Global Cooperation

I recently reviewed some interesting global cooperation websites. One was iEARN and the other was Kidlink. They were both very interesting and valuable but different. iEARN is an excellent not for profit tool where students and teachers across the world can work together through the internet to improve the quality of life on the planet. They do so by creative service learning projects in which classrooms across the world can link up, discuss and work together to towards their specific project. Projects can include planting flowers at the same time as children in other areas of the world and keep records of growth and sharing them with classrooms that are doing the same thing. Sharing folktales using art and text from their country is another project that has been done. This website enables students to participate in meaningful projects with their peers around the world to make a difference as global citizens.
Kidlink was different in that it was a user-owned organization and the students were not participating in projects specifically but more as an open communication system with kids like them all over the world. Each child has their own profile in which they can communicate with other children in any of the 176 other countries that participate. Users are somewhat younger in this system, often ranging between ten and fifteen years old. The site really helps the children to set life goals and talk about their personal interests. There was one particular link that I liked, kids clicked on what they wanted to be when they grew up and discussed why they chose that career. Then there was a link at the top of that page and the kids had to write how they could accomplish that goal. It was interesting to see the kids’ responses. This would be an excellent way to get kids to learn language, interact with students from around the world and also to help find themselves. I see children really getting a lot out of this website.