This Webinar was a great example of learning tips and instructions on how to improve something you've never done. I could tell early on that Chelsea and Angela both had plenty of experience with virtual cultural exchanges and that we would be getting some great advice on the subject. As luck would have it, one of the overseas teachers that regularly partakes in classroom cultural exchanges was present for this webinar, and was available to offer additional advice on these virtual exchanges.
While it may seem easy enough to gather a class together, make a video, and send it to another country, doing it right and doing it well mean putting forth plenty of extra effort to prepare one's students for the exchange in a way that is effectively educational. This idea is one that I definitely expect to pursue in my career; cultural literacy is crucial to good citizenry, especially in a time when communication is more widely available than any other time in history. I hope that I can learn more about this method of cultural exchange and engage my students with others around the world.
While it may seem easy enough to gather a class together, make a video, and send it to another country, doing it right and doing it well mean putting forth plenty of extra effort to prepare one's students for the exchange in a way that is effectively educational. This idea is one that I definitely expect to pursue in my career; cultural literacy is crucial to good citizenry, especially in a time when communication is more widely available than any other time in history. I hope that I can learn more about this method of cultural exchange and engage my students with others around the world.