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Jennifer Meagher
Survivor Galt Canada
 
School: Alexander Galt Regional High School
Location: Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Name: Jennifer Meagher

"People are a little nervous about technology, but if you manage it right and put the structures in and do your research like I did, you can meet a lot of good people online too."


Advice for Teachers
Benefits of Technology
Reflections on Student Outcomes
About the Survivor Galt Project

Jennifer Meagher teaches 7th grade Math, Science and Moral Education at Alexander Galt Regional High School, an English school in the Eastern Townships School Board, located in predominantly French-speaking Quebec. Every student in the school is equipped with a laptop for use in and out of school and all classrooms have wireless Internet access.

Jennifer discovered TakingITGlobal when Co-Founder and Director of Technology Michael Furdyk visited her school. Hesitation at the overwhelming scope of the site quickly gave way to excitement about TIGed’s virtual classroom tools: “I realized that the potential to use it in real way in the classroom could be huge!”

Jennifer stresses the importance for teachers to feel comfortable with the technology before introducing it to the classroom. Before involving her students, she created several classrooms on TIGed to investigate what her students could do in the online space, and was reassured by the level of teacher moderation and control. She was impressed and excited by the way her students were socializing in the space and making use of the tools. The potential for using a virtual classroom was deepened by allowing students to take the lead in exploring the site.

How did Jennifer’s class use TakingITGlobal?

  • TIGed tools, including discussion boards, blogs, class chat and gallery help in the brainstorming and planning process.
  • Students conducted background research using Understanding the Issues and Panorama.
  • They then found and contacted active TIG members around the world, asking them to join the project. Active TIG members joined their classroom as virtual guest speakers. These guests participated in live chats, student discussions and responded to blog entries. Guests uploaded photographs to help students make connections with the discussions taking place on the discussion board.

Jennifer notes “people are a little nervous about technology, but if you manage it right and put the structures in and do your research like I did, you can meet a lot of good people online too.”

In 2007, Jennifer’s class collaborated with inspiring TIG members, including Zimbe Moses, the head of a community school at an orphanage in Uganda. Using the discussion board in their TIGed classroom, students started a dialogue with Mr. Moses, focusing on issues his community faces, such as poverty and HIV/AIDS.

When the students learned that 70% of the population lives on less than a dollar a day, they began a fundraising project, Survivor Galt. A twist on the concept of World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine, students spent 30 hours in the school gym and communicated via videoconferences, class chat and discussion boards with people from all over the world. Jennifer’s class connected with members from Mali, Florida, Britain, France, Guinea, Nepal, Kenya, Nigeria, and other parts of Canada to learn about what TIG members around the globe are doing to improve the quality of life for others.