Global Education Network

New technologies provide ways to overcome the traditional barriers to global education and language learning.  The 21st century ushered in an era with the highest level of global interconnected in human history.  Technology now allows us to view live images of events taking place virtually anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The rapid development of global technological capacity and abilities also create opportunities for educators. Where institutions and individuals recognize the importance of education to national economic development, available opportunities are plentiful.

Technology can be instrumental in creating global learning experiences because technology has the power to breakdown geographical, economical, language, and time-zone barriers. With technology, we can gather around a screen in a small town in one place and connect with another place. Technology also allows for a two-way street. Instead of just sending information out about a holiday, custom, or community that your children experienced in the classroom, you can have an exchange and receive information back in return about cultural practices, customs, and communities other children experience around the world.

In this high-tech era there is a significant benefit to instant global communications is that students can improve their language skills through student-to-student conversations regardless of where they live.  The introduction of Peer-to-Peer video conferencing using devices students are familiar with can increase personal interaction. And it can be accomplished from anywhere, it is like opening the world to students who do not have the time or resources to travel.