Edutopia and ePals are online networks that allow teachers and students to connect globally. ePals is the world's largest K-12 network, connecting over 200 countries. It provides collaborative projects, discussions, and email communication between classrooms. Edutopia provides articles, videos and forums to support teachers in areas like assessment, project-based learning and technology integration. Both networks offer opportunities for global learning and connecting classrooms without boundaries. The future of education involves facilitating global impact and teaching subjects with an integrated global perspective.

1. Kimberely Stephenson
EDLD 5362 Informational Systems
ET8038

2. • We live in a wired, globalized
world in which communication and
collaboration are possible 24/7
(Solomon & Schrum, 2007, p.8).

3. • Edutopia and ePals are both networks that link
you locally and globally to provide you with
connections and resources that you may not
otherwise have at your disposal.

4. • The ePals Global Community™
is the world's largest network
of K-12 classrooms, enabling
students and teachers to safely
connect and collaborate with
classrooms in more than 200
countries and territories.
• Free to classrooms
• Gives you access to collaborative
projects and discussions with
classrooms all around the world.

5. • Email-based collaborative projects with digital content
from National Geographic
• Forums for students, teachers and families to participate
in discussions with peers worldwide
• Classroom Match which helps educators connect with
other classrooms by searching ePals profiles based on
project topic, student age range, country, language and
more
• School-safe® email for monitored communication
between students and their ePals

6. • Collaborative project based learning in various subjects.
• Social Studies English
Holidays and Festivals Digital Storytelling
around the World
• Science Math
Weather Pythagorean Theorem

7. • Edutopia is dedicated to transforming the learning
process by helping educators implement the strategies
below.
• Comprehensive Assessment
• Integrated Studies
• Project-Based Learning
• Social and Emotional Learning
• Teacher Development
• Technology Integration

8. • Edutopia is full of articles, videos, and discussion forums
to educate and support teachers, administrators, and
parents in all areas of education.

9. I believe that both of these networks are user friendly and offer many
opportunities for teachers of all subjects. I personally use Edutopia for
resources and professional development. I have not yet used ePals Global
Community before but after the research I have done I will definitely be
investigating it for future classroom use.

10. • I believe the future of education will involve global
learning, classrooms without walls, and facilitators that
are educating students on how to globally impact their
world.

11. • Teaching students about the world is not a
subject in itself, separate from other content
areas, but should be an integral part of all
subjects taught. We need to open global
gateways and inspire students to explore beyond
their national borders (Stewart, 2007, p.10).

12. • Classroom without walls picture Retrieved on April 22, 2012 from
http://edtechdigest.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/ed-tech-tools-and-the-social-media-classroom/
• ePals Corporate Site | corp.epals.com. (n.d.). ePals Corporate Site | corp.epals.com. Retrieved
April 22, 2012, from http://corp.epals.com/products/epals-global-community.php
• Global child picture Retrieved from http://pairadimes.davidtruss.com/bring-your-own-laptop-to-
school/
• K-12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies that Work | Edutopia. (n.d.). K-
12 Education & Learning Innovations with Proven Strategies that Work | Edutopia. Retrieved
April 22, 2012, from http://www.edutopia.org/
• New world picture Retrieved on April 22, 2012 from
http://theglobalclassroomproject.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/assessing-the-impact-of-global-
collaboration-march-globalclassroom-chats/
• Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0 new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International
Society for Technology in Education.
• Stewart, V. (2007, April). Becoming Citizens of the world. Educational Leadership, 64.7, 8-14.
• 21st Century teacher picture Retrieved on April 22, 2012 from
http://mswaughsclass.blogspot.com/2011/04/21st-century-classroom.html
• Wired world picture Retrieved on April 22, 2012 from
http://ziaahmedkhan.hubpages.com/hub/Smart-small-e-business-ideas
• World citizens picture Retrieved on April 22, 2012 from http://knol.google.com/k/gust-
mees/gold-dust-howto-15-a-gray-world-between/vdujwtjyx3uq/236