The culture of different groups of people may be as diverse as it may be similar. It is important to be aware of the differences that exist between different cultures so as to be able to show respect and live in harmony with one another. Creating this awareness and the attempt to live in harmony may take different forms, with technology taking the center stage in the 21st century.
Culture may be diverse between regions of the world, countries, or even within a particular nation. It is developed to create a sense of oneness among a group of people. In the United States, immigration has made it possible for different cultures to exist within classrooms where students are expected to cooperate with one another. Knowing the differences that exist is a start to understanding different ways groups of people approach a task. Within the classroom, students may share information about their culture through storytelling, or by reading the textbooks. They might also like to teach each other about how a particular task is performed among the various groups of people. Technology and the Internet in particular is capable of taking the scope of this cultural awareness beyond the classroom and helping each student cope with academic work in a more convenient manner.
Photographs and videos are powerful tools that students can use to learn or teach about a group of people and how they live. Websites such as Flickr and YouTube have a host of images and video that teachers can refer students to learn about other people’s way of life. Search engines like the Google.com and Ask.com provide students with the opportunity to explore what others have already written about a particular culture. Wikis, Weblogs, video conferencing and virtual fieldtrips are other tools that teachers can integrate in cultural related lessons. The First People's Project is an example of how technology can be used to link students around the globe to collaborate in learning about each other. Epals.com is one of the websites that seek to create collaboration between students and classrooms around the world.
Different cultures often mean different languages and background knowledge among the students in the classroom. For students to be able to show respect to one another and to collaborate, each student would need to be given the necessary support to help contribute effectively to classroom projects. In this wise, tools such as text-to-speech and dictation software would have to be made available for the English Language Learners. Firefly by Kurzweil Educational Systems is one program that can read to students, an information about other cultures. Like Google.com, Firefly also helps to translate contents into different languages.
Educators are utilizing the power of the Internet to communicate with students, parents and individuals around the world to help achieve the goals for which the schools were established. Educators blog to share information about what goes on in the schools and to collaborate in building contents for learning. Edmodo is a website that offers both teachers and students the opportunity to blog on various topics while parents monitor students’ progress. Teachers are also able to share ideas on best practices. Blogs on school websites enable the community to track the activities of the school. Twitter is a micro blogging website that schools can use to involve the community in sharing ideas about culture and education in general.
Culture may be diverse between regions of the world, countries, or even within a particular nation. It is developed to create a sense of oneness among a group of people. In the United States, immigration has made it possible for different cultures to exist within classrooms where students are expected to cooperate with one another. Knowing the differences that exist is a start to understanding different ways groups of people approach a task. Within the classroom, students may share information about their culture through storytelling, or by reading the textbooks. They might also like to teach each other about how a particular task is performed among the various groups of people. Technology and the Internet in particular is capable of taking the scope of this cultural awareness beyond the classroom and helping each student cope with academic work in a more convenient manner.
Photographs and videos are powerful tools that students can use to learn or teach about a group of people and how they live. Websites such as Flickr and YouTube have a host of images and video that teachers can refer students to learn about other people’s way of life. Search engines like the Google.com and Ask.com provide students with the opportunity to explore what others have already written about a particular culture. Wikis, Weblogs, video conferencing and virtual fieldtrips are other tools that teachers can integrate in cultural related lessons. The First People's Project is an example of how technology can be used to link students around the globe to collaborate in learning about each other. Epals.com is one of the websites that seek to create collaboration between students and classrooms around the world.
Different cultures often mean different languages and background knowledge among the students in the classroom. For students to be able to show respect to one another and to collaborate, each student would need to be given the necessary support to help contribute effectively to classroom projects. In this wise, tools such as text-to-speech and dictation software would have to be made available for the English Language Learners. Firefly by Kurzweil Educational Systems is one program that can read to students, an information about other cultures. Like Google.com, Firefly also helps to translate contents into different languages.
Educators are utilizing the power of the Internet to communicate with students, parents and individuals around the world to help achieve the goals for which the schools were established. Educators blog to share information about what goes on in the schools and to collaborate in building contents for learning. Edmodo is a website that offers both teachers and students the opportunity to blog on various topics while parents monitor students’ progress. Teachers are also able to share ideas on best practices. Blogs on school websites enable the community to track the activities of the school. Twitter is a micro blogging website that schools can use to involve the community in sharing ideas about culture and education in general.