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:
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