This post really touched my heart. This was the first time I have ever made a lesson plan. During the time that this post happened is when the news were heavy with information of what was happening in Ukraine and I remember the anxiety I felt in feeling like I had to write about something that had meaning to the current climate. The reality is that there are so many children displaced from their homes and I wonder how access to technology can improve to help normalize their way of life, to give hope, and to do so in an ethical, humble, and safe way. While I solely focused on a lesson plans for an older demographic, this post made me explore what apps are used to help connect students worldwide.
https://www.idialogue.com/ has many activities, including 60 minute virtual trips in a Zoom like platform where you can chat on what you see. There are also live interaction opportunities, activities and debates. This app takes into consideration time differences and has access to families, not just schools. The target age for users is from 7-16 years old. There are many options in pricing, for example for parents its $89 a month and for schools the monthly rate is $150 to give access to 100 students.
https://www.penpalschools.com/ This program makes you sign up before you can see pricing and any information. It claims to be endorsed by the White House and the New York Times.
https://www.myprojectexchange.com/digital-exchange-program This program is aimed for ages 14-18 and the aesthetics gives off like a Canvas LMS platform. As it states more curriculum and expectations when it notes it is an 8 week program.
Education in Refugee Camps
https://ninaviz.com/del/f/education-in-refugee-camps
"Students recognize the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model in ways that are safe, legal, and ethical"