Join the Conversation

Join The Conversation

Sometimes, just sometimes life begins to resemble a B Grade movie. You know, the ones where an innocuous by line lost in a newspaper report, explodes into a world changing event leading to a dystopian, zombie apocalypse. The hero/ine rides in on a Harley or helicopter, with well placed smudges and attractive dishevelment and saves the world from ruin... I'm sure that you get the picture. Well, while exploring the SDGs and trying to get schools on board, global issues that were significant enough to engage everyone in meaningful dialogue, suddenly became dwarfed by circumstance. Students were beginning to look at important issues that might have felt a little remote to them. Now SDG 3 is no longer a remote consideration since Covid 19 has evolved into a pandemic which we are all currently confronting. Few lives are untouched by the changes that are unfolding in our daily routines and relationships, but that doesn't mean that we lose track of those things that help life make sense.

Today we aren't craning our necks looking for external heroes. We recognise that they are right here in our communities and that their stories need to be told and we as teachers with young writers around the world are well placed to tell them. From the services, medicos and carers, to those working relentlessly to discover a cure; strategies to manage co-ordinating the traffic and care of people confirmed with the virus, and the rare but wise and wonderful leaders who advocate calm and patience (and yes there are some such as the PM of Singapore), people are stepping up and stepping out of their comfort zones to put the welfare of others before their own. 

Positive psychology has research which backs the contention that remaining calm and a positive 'can do' perspective, not only eases any sense of panic but also increases our immune systems. Being proactive and informed is important. This is where this project may prove helpful, particularly in situations where learning is being conducted remotely.

We also understand that this health issue touches upon so many of the SDGs and is far more immediate an experience than we ever anticipated at the beginning of this project. However, where we may have shared some sustainable development issues in clusters of countries, this current situation provides us with a shared experience; one which means that our young writers have their shared experience to draw upon. Not to diminish the awful impact and socially disruptive nature of this health issue, the ASEF Writing /Blogging Project: Writing our Way To A Better World, allows young people a place to share their stories and understanding of current events. Yes they can draw upon SDG 3 Health and Well Being as their stimulus, but this health issue is having an impact upon many of the other SDGs and blogging about it and the impact it is having upon some of them may be the pressure valve our students need to help retain a balanced perspective. To advocate, inform, diarise, support and write factual objective reports, articles, poetry and prose provides a place to process the negative scare mongering, hype and hyperbole. The cartoon above that I created for the project seems inane now but the concept of creating cartoons to share stories and to help younger students understand the issues we are currently confronting, may be useful. Book Creator is another tool that may prove to be a good collaborative tool to be used remotely. Writing, sharing, speaking and responding to the words of others is a life-giving experience. Have your students go to Write the World and respond to the group prompts and competitions; have them participate in Flipgrid video exchanges and more importantly, have them advocate and engage.

Please encourage your writers to engage in the writing process, as much for themselves as for their understanding of global issues.

The prayer below was shared on social media and I think speaks beyond religious boundaries. As we wake to ever shifting conditions, it gives us a moment to pause. Go gently into your week and weekend and know that Maria and I are keeping the project rolling and understand that you do have other imperatives that might keep you busy or only able to participate sporadically.

Gurumba Bigi

Gurumba bigi!

This means 'good day' in Jagara language. The Jagara people are one of the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land on which I live in Brisbane Australia

Today has been given over to organising aspects of the project, learning how to manipulate Google Sheets and Forms and discovering the depths of my patience as I worked and reworked material. I also began building our Google Earth Global Project so that we can curate our work and really see how geographical distance is no distance at all when it comes to sharing what we hold most dear. One of the things I am enjoying most in the preparation, is the constant reminder that I am a learner. It excites me and humbles me too. I have a fabulous inspiration who challenges me and teaches me to step beyond the edge of my comfort zone. It can be a scary place but a healthy reminder that as an educator I expect it of my students. Leaning into discomfort and uncertainty is uncomfortable at times, but through such moments, I understand myself more.

 It is really exciting to see so many teachers getting on board and that's before the invitations have been widely broadcast. At this point twenty three teachers have nominated to participate with students across fourteen countries in Asia and Europe. The three themes appear to be triggering a fantastic response which is exciting. Investing in the exploration of cultural diversity and igniting curiosity about how we each confront the global issues of our day, is to me, an important way to spend what is Australia Day 2020. Today, cultural awareness and sensitivity is most pronounced. Today commemorates Cook's discovery of a found land. A land already occupied, nurtured and held as sacred. Today I find myself thinking particularly of how I might help build bridges of understanding, empathy and responsibility and this expenditure of time is one small action I can take.

 I found myself considering the richness of global projects and such enterprises, and I think that is probably what drives us as educators, to participate in such opportunities, broadening cultural engagement beyond our classroom walls. The ASEF have made such collaborations possible and it astounds me that such programs aren't embedded within and beyond the curriculum. I created our Facebook page and our Teacher's Flipgrid account. Once you have joined our collaboration I will send you the password.

