Bringing Pen Pals into the 21st Century

Reading Leading 21^st Century Schools by Schrum and Levin this week, I found myself continuously thinking about one Web 2.0 tool that they mentioned.  The more I thought about it, the more I could envision using it in the classroom.  The more I thought about using it in the classroom, the more eager I became to look into it.

The concept, or tool, itself is simple (all the better for me, as I still struggle to master the more difficult and involved tools and skills of Web 2.0).  In fact, it is by no means a new concept.  Rather, it is a tool that is being updated and expanded through the wonders of international internet use.  The tool is, quite simply, having a Pen Pal.  However, in our modern world, the implications of having a virtual Pen Pal have shot through the roof.  Now called a “keypal,” our students can connect with other students in the far reaches of the world instantly (although I do have to admit that part of the allure to having a Pen Pal was never being able to anticipate when that next letter would arrive!).  Additionally, there are added tools, such as Webcams, that make the prospect of having a Pen Pal not only more alluring, but also more authentic to the students.

            The education implications are countless.  We have become, rightfully, more concerned with educating our students from a culturally diverse and accepting perspective.  What better way to enhance students’ cultural understanding than to connect with other students of differing cultures.  For example, we do a unit on heritage where students discuss their personal heritage.  If students were able to connect with other students from their ancestral home lands and learn first hand about the traditions and ideals that they still hold to, imagine how much greater students understanding, engagement and appreciation of the topic would be.  Additionally, this is a tool and a skill that all ages of students could easily partake in, one of the main reasons why I became so taken with the idea.  The website mentioned in the book, which I have since visited and found to be outstanding, called ePals is billed as a K-12 Social Learning Network.  And, as they note in the book, “Keypals offer authentic reasons for students of all ages to read and write” Lynne M. Schrum; Barbara B. (Barry) Levin. Leading 21st-Century Schools: Harnessing Technology for Engagement and Achievement (p. 87). Kindle Edition.  Most importantly, I love that the ePal site offers, “built-in safety features that allow teachers to monitor all e-mails going out and coming in, filter out spam, block selected sites, and customize keyword blocks to filter out inappropriate words so that school leaders and teachers can feel confident that students are focusing on learning by engaging in keypal projects” (p.87). 

            While I think that the implications of using ePal in my second grade classroom will limit my students to corresponding with only fellow English speaking keypals, at least most cases, it is still a tool I am excited to experiment with.  I think it is a great learning/fun tool for students.  Check it out! The ePal site.