earning can take on new life when students connect with peers and experts beyond their classroom environment. Virtual connections, whether through virtual exchanges, video conferences, or collaborative projects, allow students to see how their learning fits into the wider world and create opportunities for meaningful exchanges that textbooks cannot replicate..

When students connect with peers from different geographic locations, they gain authentic exposure to diverse perspectives and cultures. For example, a classroom in a rural area of the US can connect with students in an urban city or even internationally. These interactions help students develop crucial skills such as communication, empathy, cultural competence, global awareness, and collaboration. Furthermore, virtual classroom connections can help prepare students for their future. Today's students will enter workplaces where remote collaboration is standard and where they will need to work effectively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

Adventist Teacher Connect, part of the ALC ecosystem, is a database of Adventist teachers around the world willing to interact and collaborate with other teachers. To start, sign up and create your own profile. Then, browse through teacher profiles, find a teacher(s) you are interested in partnering with, and reach out to the teacher to arrange a virtual interaction or connection with his or her class. Communicate with the teacher and decide on the purpose of your connection and how you will connect. Decide on the topic, the format, and the duration. Suggest a communication tool that you are comfortable with such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, WhatsApp video, or any other tool. If time zones are a challenge, consider sending/receiving video messages. Distribute responsibilities among your students (host, interviewer, technology assistant, etc.). Encourage your students to engage actively, ask questions, and share their perspectives during the virtual connection. Have open-ended questions ready before hand to ask your partner class.

Virtual connections make it easy to bring learning to life. Plan shared worships, take virtual field trips, conduct joint science experiments, or share student presentations. Find inspiration and step-by-step ideas in the downloadable Teacher Guide on Adventist Teacher Connect.

Paola Franco-Oudri

Associate Director / Educational Professional Development Coordinator