Global Service Projects

I find global service projects that use an online or digital component with a physical, hands-on, project.  I am most interested in activities that students can immediately apply and improve their community or world.  I think it is important that students learn that they are members of a global community through service learning projects.  “Global education seeks to show how people are linked by global economics, political, ecological, and technological systems.” (Nganga, pg. 151)  I am currently interested in creating a project in which students build solar ovens to support a local and international goal.  Creation of solar ovens ties closely to middle school Science standards and has a huge design and planning component.  Solar ovens can be used in many different ways to benefit and improve the world.  Solar ovens can be used locally for homeless to sanitize their water or in Africa to help women avoid being raped because they must travel great distances to gather wood to cook.  We had few students build ovens this year but we have not done anything with them.  I have also had my students participate in many online, service focused, projects but I have not combined the two aspects.  I am most interested in finding a way for students to integrate building, design, and project-based learning with online tools and collaboration.  Here are two links to give you a little more information about solar ovens.

http://www.solarcookers.org/about/about.html

http://www.solarovens.org/

Nganga, L. (2009). Global and Cultural Education Prepares Preservice Teachers to Work in Rural Public Schools. Teaching for Social Change in the 21st Century. Journal Of Education Research, 3(1/2), 149-160.