One of the greatest lessons teachers will teach their students is to love and respect one
another despite differences . This is especially true for students with special needs as they on a daily basis are reminded of their differences in many different ways . In a new global project students are working on this year “ SMARTee the Project ,” this is drastically changing , and the focus has shifted from what makes students different to what makes kids all the same .
Students from around the world are collaborating and learning about one another as well as teaching one another in a global collaboration project and the first of its kind called “ SMARTee the Project .” Within the project students are using various forms of technology with the biggest emphasis on SMARTamp to communicate , teach one another , and learn about other countries as well as new topics through various cultural viewpoints . Students are able to communicate in real time through writing , drawing , making videos , and sharing about a topic through Skype , SMARTamp , and E-books . Within the project students are working on their individualized education plan goals ( IEP ), as well as their grade level curriculum goals . Not only are students practicing academic and individual skills , but they are learning to apply concepts in real time on real world problem based learning .
In the project five countries are represented with a total of six participating classes with their teachers : Jörgen Holmberg ( Finland ), Lotta Ramqvist ( Sweden ), Staci Kinsler Gelbaum ( Georgia , USA ), Carla Pinho Vieira ( South Africa ), Brianna Owens ( New Mexico , USA ), and Stefan Schwarz ( Germany ). Students are learning about their own countries then reporting out to teach the other students what they have learned . Students in New Mexico , USA , for example , learned all about their state ’ s International balloon fiesta held in October and then taught other students in other countries about the topic .
SMARTee traveled with Micah and his family to West Palm Beach , Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving .
All students in the project have various special needs from autism , to hearing loss , to learning disabilities and various other needs . For some , collaboration is a very difficult thing ; however through the project students are learning important communication and social skills that would not otherwise be possible . Teacher Jörgen Holmberg from Finland notes , “ Many students have problems to collaborate with the student sitting next to them- perhaps it ’ s easier to collaborate with the student sitting in another country .” Students using the technology are able to connect with one another in a safe and noninvasive way . And through sharing similar learning goals and a purpose of teaching others and answering real world questions , students are less focused on the anxiety of communication and socialization and are more focused on writing and talking with others .
STEAMed Magazine
35
January 2016 Edition