Learning about Africa as NMS Students Talk with a Student in Africa
On Wednesday, November 5, students from Mr. Leonard's Social Studies class during DIAL "face-timed" with an American student in Africa.
I know of an American family who are living in Kenya, Africa, for the year. I worked with Mr. Leonard to set up a DIAL period to have the students talk with this American middle school student, Sebastian.
The students prepared questions and got to hear about African culture, languages, schooling, sports, weather, geography, pop culture, and more.
Looking at this experience made me think about how we need to be exploring more activities such as this. When we have the technology up and running to the extent we want it to be, we will certainly do more experiences such as this.
Students learned about Africa from their textbook, from their teacher, and from pictures and videos, but talking with a "real life American boy about their age" asking him their own questions in real time was an experience I do believe they learned from far greater than what they might have read, watched, or listened to, and will maybe always remember.
This is what we mean when we discuss utilizing technology as a tool to better learn from. We need to do more of this, and I know we will.
Here are some pictures from the experience and also some that Sebastian shared with the students:
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| Students attentively listening as Sebastian answers their questions. |
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| Students asking questions with Sebastian on the screen answering for them. |
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| Sebastian intently considering his answers. |
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| Students lined up to ask questions. |
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| Leaning & talking with Africa free of charge. ;-) |
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| Sebastian on a safari. |
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| Sebastian with a Native Kenyan. |
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| Sebastian on a safari. |
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| Flags of all the nationalities represented in Sebastian's International School. |
