by James Bosco, W. Michigan University & Chair, CoSN International Committee
Those of us who made the trip to Scandinavia learned a lot. In these blogs and in the trip report which will be coming soon we are sharing what we learned in Scandinavia. Since we were fortunate to have Joanne McDevitt of Technology & Learning with us, her journal will provide another great means of dissemination.
Beyond all of the specifics about how educators in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark are making use of ICT to make schools better places for kids, there is a broader “take away.” And it is this: International communication and collaboration with regard to the use of ICT in schools has great benefit to us in the U.S.
When CoSN began its international initiative, we heard from some who wondered about the value to us in the U.S. for such linkages. I recall one conversation during which one of my friends/colleagues said something like, “I can see how international linkages can help other countries but, I don’t see how they could really help us in the U.S. “He saw CoSN’s international initiative as similar to a U.S. Marshall plan for ICT to other countries. Even more than the comments of the many who supported CoSN developing international linkages, this comment told me that what we were doing was really needed.
On this trip as on the other two trips sponsored by CoSN, we learned of innovative approaches to confront many of the same needs and problems we face here in the U.S. Also, looking back on our own situation in the U.S. form the perspective that we gain in the midst of different traditions, laws, and practices helps us to see things back home in fresh and clear ways.
So we look back on what we accomplished on this trip but also ahead to CoSN’s next international initiative. In conjunction with the CoSN conference in March we will hold the CoSN’s 7th Annual International Symposium “Bringing Web 2.0 Innovation to our Schools: Leadership and Policy Challenge.” The symposium will bring together a large international audience who will participate in the Symposium and who will also be featured in sessions of the conference.
While the plane was not large enough to take the entire CoSN family to Scandinavia, there is plenty of room in DC at the conference and symposium to enable everyone who wants to engage with our international guests to do so. I am proud to be a member of an organization that doesn’t just pontificate about the global village but which helps to make it a reality to enrich the dialogue among all of us – in whatever country we happen to live – who want to make our schools better places of learning for our kids.
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