As you begin to think about what you want your students to gain from this collaboration, give some thought to what you might also gain both personally and professionally. We have had wonderful exchanges in the past and this new project will hopefully seed far more.

WATCH THIS SPACE

You may like to see the YouTube collections I am currently putting together.
Go to
Global Sustainability Development Goals 
 and AI and Gender Equity
Write the World is one of the sites we will be using.

Lessons Learned

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way

                                                                                               Napoleon Hill


Today was a really interesting one full of learning and no small degree of laughter at my inadequacies. As I try to create the resources to support participants in the project, I am discovering how much I need to learn about the tools we plan to use. I love nerdling. I love the fiddling and tweaking and collaborations that help build my skills so that I can help others. 

Today I made three sets of Google Sheets which would have probably worked but in a cumbersome way. Click on the images below to see them more clearly.

This seemed a natural starting point but how awkward would it be to navigate between pages?

I am lucky to have a friend well versed in all things Google and he helped me to re-image and tighten my original plan so that now, rather than have three cumbersome sets of sheets which would have been difficult to manage, I now have a Google Form to collect my data which feeds into a sheet where I can apply filters. Participating teachers will be able to find a range of stimulus materials which can be filtered according to target age, themes et al.

The information then gets collated in the Google Sheet like the one below 

The Google Sheet looks like this

Our intention is for participating teachers to help build a repository of texts, both literary and visual, which everyone can access. Texts come in so many different forms and it is wonderful that we will gather such a range across participating countries. We are excited to hear the poems, read the articles, novels and stories, see the photos and videos that allow us to learn about other cultures and also the gift of sharing other people's perspectives in their responses. Google Forms have so many options that allow for data to be gathered. I love learning the nuances of each tool and understand that it really is an ongoing adventure.

It was also pointed out that the project needs its own website outside of my own one. This was something I hadn't thought of and frankly was absolutely on point and so I created a Google Site and embedded materials I had created using Adobe Spark. This is a collaboration and as such needs to stand alone. This blog as well as one I will encourage Maria to create, will be embedded in the site. It might be nice to have each participating school create one and share the links too. So watch this space.

Lessons learned today:
1. Have a clear view of your intention and be ready to look at different iterations.
2. Don't be precious. Be prepared to learn and tweak and delete. The aim is to create the best version rather than tick an objective off the list.
3. Google Forms is far more versatile than I imagined and I LOVE the spreadsheet collection of responses.
4. Using forms means that group members can contribute and view but not upset the spreadsheet formulas.
5. Google Groups allow for a shared folder to be accessible and that I am also able to keep other material separate.
6. Enjoy and learn from those generous enough to share their expertise and passion.

Writing Our Way To A Better World

“At its essence, sustainability means ensuring prosperity and environmental protection without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A sustainable world is one where people can escape poverty and enjoy decent work without harming the earth’s essential ecosystems and resources; where people can stay healthy and get the food and water they need; where everyone can access clean energy that doesn’t contribute to climate change; where women and girls are afforded equal rights and equal opportunities.”

UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon 

The idea of having young writers engage with the Global Sustainability Goals really appeals to me. Perhaps it is because I teach in a Catholic college where the Catholic Social Teachings are integral to my daily practice, perhaps it is because of an inherent desire to see fair access to the natural resources we have become stewards of, or perhaps I have finally found my voice and a vehicle to help raise awareness in a meaningful way beyond my classroom and beyond the curriculum. I am not sure. I do know that through the Asia-Europe Foundation, and with Maria Silva, a teacher from Portugal, I am going to build resources and experiences that will hopefully inspire our young writers to; participate in making a difference, persuade others to pay attention through their debates,poems, slam poems, stories, articles, letters and lyrics. They will be able to act and curate their actions so that they can see how far they have come, not only in their writing, but in their thinking and delivery. Writing should be passionate, joy-filled, shared and make meaning of the world we inhabit. With the use of the Erasmus E-Twinning platform and a number of applications such as Google Earth, GSuite, Flipgrid, Write the World, Adobe Spark, Online Voice Recorder among others, students will collaborate on areas they are interested in. They will see one another, listen and respond and build cultural understanding and a broader view of the world. 

I don't want to set many expectations, I want to see where young minds take their inspiration and apply it. We are currently designing the project and you will find regular updates as the project progresses.You might be interested in participating or simply observing the journey. Either way, wish us luck. This blog will also be embedded in my website where you will find resources and more information about the project.

“Be a global citizen. Act with passion and compassion. Help us make this world safer and more sustainable today and for the generations that will follow us. That is our moral responsibility.”

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon

You can also follow the journey on Twitter @BentleyJuliette