FFGC Week 5 Fall 2025

Summary

This session provides an overview of the Future Forward Global Challenge, focusing on international relations and cross-cultural collaboration in education. It covers key aspects of the Canvas course, including important announcements, lesson modules, and project guidelines. Facilitators guide participants through the use of AI tools like Magic School AI for lesson planning and reflection. The session emphasizes creating lesson plans that incorporate global citizenship and innovation, with a final project involving collaborative lesson plan design. It also includes reflections on past expert webinars and how international connections enhance learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 Facilitators for the Future Forward Global Challenge include Hope Kennedy, Jen Williams, and Lindsey Zilly, who are responsible for providing support, feedback, and tech solutions throughout the course.
• 😀 The Canvas course is central to the learning experience, offering access to announcements, modules, resources, and important course materials.
• 😀 This week's cultural exchange focuses on international relations, with an emphasis on collaboration and bringing multiple perspectives into the classroom through virtual exchange tools like Padlet.
• 😀 Last week's expert webinars featured Dr. Monica Burns discussing AI tools for teaching, and Michael Dreszik showcasing the integration of esports into school culture to build community.
• 😀 The course encourages participants to share 'aha' moments or insights from webinars in the course’s discussion boards and community forums.
• 😀 Magic School AI and Canva's Magic Write are tools featured in this week's course material, helping educators write letters of appreciation and explore AI's role in education and climate solutions.
• 😀 The final project involves creating a one-hour lesson plan focused on innovation, global citizenship, and teaching principles, with an emphasis on leveraging technology and collaborative feedback.
• 😀 The lesson plan template guides participants to outline the lesson topic, learning objectives, materials needed, and step-by-step lesson activities.
• 😀 The final project will be shared on Creative Commons as an open educational resource, allowing the lesson to be accessed and used by others globally.
• 😀 The course uses a rubric to evaluate final projects, focusing on measurable outcomes, the effectiveness of the lesson, and feedback from facilitators and peers to ensure high-quality lesson design.

Q & A

What is the focus of the Future Forward Global Challenge for week five?

Week five of the Future Forward Global Challenge focuses on reviewing the Canvas course, discussing the final project, and exploring international relations in the context of U.S. work culture. It also includes time for questions and directions for the exit ticket.

Who are the facilitators for this course and what are their roles?

The facilitators for the course are Hope Kennedy, Jen Williams, and Lindsey Zilly. They support participants by responding to submissions, providing feedback, and monitoring the tech corner. Jennifer Williams is the lead facilitator, sharing regular announcements to keep participants on track.

What is the cultural exchange target for this week?

The cultural exchange target for week five is focused on 'international relations.' This theme explores the importance of collaboration and bringing multiple perspectives to a global context, especially in educational settings.

How are international relationships encouraged in classrooms according to the script?

International relationships are encouraged by utilizing technology tools like virtual exchange opportunities, including synchronous live sessions or asynchronous platforms like Padlet, to help students connect with peers from other countries.

What were some key takeaways from the expert webinars featuring Dr. Monica Burns and Michael Dreszik?

From Dr. Monica Burns' webinar, a key takeaway was using AI tools to support teaching while maintaining the teacher's role in student interaction. Michael Dreszik's webinar highlighted how esports can be made accessible in schools, building community and a sense of belonging for students.

What is the significance of the Canvas course for participants in the program?

The Canvas course is vital for participants as it hosts important resources, announcements, and modules that help guide them through the course. It also provides access to feedback, activities, and support from facilitators.

What tools are suggested for the final project in week five?

For the final project, participants are encouraged to use tools like Magic School AI and Canva's Magic Write to create drafts for a letter of appreciation, which demonstrates how AI can enhance student learning and engagement.

What is the structure of the final lesson plan project?

The final project requires participants to submit a lesson plan, which includes an overview, objectives, materials list, a detailed lesson outline, and references. The lesson should be one hour long and incorporate global citizenship, innovation, and future-focused teaching.

How will final lesson plans be shared with others?

Once finalized, lesson plans will be uploaded to the Creative Commons Open Educational Resource Bank, where they will be available to educators worldwide as part of an open-access database.

What is the purpose of the exit ticket for the session?

The exit ticket serves as a way for participants to reflect on the session, particularly on how international relations and small group exchanges have benefited their learning experience. It also allows facilitators to assess participant engagement and understanding.