This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
INTERNATIONAL LINKS INTERNATIONAL LINKS
Rafi.ki is a
Rafi.ki allows teachers to partner with overseas schools
on various activities, while many use the staff forum to
not-for-profit
share experiences and discuss issues with peers.
The main aim behind Rafi.ki is to improve attainment
and bridge national, religious and social divides, and
scheme that
the community is already home to members from over
1,000 schools in 100 countries.
aims to help
All online communities become more vibrant and
stimulating as the membership base grows, and for
schools connect to their
this reason silver membership is free to all. At this
level, schools can create their own profile page, find
counterparts across the
international partners, swap lesson plans, undertake
a selection of projects and utilise all the teacher-
led communication tools including audio and video-
globe. Henry Warren
conferencing.
Rafi.ki is a not-for-profit initiative so, although
explains
gold membership does incur a fee for UK schools, the
proceeds are used to fund similar access for those in the
developing world, increasing diversity and creating a
S THE Training and Development more fulfilling learning environment.
A
Agency for Schools’ adverts Among other benefits, this enhanced level allows
regularly remind us, teaching is pupils to create individual profile pages and talk to
a profession that allows talented children across the world in a less formal manner. In
people to connect with the younger today’s climate of concern over the dangers posed by
generation, using their skills to young people’s online conversations, Rafi.ki presents an
draw out the latent abilities that opportunity for this age group to enjoy social networking
will underpin students’ ongoing life choices. in a safe and fully-moderated environment.
However, as anyone who has spent time in the Of course, all of this is only interesting if the
Connecting
classroom knows, the reality of delivering inspiring, technology is actually having a positive effect on the
curriculum-relevant classes day-in, day-out, can be learning experience – for both teachers and students
quite a challenge. – and research shows that this is certainly the case.
Rafi.ki – which means “friend” in Kiswahili – is an A survey conducted at the end of the last academic
online global community for schools that makes this year showed that Rafi.ki helps teachers to gain the
goal easier to achieve. Teachers are supported through attention of even the most disengaged pupils, with
structured, cross-curricular projects, covering a diverse 96 per cent saying that the community enhances
range of topical issues such as citizenship, Human motivation amongst this group. At the same time, 80
Rights, climate change, and conflict prevention, which per cent feel that involvement in Rafi.ki is having a
come complete with lesson plans, expansion activities positive impact on young people’s self-confidence. schools
and additional resources. From the students’ perspective, the community
Special offer
For a limited time Rafi.ki is giving every school that upgrades to gold membership 15 free
is stimulating cross-cultural exchanges and greater Hina Robinson, humanities teacher at the King John
webcams worth £450 – 10 for the school and five free webcams to their specified partner global awareness. More than half of the respondents School in Essex, believes that the opportunity to be part
schools across the world. Or, it is offering two months’ free gold membership (schools
to the survey have contacted pupils in two to five of the Rafi.ki online learning community is too good
will get 12 months membership but only pay for 10 months). Both offers come with free
other countries. When asked how Rafi.ki is helping to to miss.
training and have to be taken up by January 15.
develop their skills, more than 70 per cent felt that their She explained: “Pupils here live a sheltered life and
understanding of global citizenship has improved. pay little attention to world news. Rafi.ki gives students
This offer will be open to any school that upgrades to gold membership by January 15.
A further 84 per cent feel it has had a positive impact on the opportunity to see other people’s perspectives on
Schools which upgrade after that date will receive five free webcams. their ICT knowledge. Rafi.ki is also enhancing awareness life and the difficult situations they have to survive.
For more details, or to take advantage of this offer, email managing director John
concerning potential employment and career choices, I want to turn our young people into global citizens
MacNutt at johnmc@gemin-i.org quoting SecEd.
with 62 per cent of students saying that their thinking and open their minds to the wide range of situations
about such matters is being positively influenced. around the world.”
SecEddigital launches on January 15, 2009
Register now to receive a free copy to your email every week
SecEd, the only weekly newspaper
for secondary teachers, is soon to be
available straight to your inbox, as a
free of charge email digital edition
You can:
• Search the issue for keywords
• Access archived editions
• Bookmark and annotate pages for colleagues
• Email issues and news directly to the editor
• Search the latest teaching jobs
If you want to receive
SecEddigital free every week,
email editor@sec-ed.co.uk
DigitalAd copy 1.indd 1 11/11/08 09:49:50
18 SecEd • December 11 2008
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com