Digital Board

Glog on Diversity in our Classroom

Glogster is an excellent web 2.0 tool to grow my students’ ethical and respectful minds by allowing students to collaborate online with others.  They can share information, view information and create. Gardner says, “The task for educators becomes clear: if we are to fashion persons who respect differences, we need to provide models and offer lessons that encourage such a sympathetic stance”. Glogster allows me to create such a lesson and/or unit to get students thinking and working in a respectful and sympathetic way.  Glogster is versatile enough to be used with any subject or topic and allows students the opportunity to explore, respond, create and apply what their learning through links and embedded videos, charts, photos and other media.

The Glogster that I created was developed with my students and their families input.  I was able to talk with my students and their families and find out where they are from and a little about their culture. Then we put together the Glog based on their input. I will use this Glog over several weeks to give students the opportunity to share their geographical backgrounds and to compare and contrast their differences.  Then students will have a chance to reflect and write about the importance of learning about their similarities and differences.  After working through the Glog together I will give students an opportunity to explore the links, videos and activities in centers.  Then we will celebrate by having a day of diversity where students can bring in a family member, food, clothing and media to share their culture with the class.  I could have them work with their families to create a Glog with personal photos, videos and links to teach each other about their culture to share on this day. Using Glogster in whole group will afford students the opportunity to showcase their background and show and tell their culture.  This board gives us a jumping off point to learn to appreciate our diverse world and to accept each other.  In addition, it will give them a safe environment to explore their bias and prejudices and discover the truths in each culture. I will be modeling the ethical and respectful minds as I acknowledge and help students explore the languages, culture, beliefs and traditions among each other.

Gardner, H. (2007). Five Minds for the Future. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.