TIGed: the global classroom

Bringing the world to students, literally.

Classroom walls around the world are coming down as elementary and post-secondary schools across cities, countries and continents are connecting to create global classrooms; thanks in part to Jennifer Corriero and Michael Furdyk’s social media application, Taking It Global.

Taking It Global was created by the two Canadians in 1999 to bring awareness to youth through a collaborative learning community. The social media application provides youth with access to global opportunities, cross-cultural connections and meaningful participation in decision-making. The site offers educators a special networking tool, TIGed, which is a community connecting 17,755 students, 3,814 teachers, 1963 classes, 1762 schools in 95 countries. The TIGed community was designed to improve students’ critical thinking, leadership skills and global citizenship, hoping to inspire, inform and most importantly involve youth.

Students at Philadelphia's School of the Future talk about their TIGed experience:


Like the student’s in the video explain, TIGed enables them to connect with people from all corners of the world, exposing them to cultures, beliefs and issues that they may not find in their own communities. While these differences are highlighted, there are underlying similarities among youth around the world, which help students bond and relate to one another.

I believe that it’s programs like TIGed in schools that help fight the generalization and stereotype of youth apathy. In part because programs like this educate students, making them more conscious of the world around them and the responsibilty they have to be an active participant in the world. Through these programs students see that the voice of one person, when joined with others, really can make a difference.

For more information on Taking It Global and all of its various features, please visit my colleague’s blogs: Jacqueline Goldstine and Kaitlynn Dodge.

Check out my elevator pitch for TIGed:

ON AIR: The Art of Podcasting

In a world of voices, how will you be heard?


Mahalo.com outlines the basics of podcasting in their how to: podcast article, which is an in depth, well organized and straightforward approach to creating your own podcast. The guide walks the user through the entire process; from choosing a subject to listing your podcast in a directory.

This article is refreshing. It blends together possible podcasting programs for Mac and PC users alike, marrying up compatible programs for mp3 conversions. The guide recommends several podcasting programs based on a user’s operating system. For the sake of length and clarity, the article uses one program to illustrate a step by step, start to finish podcast.

Links are used to help 'how to-ees' find the right downloadable programs, find more comprehensive tutorials in specific areas, as well as general resources. Print screens, like the one below, are used whenever possible to illustrate a process.


Mahalo.com is an excellent example of network learning. It offers help and advice from people all over the world on various topics, ranging from internet to food, music to weddings and everything in between.

Advance podcast tutorials are available. These tutorials focus on creating as well as promoting podcasts, an excellent tie-in to public relations. For more tutorials on “how to” use other facets of social media, please visit "How to", which will provide you with a complete comprehensive list.

And for more Mahalo.com goodness, check out my colleague’s blogs:
Erica Beyea and Nirusitha Gnanenthra.

Bonjour, bonjour.

À la une, for those of you who may not know, is the front page of a newspaper – in French. J’aime les français. I love their fashion, their strength and above all, their passion. I had the opportunity to live and study in France for four months. While at school in France, I caught the incredibly infectious French attitude– to be an active participant, rather than a passive observer of the world’s events.

I thought it fitting to call my blog à la une – an alternative front page, as it will cover an array of topics that are unlikely to be found à la une.