you connect with a school that has low, limited, or no access to technology or connectivity?
• Is global education our end goal?  What is your prediction for where we are headed?

Thanks Steve, Julie, Lucy and Silvia and a big thank you to the organisers of this great conference for inviting me to participate. It was such an exciting and proud moment. The conversations continue on our mighty bell space. Please join us.

Julie, Sylvia and me

Steve and Lucy ensure discussion questions go smoothly

Great use of social media/networking at #PGL12

PGL12 is the hashtag for the 2012 Asia Society for Partnership for Global Learning Annual Conference held at the Marriott, Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The reason I am in the USA is due to a request to take part in on a panel about  “Technology and the Future of Education”. This was really exciting for me and shows the power that technology can bring to a personal network.

Although this conference was not a technology based one (as most conferences that I attend are) their use of technology and social media was most impressive. Arriving early on the morning of the pre-conference workshops, I was invited to attend the keynote speaker’s session.  Marcia Tate shared 20 Instructional Strategies that will train the brain – a very inspiring lady.

At lunchtime, I sat through a visual media introduction to New York and learnt how 20 treks had been developed using scvngr – a game all about going places, doing challenges and earning points. People were divided into smaller groups and given a metro train ticket to reach the initial point of their trek. At each point, they were to take a photo and take digital notes describing their surroundings. These photos and notes could be shared via a tweet or facebook, using the hashtag #pgl12 so that the whole conference group could share in their learning.

A conference app had also been developed and this one was the best that I have seen or used. On the left hand sidebar, it had direct and ready access to facebook, twitter, a personal planner and the ability to make friends.  Features included:-

• Cross platform – android, iDevices etc (not just for iPhones, iPads as most conferences that  I have recently used)
• The friends feature was great as this meant a friend’s photo, contact details etc are then shared and nicely contained within the app for future reference. No need for business cards.
• Emailing notes – friends can be emailed your notes
• A schedule for selecting events that participants want to attend – just click a star!
• Exhibitors can be highlighted with a bookmark
• Alerts and updates were available
• Downloaded notes by speakers or presenters can be accessed through the app.
• Maps of the conference centre.
• News rss feed
• Quick access to twitter and facebook

The downside was that internet access was erratic at times at the conference venue.

Twitter

• The hashtag #pgl12 was used for the conference. Interesting to note that initially there were not many people either registered for or using twitter, but high interest was shown in it as the conference progressed.

Congratulations to the organizers of this event and the embracement of technology to empower social networking.