iEARN

**Chapter 4-iEARN:**

**iEARN** stands for International Education and Resource Network, which focuses on "collaborative, project-based work". It's the type of education we need to move toward and transition into.

iEARN allows teachers from all over the world to share information, student work, lesson plans, etc. This encourages more creativity and allows teachers to see what's working for students, what is useful and what isn't so effective.

 The chapter provides a brief history of educational networking beginning with the classrooms of Daniel and Freinet. This small exchange has expanded so that this type of networking is now international. iEARN was founded by Peter Copen and began as a research project. It's amazing to be able to read about how small this started and how it expanded. Now we have more resources and technology to take it to the next level. They had e-mail and video telephone, but now we have Skype and instant messaging. **//The possibilities are limitless.//**

 iEARN continues to expand as a global learning network. The chapter states, "An evaluation of iEARN stressed that it helps students not only develop awareness of other cultures but deepens their appreciation for their own culture and increases compassion. It also helps students connect local problems with global challenges." (63) To be able to recognize that there is an entire world out there, with people who have all sorts of ideas just waiting to be shared is of the utmost importance." Students need to be able to jump outside of the immediate lives they live, and the things and people they see everyday. iEARN is helping students to do this.