Reasons to Believe

It has been a busy week and a joy filled one. This week we saw our Flipgrids gain traction. We have had over sixty videos made and almost an equal number of responses to those videos. Last week our Portuguese participants made their introductions and they were joined by some of my MSM Writers who responded and began a dialogue. Yesterday students from Singapore introduced themselves too. It wasn't only the domain of the student participants though, On a separate Flipgrid, the teachers began to share their hopes for the project. It is wonderful to be able to put a face to a name. We are working together to build skills and connections for our students and sharing the belief that we each have the ability to participate in building sustainable development, to reach goals that will enhance the quality of life for all, will make transformation possible.

It is a humbling thing to have the chance to bring so many people from so many countries across Asia and Europe together. At this point 35 schools from over 20 countries have expressed interest and are beginning to become familiar with the applications and platforms we are using. Naturally there are some considerations that we continue to work around such as time zones and school terms but they are nothing insurmountable. Showing our students our flexibility and resilience and willingness to participate is really important modelling. I also had interest in the project from our sister schools and it will be fabulous to have them on board. The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are key to the Catholic Social Teachings that underpin our four schools. The fact that they, the SDGs are fundamental to us all irrespective of race or creed is probably one of the key factors driving me. I LOVE the fact that we have common goals and that our young writers can find that there is little real distance between them, geography not withstanding. I'm finding that my mind is often abuzz. The digital bower bird in me is constantly looking to improve my own practice and that inevitably leads to sharing what I find. The Google Earth Project I am creating helps us to see where we are in the world and will in itself contain evidence of our closeness and connection in the shared projects.

The wind outside is tossing trees and the sky is grey. It sets me to thinking about all of us sharing the same sky but experiencing our own postage stamp of it. Perspective is such a personal thing and it shows in our writing. Learning about one another's perspectives is something exciting to anticipate. I created a web page on AI and Machine Learning that also had me thinking about perspectives. You might like to have a look. I also adapted a SAMR Model table so that participating teachers could add their best practice. Learning how to use technology to modify or redesign student outcomes together, may be the gift that keeps giving. I certainly hope so.

On another note the young writers in Ireland have begun exploring their thoughts on the environment and are considering ways that we might be proactive in protecting it. I recommend that you go to our Write the World group and have a read. More writing will appear over time and we will need to think about how we share it meaningfully so that others may be stirred into caring enough to take action.

Check out

Australia's oceans are safe, and other lies you can tell yourself. Seanthesheep (Ireland)

Or

The Importance of Bees

By Laoisewood (Ireland)

Although you may only view bees as fuzzy, black and yellow bugs that fly from flower to flower, stinging anyone in their path, they actually play a major role on our planet and without them, life would cease to exist. Bees are an extremely important part of our environment as they are our predominant pollinator, pollinating one-third of all the food we eat...

The writing outcomes from this project are rich and are not limited to any particular genre. Participants may decide that they like the idea of creating an ebook where they can narrate their words and share their voice or perform a poetry slam. They may write letters and articles, plays and protest commentary. The project is limited only by our imaginations.

The key is our core belief. We have a responsibility to act wisely and justly to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals remain in the forefront of our consciousness. The future that our participants are helping to shape must be a place where nothing is taken for granted, including unwitting gender bias that can infiltrate our use of AI and other technology. Finding ways to talk about our world, its needs and issues, are steps toward action. Words are powerful. Words grounded in a firm, shared, life-giving vision, gain life and force. Let's make sure that we give others a reason to believe.
Write
and
write
and then

WRITE some more.