From Doral to Sweden: Long-distance student connections also spotlight creative teaching

Teachers can make all the difference in a person’s life.

And even though we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day this week — on Tuesday, May 3, this year — we truly appreciate them every day. Their challenge is to make learning interesting, creative and fun.

At Divine Savior Academy in Doral, teachers are connecting their students with other seventh- and eighth-grade students halfway around the world — in Sweden.

In an ongoing project, Phil Kurbis, the director of technology integration, co-teaches English classes with Ola Brorson at Thoren Framtid in Växjö, Sweden.

They met through the global EdTech company SMART Technologies, and decided to explore co-teaching.

At first, the students living 5,000 miles apart started their conversation with a simple question: “What’s for breakfast?”

That initial live learning event, at the beginning of the school year, quickly led to discussion of food, traditions and more. They also discussed what it’s like being teenagers in their respective countries.

Gabriela Vargas, director of the World Languages program, said she jumped at the opportunity to incorporate the modern day pen-pal relationship into the Divine Savior Academy curriculum.

She said it reaches far beyond a simple lesson plan.

“This connection will help our students become more aware of the fact that they are just citizens of the world,” she said. “That always creates more empathy for others because you realize that there are people in the world that are different from you, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

Both the Doral and Swedish schools are SMART Exemplary Schools. They use a variety of technology including Lumio, Flipboard and others, to create an interactive environment where students have the opportunity to connect their lives, school, city, state and country to each other.

In classes, the students share interests, culture and climate. They practice written, spoken and visual language. And they learn to respect others in a digital environment, including with those students practicing English.

Their teachers use strategies such as small group discussions and multimedia presentations to explore the cultural connections they found between the two schools. Some students have even kept their friendships going by partnering on Playstation and Flipgrid. “The integration of technology in the classroom setting as a means to enhance learning is only effective when it’s age-appropriate, purposeful and is given by teachers who have the know-how and knowledge to make it meaningful and engaging,” said Tim Biesterfeld, Divine Savior Academy’s Head of Schools.

Divine Savior student Ana Ongarato said the Swedish students “are still the same kind of teenagers that we are here. They are laughing between each other and acting just like us.”

Vargas said her students have gotten a wider view of the world.

“They have been able to see that the world just doesn’t end in the community where they are.”

Girl Scouts seek memorabilia for Centennial

If you were in Girl Scouts, were a Girl Scout parent, or served as a troop leader, Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida wants to hear from you.

One of South Florida’s oldest nonprofits is asking the community for help as it counts down to the 100^th anniversary of the group that started in 1923 with Alligator Troop 1 in Coconut Grove.

Needed are stories and artifacts of scouting in Miami and the Keys to mark the big occasion this fall.

“We have big plans in the works to paint the town Girl Scout green as we celebrate 100 years of championing girl leadership,” said Chelsea Wilkerson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida. “Girl Scouts have impacted this community for nearly a century, and we want to showcase all our amazing Girl Scouts and alumni as part of our celebrations and storytelling.”

Centennial celebration plans include a historical exhibit, commemorative patches, and special events. To connect, share and contribute, go to www.girlscoutsfl.org/share and to learn more about participation, contact communications@girlscoutsfl.org

‘Pops’ music concert at Gusman

The Greater Miami Symphonic Band will present its 22nd annual May Pops Concert, “A Little Bit of Everything,” at 8 p.m., May 10 at Gusman Concert Hall at the University of Miami.

Music Director Robert Longfield and guest conductor Steven Moore, associate dean of undergraduate studies at UM, are planning a program of marches; Broadway songs; the second performance of the 40th anniversary of a commissioned piece by the band; and works by Richard Wagner, Gustav Holst and Longfield.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for students. More at www.gmsb.org or call 305-273-7687.

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.